DENVER (AP) -- A Denver Public Schools program is recruiting people from the corporate world to become licensed teachers.

The Denver Teacher Residency is modeled on medical residencies. Prospective teachers observe and work with mentor teachers for a full year while also enrolling in classes to earn a master's degree in education from the University of Denver.

Participants have included a retired Air Force pilot and former lawyer.

The program, which asks participants for a five-year commitment, is helping the fast-growing district recruit and retain new teachers in math and science, special education, and general elementary school education in English or Spanish at schools with large percentages of lower-income students, which are typically among the hardest positions to fill.

The deadline to apply to be part of the latest class of recruits is Feb. 15.