Browse 2008+ News > Phoenix Arizona News
Browse News Archives > Phoenix News
Phoenix Mayor Urges Residents to Join Intensive Teacher Recruitment Initiative
April 12 , 2008 by EditorMayor Phil Gordon calls on Phoenix residents to give back to their communities by joining the newly launched Phoenix Teaching Fellows, an innovative program designed to recruit, select and train professionals and recent college graduates to become teachers for high-need public schools.
Mayor Gordon was instrumental in bringing together Phoenix Elementary School District #1, Murphy School Elementary District #21 and The New Teacher Project to launch the Phoenix Teaching Fellows, which is also supported by a Transition to Teaching grant from the U.S. Department of Education.
“The placement of one quality teacher can impact the lives of hundreds of children. This program will help us reduce the achievement gap and increase student achievement across the board,” said Gordon. “The residents of Phoenix are dedicated to making a positive difference on our children, and I know Phoenix Teaching Fellows will provide an innovative route to the classroom for these motivated individuals.”
This spring and summer, Phoenix Teaching Fellows will select approximately 50 outstanding candidates from a variety of professional and academic backgrounds to teach in subject areas where high-quality teachers are most needed: math, science and special education. Teaching Fellows will begin teaching fulltime in Phoenix Elementary and Murphy Elementary schools in the fall of 2008 after participating in an intensive pre-service training institute to prepare them for the classroom. They will concentrate their efforts on closing the achievement gap that gives disadvantages to poor and minority students.
The final application deadline for the program is April 28. Information sessions and interviews are scheduled throughout April and May. Interested candidates should apply online at phoenixteachingfellows.org. A bachelor’s degree is required to apply and no previous education coursework or teaching experience is necessary.
Phoenix Teaching Fellows uses a rigorous selection model to select only the most promising teacher candidates. Teaching Fellows will participate in an intensive pre-service training in summer 2008 and will complete alternative certification requirements with Arizona State University while teaching fulltime – with the added benefit of an AmeriCorps Education Award of up to $4,725 that may be used toward certification coursework.
The program is operated through a partnership between Phoenix Elementary School and Murphy School districts and The New Teacher Project, a national nonprofit organization that works with school districts, states and other educational entities to enhance their capacity to train and hire outstanding new teachers. The program is partially funded by a five-year grant from the U.S. Department of Education’s Transition to Teaching program.
