The
Need
All
students deserve highly qualified teachers who both know
the content they will be teaching as well as age appropriate
strategies for teaching that content. It is particularly
evident in Philadelphia’s high poverty middle schools
that such teachers are not the norm. Rather, these middle
schools are staffed predominantly with elementary certified
teachers who do not have strong backgrounds in the academic
content that 7th and 8th graders need. Typically, teachers
who have secondary certification in the content areas have
been trained to teach high school students and are usually
not prepared for the unique age group that makes up middle
schools.
The
Purpose
The
goal of the Transition to Teaching Program (TTT) is to provide
40 highly qualified college graduates and mid-career changers
with alternate routes to teaching certification for placement
in Philadelphia’s Talent Development middle and high
schools. The targeted academic areas are mathematics and
science. The Philadelphia Education Fund, in collaboration
with Johns Hopkins University and the School District of
Philadelphia, will provide an array of direct supports to
guide the apprentices through a successful teaching experience
and the teacher certification process. This comprehensive
professional development program includes an intensive three
week summer institute, ongoing training in pedagogy and
curriculum, monthly mentoring by the Fund’s Adjunct
Faculty, and Praxis examination study sessions. The Fund
will provide financial incentives including a cash stipend,
and contributions to colleges and universities toward reimbursement
for certification course work.
Accomplishments
- More
than 100 applicants applied for Transition to Teaching
positions.
- The
School District’s Human Resources Office accepted
57 candidates.
- 100
percent of these candidates have strong science and math
backgrounds.
- 22
candidates have been placed in schools for the start of
the 2002-2003 academic year.
Funding
Source
United
States Department of Education
Contact
Information
Allie
Mulvihill, Senior Program Director amulvihill@philaedfund.org
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