Phoenix Teaching Fellows recruits, selects, and trains Fellows to teach in high-need classrooms. Phoenix Teaching Fellows has partnered with the College of Teacher Education and Leadership (CTEL) at Arizona State University to provide Fellows with Master’s degree and state certification coursework while teaching full-time. Fellows will enroll in CTEL's InMAC (Induction, Master of Education, and Arizona Certification) program.

For more information about CTEL's Phoenix Teaching Fellows InMAC program:

• InMAC flyer, side 1

• InMAC flyer, side 2

Rather than completing a traditional teacher education program prior to entering the classroom, Fellows first engage in an intensive summer training program that is specifically designed for Phoenix Teaching Fellows and free of cost, then completing additional academic certification requirements while teaching full-time. This is a unique opportunity for Fellows to further their professional development, earn an advanced degree, and continue to forge connections within a cohort of new teachers experiencing similar challenges and successes as new educators.

The College of Teacher Education and Leadership has gained national attention recently on a number of fronts, including:

• June 2006: Professional Development School (PDS) was the subject of a congressional briefing detailing its success in teacher retention and student achievement.

• October 2006: recognized locally by WESTMARC with a “Best of the West” honorable mention for excellence in education.

• February 2007: the program earned a national Best Practice Award for Effective Partnerships in teacher education from the American Association of Colleges for Teacher Education (AACTE).

• March 2007: ASU honored CTEL with its President’s Medal for Social Embeddedness.

• June 2007: the college earned the Rich Media Impact Scholastic Achievement for its distance learning programs and use of educational technology.

The priority application deadline is February 2, 2009. Apply today.

Teaching Fellows benefit from a streamlined, alternative path to certification. All Fellows formally commit to working towards and completing the InMAC requirements established by CTEL at Arizona State University when accepting their offer to join the Teaching Fellows program. For more information on this program, visit CTEL's website.

Fellows will begin teaching under the Arizona Teaching Intern Certificate. In order to receive this certificate, Fellows will need to enroll in CTEL's teacher preparation program, prove that they have passed the AEPA, and complete additional enrollment processing steps (such as securing fingerprinting clearance and submitting official transcripts). For more information on the exam, visit the AEPA website and the Testing Requirements section of this website.

Fellows will also benefit from the Teaching Fellows AmeriCorps Education Awards Program and in-state tuition. Fellows are responsible for covering the costs of all certification course requirements. However, participation in the Phoenix Teaching Fellows makes Fellows eligible to apply to enroll in the AmeriCorps Education Awards program to earn an education award worth $4,725. This award can be used to pay for certification or future education costs including repaying qualified student loans.

To learn more about the Education Award, visit Americorps' FAQ website. More detailed information on enrollment in the Teaching Fellows AmeriCorps Education Awards Program and details on certification costs will be provided to Fellows upon enrollment in the program and during summer Institute.

Teaching Fellows have many opportunities for financial aid, grants, loan deferral, and loan forgiveness.

• FAFSA: Free Application for Federal Student Aid.

• Teach Grant Program: Through the College Cost Reduction and Access Act of 2007, Congress created the Teacher Education Assistance for College and Higher Education (TEACH) Grant Program that provides grants of up to $4,000 per year to students who intend to teach in a public or private elementary or secondary school that serves students from low-income families.

• AHELA -- Arizona Higher Education Loan Authority: This non-profit organization is dedicated to helping students achieve their educational goals while teaching them to keep their debt to a minimum. They offer several loan options to meet each student’s need.

• CTEL Scholarships: The College of Teacher Education and Leadership offers one-year scholarships to degree seeking graduate students.

• Arizona State University Scholarships: Listing of ASU scholarships that are currently open and match your specific student status.

• Federal Teacher Loan Forgiveness: The Federal Teacher Loan Forgiveness Program is intended to encourage individuals to enter and continue in the teaching profession. Under this program, individuals who teach full-time for five consecutive complete academic years in certain elementary and secondary schools that serve low-income families and meet other qualifications may be eligible for forgiveness of up to $5,000, and in some cases up to $17,500, in principal and interest of their Direct Loan and/or Federal Family Education Loan Program (FFELP) loans and certain consolidation loans.

• Stafford Loan Deferral/Forbearance: If you have a FFEL or Direct Stafford Loan and you're teaching full time in a teacher shortage area, you might be eligible for deferment (postponement of repayment) if you borrowed before July 1, 1993.

The priority application deadline is February 2, 2009.

Apply today.

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