Applications for the 2010 cohort will open online on November 17, 2010. Click here to join our mailing list to be notified when applications open.

Candidates to Rhode Island Teaching Fellows benefit from a streamlined, seven-step application and selection process and, if selected, will have the opportunity to participate in an intensive Training Institute in summer designed to prepare them to enter their classrooms as full-time teachers.

Step 1: Thoroughly Read this Website
Before you do anything else, we encourage you to read through the material on this website carefully and familiarize yourself with the details of the program. The website covers everything from the types of classrooms in which Fellows will teach to specific testing dates for required teaching exams. If you want more information, you may attend an information session.

Step 2: Check your Eligibility
Please be sure to thoroughly read the section on eligibility as this is a critical piece of the application process. Only applications of eligible candidates will be reviewed. If you still have questions about your specific situation, please email us at info@rhodeislandteachingfellows.org.

Step 3: Apply
Applications for the 2010 cohort are closed.  Click here to join our mailing list to be notified of any future cohorts of Teaching Fellows.

Rhode Island Teaching Fellows is a highly selective program and we enroll candidates on a rolling basis.  Thus, we strongly encourage you to apply as early as possible in order to be given full consideration.

A complete application includes the following:

• Responses to Three Application Questions
• Resume
• Online Application Form

It is possible to begin an online application, save your work, and return at a later time to complete and submit your materials.

Application Questions
You will be asked to respond to three specific application questions. Candidates should address these three questions in 200 - 400 words each.

1. 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?  

2. 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.

3. 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 information not captured elsewhere in the application. Responses are used to evaluate a candidate’s writing and critical thinking skills, and more importantly, to gain a sense of commitment to teaching students in Rhode Island’s high-need classrooms. This should not be a generic personal statement or cover letter, but should offer insight on why an individual is applying to teach and what (s)he has to offer. Generic cover letters will not be accepted.

Candidates should complete these three application questions in a separate word document (Word 2006 or earlier version) and upload it when completing the online application. Please note: Only documents saved in Word 2006 or earlier version (.doc), or Adobe (.pdf), can be accepted. We cannot accept documents in Microsoft Word 2007, Microsoft Works, Word Perfect etc.

Resume
The resume should clearly outline a candidate’s work history in chronological order, including dates of employment and descriptions of responsibilities and accomplishments. In addition to providing employment information, the resume is the best way for candidates to highlight previous achievements - both academic and professional - along with any community involvement or volunteer experience. The resume should also highlight any teaching experience or student-related activities and ideally should be no more than one page in length.

The resume document should be created prior to applying online and uploaded when completing the online application. Please note: Only documents saved in Word 2006 or earlier version (.doc), or Adobe (.pdf), can be accepted. We cannot accept documents in Microsoft Word 2007, Microsoft Works, Word Perfect etc.

Application
The completed online application form requires your undergraduate GPA, as well as information about your undergraduate coursework. If you are granted an interview, it is based on material you provide in this application. Therefore, it is extremely important that all information is correct; all grades and coursework will be verified upon receipt of your transcripts on interview day.

Step 4: Register for and Study for the Praxis I and Praxis II Exams
Fellows must register for, study for, and pass the Praxis I and appropriate Praxis II exams before the start of the summer Training Institute and before enrollment in the program can be finalized. Candidates invited to interview with the Teaching Fellows program will receive individualized guidance on the appropriate Praxis II exam with their invitation to interview, and are urged to register at that time for their exam(s). It is imperative that all candidates study thoroughly for these exams. The exams often prove difficult even for individuals with deep content knowledge or relevant professional experience. Review the Testing Requirements section of this website for test dates and more information.

Step 5: Request Transcripts
If you are invited to interview, you will be required to submit at least one copy of your transcripts from each institution you attended; these transcripts may be unofficial or official. However, if you are accepted into the program, you must submit three official (sealed) copies of transcripts from each institution you attended, which must be filed with the Fellows office before training begins. Your admission is contingent upon receipt of official transcripts. Because it often takes universities several weeks to process requests for official transcripts, we recommend that you request at least three copies of these transcripts now. We strongly encourage applicants to bring official transcripts to the interview event. Please note that we cannot return transcripts after they have been submitted, even if you are not admitted to the program. If you are admitted, you will need additional transcripts to submit for district processing and to gain admission to your alternative certification program.

If you attended a foreign university, please review the eligibility section for information specific to candidates with foreign transcripts.

Step 6: Interview (if invited)
Applicants who meet all eligibility requirements and demonstrate potential will be invited to participate in one of our interview events. Applicants will be notified as to whether they have been invited to interview within approximately two weeks of submitting a complete application. Candidates must attend an interview event in order to be considered for enrollment.  All candidates should be prepared to interview in Rhode Island within two to three weeks of applying to the program. The interview event will include a teaching sample, a dialogue with other candidates, and a personal interview. Please note that due to the highly selective nature of the program not all applicants will be invited to interview.

Step 7: Wait for a Decision
After the interview, interviewees will be notified of their application status within approximately two weeks of the interview event. Based on the strengths of the submitted application materials and successful participation in an Interview Event, the Rhode Island Department of Education and our partner school districts will decide whether or not a candidate is accepted as a Rhode Island Teaching Fellow. At this time, selected candidates will be given an enrollment package with additional information on the program and a deadline by which to enroll in the Rhode Island Teaching Fellows program.

Due to the highly competitive nature of our program and limited space, we strongly encourage you to apply early. We also strongly recommend that candidates review the testing requirements.

This is your opportunity to make a real difference in the lives of students in Rhode Island through a meaningful career as a teacher. Apply online today.

Want to learn more? Join us for an Information Session.