Frequently Asked Questions
**Texas Teaching Fellows is a non-profit organization and is committed to keeping costs as low as possible for incoming participants. We are currently reviewing program expenditures to determine program tuition for the 2011 cohort. Tuition rates will be posted in early October.**
PROGRAM OVERVIEW
What are the benefits of becoming a Fellow?
How long is this commitment?
TEACHING IN TEXAS
When will I begin earning a salary?
How much will I be paid?
Where will I teach?
Will I be teaching with other program participants at my school?
Does TTF guarantee Fellows a teaching position?
SUBJECT/CERTIFICATION AREAS
What is special education?
What is bilingual education?
What do Bilingual EC-6 Fellows teach?
What is English as a second language (ESL)?
What do ESL/Generalist 4-8 Fellows teach?
What is the difference between ESL and bilingual education?
CERTIFICATION REQUIREMENTS
What exams will I be required to take?
What happens if I don’t pass the TExES content exam?
Will I receive my teaching certificate?
ELIGIBILITY REQUIREMENTS
What kind of background do I need?
What college coursework do I need?
If I graduate in May of 2009, am I eligible to apply?
Are certified teachers eligible for the program?
What if I received my degree in another country?
What if my GPA does not meet the requirement, should I still apply?
What courses can be counted towards the Math requirements?
APPLICATION PROCESS
How do I apply and what are the application questions?
Is there an application fee?
When will the 2011 application go live?
Do I need to be a resident of Texas to apply?
What happens after I apply?
Can I defer acceptance into the program?
What are you looking for in a resume?
How do I apply to join the TTF Program Staff?
TRAINING RESOURCES
When does the program actually begin?
What is the summer training Institute?
Am I allowed to work during summer training?
Will I be paid over the summer?
Do I receive support during the school year?
PROGRAM OVERVIEW
What are the benefits of becoming a Fellow?
Texas Teaching Fellows has several qualities that set it apart:
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Accelerated… Following the summer training Institute, Fellows are eligible to begin teaching full-time in the fall receiving the full salary and benefits of a first year teacher. Fellows who successfully complete all program requirements will be recommended for their standard certification by the end of their first school year.
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Rigorous… Our program includes a six week Summer Institute training that gives Fellows the opportunity to teach before they start the school year with their own classroom, as well as our efficient and effective year-long Teaching for Results Content Seminars during the school year. 98% of 2009 Fellows felt that the Institute prepared them to be successful in their first year of teaching.
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Selective… Joining Texas Teaching Fellows means you will be joining a group of amazing individuals. Principals and districts know and appreciate our selectivity.
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Supportive… TTF works with Fellows throughout the certification process, from test preparation to securing a position to the final certification decision. We take pride in our staff and faculty, and know that our Fellows will have the resources they need to be successful.
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Mission-driven… As a non-profit focused on narrowing the achievement gap and providing schools with effective teachers, we have the necessary resources to offer a high-quality program at a reduced price. There is no application fee for our program, and Fellows who enroll in TTF pay only the $199 enrollment fee to the program until they have secured a teaching position. At $3,700 for tuition, we have one of the best-priced programs in the state.
How long is this commitment?
Fellows are eligible to receive their certification after one year of programmatic activities, but we hope that Fellows make a lifetime commitment to public education and continue teaching for many years. As a program, we set goals for the long-term retention of our Fellows in the classroom.
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TEACHING IN TEXAS
When will I begin earning a salary?
As a new teacher, Fellows begin earning a salary and benefits from their employment district upon hire. However, due to district payroll cycles, Fellows often do not receive the first paycheck until the end of August or September. Therefore, planning for the financial transition into the classroom is a critical part of the application process.
For more information regarding salary and/or benefits, please visit the websites of our local partner districts:
Austin
Dallas
How much will I be paid?
Participants in the Texas Teaching Fellows program receive the same starting salary and benefits as other first year teachers in the Texas public school system. Starting salaries range from $40,000 - $45,000 depending on the school district, experience, relevant coursework, and content area. For more information about the financial benefits of teaching, please visit our Salary and Benefits page. For more information regarding salary and/or benefits in individual school districts, please visit the websites of our local districts directly.
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Where will I teach?
Candidates choose which TTF site (Austin or Dallas) to apply. Once you have enrolled and taken the TExES exam, you will have the opportunity to preference any of TTF’s partner districts within that site. TTF will make district referrals based on the staffing needs of each district and your preferences.. You will then apply to the district to which you are referred upon your passage of the TExES.
Texas Teaching Fellows seeks to have Fellows teaching where they are needed the most, including high-need schools and subject areas, and often in low income communities. School districts across Texas are increasingly faced with diverse student populations with a wide-range of needs, both academically and socially. You must be aware that your students may be on different skill levels and that many may come from low-income communities and/or have a range of behavioral issues. You must be prepared to teach where you are needed most. Our partner districts currently include:
Austin
Dallas
Will I be teaching with other program participants at my school?
Fellows do, at times, teach with other Fellows from current and past cohorts. Additionally, TTF promotes the clustering of small groups of participants at the same schools to provide additional school-based support wherever possible. However, positions will be based on school need and will most likely be the result of interviews held between you and principals; there is no way to predict whether another Fellow may end up at the same school.
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Does TTF guarantee Fellows a teaching position?
Like other certification programs in Texas, we are unable to make any job guarantees. Fellows are responsible for securing teaching positions, although the TTF office provides specific guidance and support along the way. This includes resume and cover letter review, interviewing practice and coaching, and an additional guide with actionable interviewing tips. In addition, the TTF office works to obtain the latest vacancy information from local districts and principals; and provides them with Fellows’ resumes and contact information. Staff will also coordinate interviews with principals whenever possible.
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SUBJECT/CERTIFICATION AREAS
What special education positions are supported by TTF ?
Both the TTF Institute and year-long Teaching for Results Content Seminars are designed to prepare teachers to work in a setting with students with mild-to-moderate disabilities. Because our training does not sufficiently support teachers who are working with students with more severe-to-profound disabilities, we primarily support candidates for certification in the following Special Education areas:
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Resource- These teachers generally work with special education students in a self-contained classroom.
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Inclusion- These teachers pair with general education classroom teachers to provide support for students with special needs who are part of a general education classroom. The majority of special education vacancies are inclusion-focused.
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Content Mastery- Usually these teachers work in middle schools or high schools, and work with students who have been identified as having special needs. These teachers provide support around specific content areas like math, science, language arts, etc.
Occasional exceptions are made on a case-by-case basis. These decisions are based on a Fellow's background and experience.
What is bilingual education?
For the Texas Teaching Fellows program, Bilingual Education specifically refers to a Spanish-English bilingual classroom. Some Bilingual programs are designed to develop academic and social language skills in English and Spanish to native English speakers and native Spanish speakers. Other Bilingual programs focus on developing academic and social language skills in English and Spanish to native Spanish speakers only. The percentage of Spanish vs. English instruction varies based on the district, school, grade level, and student population. Any applicant who is interested in the Bilingual Education certification will have to demonstrate fluency in Spanish during the interview process. These candidates will be given a Bilingual Assessment that includes a written and oral component during the interview event to determine eligibility for the Bilingual Education subject area.
What do Bilingual EC-6 Fellows teach?
Bilingual EC-6 Fellows can be hired to teach children in any grade from Kindergarten through 6th grade. They can be hired to teach in one or all core areas – Math, Science, Social Studies and Language Arts – to children as other Elementary Generalists do, except that they sometimes teach in Spanish. They also need to be prepared to use strategies that will help develop students’ language skills in their first language and in their second language, and to use strategies to help second language learners understand the content they are teaching in the language it is being taught. Bilingual EC-6 Fellows therefore need to be fluent in both English and Spanish.
What is English as a second language (ESL)?
ESL is an intensive form of English Language instruction by teachers who are trained to work with second language learners. Instruction in an ESL setting is focused on language skills in English and is generally conducted entirely in English. Please note that there are limited spots available for the ESL cohort. Interested applicants are encouraged to apply early.
What do ESL/Generalist 4-8 Fellows teach?
ESL/Generalist 4-8 Fellows can be hired to teach children in any grade from 4th grade through 8th grade. They can be hired to teach ESL and/or one or all core content areas – Math, Science, Social Studies, and Language Arts. Often when hired to teach in a core content area, such as Math, ESL Generalists will have second language learners in the classroom and will need to use strategies to ensure that both native English speakers and English Language Learners meet expectations in the content area, regardless of their language background. Instruction is done entirely in English, so ESL Generalists need not be fluent in Spanish.
What is the difference between ESL and bilingual education?
Both Bilingual Education and English as a Second Language (ESL) work to ensure that second language learners develop their English speaking skills. ESL is a component of a Bilingual Education Program, but Bilingual Education is not always a component of an ESL program. Bilingual Education focuses on the development of academic and social language skills in both English and Spanish. ESL focuses on teaching academic and social English language skills to English Language Learners.
CERTIFICATION REQUIREMENTS
What exams will I be required to take?
Test requirements are based upon the federal No Child Left Behind law, which requires all teacher candidates to demonstrate content knowledge mastery. The Texas Examinations of Educator Standards (TExES) is the state-mandated test which evaluates a teacher candidate's content knowledge in Texas. A teacher candidate is considered "highly qualified" if they have passed the content TExES exam in their subject area. For Special Education Fellows, this typically means passing the Special Education exam as well as a content-based exam. In addition, all Fellows must take and pass the Pedagogy and Professional Responsibilities Exam (PPR) by February of the first year of teaching in order to be eligible for certification.
For additional information regarding exams, please visit our TExES Exams and Program Prerequisites pages for specific test requirements.
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What happens if I don’t pass the TExES content exam?
Overall, TTF has experienced a very strong passage rate: In 2009, 91% of Texas Teaching Fellows passed the required exam before the first day of school. TTF offers test prep support such as study sessions and practice exams to aide Fellows in passing the TExES.
We encourage applicants to apply early in order to allow multiple testing opportunities. Keep in mind, Fellows must take the TExES prior to beginning Summer Institute and must pass the TExES prior to accepting a position. Unfortunately, if you do not pass the required TExES prior to the start of school, you will not be eligible for a certification through the Texas Teaching Fellows program.
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Will I receive my teaching certificate?
The TTF program is designed for candidates to be eligible for certification upon satisfactory completion of their first year of teaching and upon fulfilling all TTF program requirements. These requirements include:
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Successful completion of the summer training Institute
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Passage of the appropriate TExES content exam, as well as the Pedagogy and Professional Responsibilities (PPR) exam (passage of the PPR is required within the first year of teaching), and any additional exams required for your subject area
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Successful completion of the year-long Teaching for Results Content Seminar series
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Successful year of teaching in the content area, including a recommendation from the Fellow's building principal
Fellows will be issued a Probationary Certificate at the beginning of their first year in the classroom. Upon successful completion of the requirements as outlined above, Fellows will be recommended for a Standard Teaching Certificate.
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ELIGIBILITY REQUIREMENTS
What kind of background do I need?
Texas Teaching Fellows is an accelerated alternative certification program designed for individuals with no previous education coursework. It is a highly selective program that is looking for professionals of all backgrounds with strong content-area knowledge who demonstrate leadership and achievement and who are committed to positively influencing the lives of students.
We are recruiting candidates interested in teaching math, science, special education, bilingual education, and ESL/generalist.
In addition, you must have a bachelor's degree (conferred by June 2011), you must be eligible to work in the United States, and you can not have a felony record.
Please see our section on Program Prerequisites for additional information.
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What college coursework do I need?
Subject eligibility is based on coursework and experience. A candidate must have significant coursework in a content area in order to teach a given subject.
Please refer to our Program Prerequisites page for more information.
If I graduate in May of 2011, am I eligible to apply?
Yes, as long as your degree is conferred by June 2011. If you meet all eligibility and program requirements, you will be conditionally accepted until you officially receive your degree.
Are certified teachers eligible for the program?
Certified teachers are not eligible to apply to Texas Teaching Fellows; this program is designed specifically for people without teaching credentials. Certified teachers are encouraged to visit the State Board for Educator Certification (SBEC) website for details on how to become certified in Texas.
What if I received my degree in another country?
All foreign transcripts will need to be evaluated by a foreign credential evaluation agency to determine if they are equivalent. In order to have your degree evaluated you will need to contact a transcript evaluating firm to have your transcripts evaluated. The list of SBEC approved agencies can be found here.
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What if my GPA does not meet the requirement… should I still apply?
We ask that all applicants have an undergraduate cumulative GPA of 2.75 or higher. However, we realize that your undergraduate GPA is not always the best measure of who you may be as an adult. We consider each application individually and include a section within the application that allows candidates to explain any circumstances that may have caused their GPA to be lower than the 2.75 requirement. However, we cannot accept an applicant with a GPA below 2.5, no matter the circumstance.
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What courses can be counted towards the Math requirements?
In addition to core mathematics courses, Texas Teaching Fellow allows some finance, accounting, and statistics courses to be counted towards the credit requirements for math. The final decision is at the discretion of the TTF staff.
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APPLICATION PROCESS
How do I apply and what are the application questions?
TTF does not accept written applications. To apply, log into our applicant portal and create an account. The application process includes the completion of the online application and the submission of a professional resume and your application questions. All documents (resume & application questions) must be in Microsoft Word 2003 (or earlier Word version) or PDF format. We cannot accept documents in Microsoft Word 2007, Microsoft Works, Word Perfect etc.
Responses to the application questions should address these three short answer questions in 200 - 400 words each.
- Nearly all Fellows are hired to teach in ‘high-need’ schools that are located in low-income communities. Why do you want to teach in a high-need school, and what experiences have prepared you for the challenges of teaching in a high-need school?
- The most important responsibility of a teacher is to ensure high academic achievement for all students. Explain how a skill or ability that you possess will help you ensure high academic achievement for all students and provide an example of how you have effectively demonstrated this skill or ability in the past.
- Briefly describe a time when you achieved a goal in the face of challenges or while balancing multiple responsibilities. What steps did you take to ensure you would meet your goal, and how will that experience contribute to your ability to be successful with your students?
Responses to these application questions provide us with information not captured elsewhere in the application. Do not send generic cover letters.
Every application is reviewed for completeness, eligibility, and potential for success as a Fellow. You will receive notification of your application status within two weeks of our receipt of your complete application. If you are selected to interview you will be invited to attend an Interview Event. The Interview Event includes a teaching sample, a group discussion, a writing sample, and an individual interview.
Is there an application fee?
There is no charge to apply for the Texas Teaching Fellows program. The cost of tuition and fees are explained in our Program Costs section.
When will the 2011 application go live?
We will likely begin accepting applications in October. Please become a fan on Facebook or add your name to our contact list to be notified when we launch the 2011 application.
Do I need to be a resident of Texas to apply?
No. You do not need to be a resident of Texas to apply, but you will be required to live and teach in the city in Texas that your cohort is in to complete the program.
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What happens after I apply?
All complete applications go through an initial review process. Every application is reviewed for completeness, eligibility, and potential for success as a Fellow. You will receive notification of your application status within two weeks of our receipt of your complete application. Outstanding candidates are invited to participate in a Texas Teaching Fellows Interview Event, which includes a sample teaching lesson, a group discussion of relevant issues in education, a writing sample, and a one-on-one interview.
Transcript review for content eligibility will occur during the Interview Event; therefore, it is critical that you immediately gather transcripts from all institutions of higher education you have attended (unofficial or official) and bring them to the Interview Event.
Within two weeks after the Interview Event, you will receive notification from the TTF program office regarding your status. If you are accepted, TTF will provide your assigned subject area and the appropriate TExES content exam for which you should begin preparing for.
Can I defer acceptance into the program?
Unfortunately, we are not able to allow deferrals. All former applicants must re-apply to be considered for TTF again.
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What are you looking for in a resume?
We use the resume to get a picture of who you are, and to learn of the previous experiences and achievements you will be bringing with you into the classroom. Please include any professional and volunteer activities you have taken part of, as well as any activities pertaining to teaching.
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How do I apply to join the TTF Program Staff?
All of our full and part-time job opportunities are posted here. The New Teacher Project is the parent organization of Texas Teaching Fellows.
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TRAINING & RESOURCES
When does the program actually begin?
Please refer to the Being a Fellow page for a timeline of the first year. Since people apply and enroll on a rolling basis, the timeline will look slightly different for each Fellow. The training component does not usually begin until June, but you will want to begin preparing for the assigned TExES exam as soon as you receive notification that you have been accepted into the program because you will not be allowed to start Institute until you have taken that exam.
In addition, Fellows will be provided an Independent Study Guide with activities to complete before arriving at Institute. These activities include classroom observations. Therefore, Fellows should be prepared to take time to visit schools in the spring. More information will be provided during the enrollment process.
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What is the summer training Institute?
The summer training Institute takes place over a six-week period and includes a student teaching component and framework sessions. During the student teaching component, Fellows are paired with experienced teachers and receive hands-on training and coaching on effective teaching strategies. During the afternoon, Fellows attend Teaching for Student Achievement framework sessions that are designed specifically for those with no previous education experience and for teaching in critical shortage content areas. 98% of 2009 Fellows felt that the Institute prepared them to be successful in their first year of teaching. Please see our Powerful Professional Development page for more information on the training component of our program.
Am I allowed to work during summer training?
Many Fellows have taken a part-time job during the Institute (weekends or nights) to ease the financial transition. While the Institute is an intense time commitment, a flexible part-time job is feasible. Please keep in mind however, that attendance at the Institute is mandatory and Fellows will not be permitted to miss sessions for work. For more information on the financial transition, visit the Making the Financial Transition section.
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Will I be paid over the summer?
Fellows receive a six-week training over the course of the summer. However, Fellows must attend the training full time, and thus are not able to work full time. Interested candidates should begin preparing now to make the financial transition to become an educator and attend the summer training Institute. To learn more, visit the section on Making the Financial Transition.
Do I receive support during the school year?
TTF is committed to the Fellow’s success as a first year teacher working to close the achievement gap. During the first year in the classroom, in addition to school-based support Fellows participate in the Teaching for ResultsContent Seminar series. This series is a comprehensive professional development program led by experienced teachers where Fellows are given additional tools for effective teaching and raising student achievement. Completion of this series makes them eligible to receive their Standard Certificate in as little as one year. 91% of 2009 Fellows felt that the Content Seminar series helped them become a more effective teacher. In addition, each site has a full-time Training and Instruction Manager and a part-time Field Observer who will visit each Fellow in their classroom.
For more information, please visit our Powerful Professional Development page.
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