Apply now! Application Deadline: February 16, 2010
Elementary Education Applicants click here!
Phoenix Teaching Fellows is a highly-selective alternative route to teaching designed for outstanding individuals dedicated to impacting student achievement in Phoenix’s high-need classrooms. Teaching Fellows will teach math, science, and special education in middle school and K-8 schools. To apply, candidates must meet the following eligibility requirements. No previous coursework in education or teaching experience is required.
- You must possess a bachelor's degree (conferred by May 31, 2010).
- Your undergraduate GPA must be 3.0 or higher.
- You must be eligible to work in the United States.
- You must pass a background check.
- You cannot be a current district, fully-certified teacher, or already enrolled in a student teaching/education certification program.
- You must meet requirements for your subject area (math, science, elementary education, or special education).
You must possess a bachelor's degree.
Candidates who either hold a bachelor’s degree or who are currently completing their bachelor's degree coursework from an accredited university and expect to have the degree awarded no later than May 31, 2010 are eligible to apply. Please note that a bachelor's degree is a requirement for certification.
Graduates of foreign universities must have their transcripts evaluated by an approved agency. When requesting an evaluation, be sure that the agency specifically states that you have received the U.S. equivalent of a bachelor’s degree in your subject area AND provides a full listing of your coursework. Applications that include foreign transcripts will not be reviewed until the completed evaluation has been faxed or mailed to the Fellows office.
Graduates of foreign universities must have their transcripts evaluated by one of the following foreign credential evaluation agencies prior to applying:
American Association of Collegiate Registrars and Admissions Officers
Educational Credential Evaluators
International Education Research Foundation
World Education Services
Your undergraduate GPA must be 3.0 or higher.
Individuals must possess an average undergraduate GPA of 3.0 or higher. In certain situations, the Teaching Fellows program may make exceptions for candidates whose GPA is below 3.0 and who demonstrate a very strong record of achievement in their previous endeavors.
Candidates with a GPA lower than 3.0 will have the opportunity to address any issues relevant to their academic performance by including a brief statement in the online application.
You must be eligible to work in the United States.
Applicants must present proof of legal work status in order to become employees of Murphy Elementary School District, Phoenix Elementary School District, and Roosevelt School District.
You must pass a background check.
All applicants must pass an FBI fingerprint clearance background check to be eligible for employment in Phoenix's public schools. Applicants who have state or federal criminal records may still be considered for the Phoenix Teaching Fellows program. Please note that ultimate decisions on a candidate's employment eligibility will be made by the school districts based on these background checks.
You cannot be a current district, fully-certified teacher, or pursuing teacher certification.
You cannot be any of the following:
1. A current district teacher (Note that substitutes eligible to apply.)
2. A fully-certified teacher (If you have ever been certified, you cannot apply.)
3. An education major
4. Enrolled in an education program or in the process of pursuing your teacher certification
This program is specifically designed for individuals seeking alternate certification to begin a career in education. Current district teachers, as well as teachers already in possession of their teaching certification coursework from Arizona or any other state, are not eligible for the Fellows program. Individuals who hold or have worked under occasional per diem (day-to-day substitute) certification are eligible to apply. In addition, you cannot have completed more than 12 credits in an education program or be currently enrolled in an education program. Candidates also must not have completed student teaching in a K-12 teacher education program.
You must meet testing requirements for your subject area.
The goal of the Fellows program is to find outstanding new teachers, like you, who will enter their classrooms as highly-qualified new educators. Therefore, candidates must meet coursework and testing requirements according to state, district, and certification program guidelines for the subject they wish to teach before they begin teaching. Although candidates only need to pass the AEPA tests to meet their subject area eligibility requirements, the Phoenix Teaching Fellows program will assign subject areas based on information provided in the application. If a candidate does not have at least 12 credit hours or a closely related major in math/science, the candidate will not be assigned to math/science. If, however, the candidate has a deep knowledge of science or math not well reflected by the academic record, (s)he should make a note in the application. It is critical that teachers can bring their strong content knowledge to our students in these important subjects.
Fellows will teach in math, science, and special education—the greatest areas of need in our districts. Fellows are responsible for registering for, studying for, and passing the appropriate Subject Knowledge portion of the Arizona Educator Proficiency Assessment (AEPA). Please note that Fellows interested in special education do not need prior coursework or experience in special education. We do ask, however, that candidates for this setting bring high expectations for students, an exceptional commitment to ensuring every student achieves at high levels, and a strong desire to continuously learn and grow.
Candidates should wait to register for the AEPA until they have submitted their online application and have received specific, individualized direction on the appropriate subject examination from the Fellows program office. Admission to the Teaching Fellows program is contingent upon passage of required tests, and passing scores must be on file with the Fellows office before the start of the Training Institute. For more important dates and information about registering for the AEPA, review the Testing Requirements section of this website.
With careful review of these eligibility requirements, Fellows candidates will benefit from a streamlined application and selection process and, if selected, will have the opportunity to participate in an intensive Training Institute before embarking on a new career in education.
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