about teach & inspire

Become a Teacher . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . .1

Program Timeline . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . .2

Step 1: Application . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . .3

Step 2: Certification . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . .4

Step 3: Pre-Service Preparation . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . .5

Step 4: Placement Assistance . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . .5

Step 5: Ongoing Support While Teaching . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . .6

Additional Information About Teach & Inspire High-Need Districts . . . . .7

ABOUT TEACH & INSPIRE

The Teach & Inspire program recruits, supports and helps to place highly

effective new teachers of diverse cultural and professional backgrounds

in high-need school districts and subject areas to ensure success for all

students.

We are seeking talented mid-career professionals and recent college

graduates to transition into teaching and positively impact Florida and

Mississippi students. Teach & Inspire teachers are awarded a scholarship

to earn their certification through the American Board’s Passport to

Teaching program. They also receive a stipend for completing a summer

training prior to entering the classroom. Teach & Inspire teachers commit

to teaching for 3 years in a high-need school district.

ABOUT THE AMERICAN BOARD

The American Board for Certification of Teacher Excellence is a non-profit

organization, dedicated to recruiting, certifying and supporting excellent

teachers essential for student success. The American Board offers Passport

to Teaching–an innovative teacher preparation and certification program

for highly knowledgeable individuals who want to change careers and

become teachers. For more information about the American Board, please

visit www.abcte.org

Table of Contents

www.teachandinspire.org | American Board for Certification of Teacher Excellence | 1-877-669-2228

BECOME A TEACHER

America faces a critical need for NEW teachers and because

of this, millions of children aren’t getting the educationthey deserve.

You can change careers and a child’s future by becoming a teacher with theTeach & Inspire Program.

TEACHERS NEEDED!By the year 2014, U.S. schools will need 2 million new teachers.

Florida

• 32,000 new teachers were needed at the start of the 2005–2006 school year alone.

• Only 63% of students are proficient in reading, 68% in math, and 43% in science.

Mississippi

• In 2007, 47 school districts were identified as critical teacher shortage areas.

• Only 39% of school districts had students meet academic yearlyprogress targets in reading and only 38% in math.

1

PROGRAM TIMELINE

STEP 1: Submit your application

• Application forms can be found at www.teachandinspire.org

• Follow-up interviews will be scheduled for qualified applicants during the

selection process.

• Deadline is February 1, 2008. Applications must be postmarked by this date.

STEP 2: Earn your certification (5-6 months)

• Once selected, you will receive a $650 scholarship towards your teacher certification.

• You will work through a rigorous program of study, including subject matter

refresher courses and Prepare to Teach workshops, in order to earn your

certification through Passport to Teaching.

STEP 3: Complete Pre-service preparation (2 weeks)

• To prepare for your own classroom you will observe an experienced teacher

as you adjust to the challenges of teaching.

• You will receive a $1,000 stipend upon completion of your pre-service

preparation.

STEP 4: Find the right teaching job (ongoing)

• The Teach & Inspire program staff will work with you to secure a teaching

position in your chosen high-need school district.

STEP 5: Ongoing support while teaching (during your 3-year commitment)

• We will provide continued resources and support that will include:n a mentoring programn membership to the Teach & Inspire Support Networkn access to the online resource, myteacherpartner.org

2


“We are committed to working with ABCTE to make Teach & Inspire a

success for our district. The benefits of this partnership will help us

overcome the teacher shortage issue and ensure that the new teachers

will be successful in the classroom.” REGINALD JAMES, Superintendent

of Schools Gadsden County, FL


STEP 1: APPLICATION

ELIGIBILITY

Eligible candidates must:

• Have a Bachelor’s degree in any subject area from an accredited college

• Have a 2.5 minimum GPA

• Hold U.S. citizenship or permanent residency

• Have no previous full-time teaching experience

PROCESS

There are two simple steps.

Submit all components of the application by the deadline.

Qualified candidates will be contacted to schedule an interview withTeach & Inspire program staff.

Selection will be made based upon your application and interview.

SCHOOL LOCATIONS

Teach & Inspire helps to place teachers in Florida and Mississippi. As part of

the application, you will rank your regional preferences to assist with the

placement process.

SUBJECT-AREAS

The following subject-area certifications are available:

3

1.

2.

Florida Mississippi

DEADLINE

Applications for the 2008 cohort must be postmarked by February 1, 2008.

Math (6-12)Biology (6-12)Chemistry (6-12)Physics (6-12)General Science (5-9)Special Education (K-6)

Math (6-12)Biology (6-12)Chemistry (6-12)Physics (6-12)English (6-12)

STEP 2: CERTIFICATION

We will help you complete your Passport to Teaching certification program.

Your comprehensive program includes:

• Advisor: We will assign you an experienced teaching advisor to supportyou and guide you through the process. Extra advising will ensure thatyou get the most out of your program.

• Study plan: Your advisor will design a customized study plan based onyour needs.

• Practice exam CD-ROMs: These include full-length tests and topic quizzesin both timed and untimed modes. You can practice with more than 300sample questions and full explanation of all the answers.

• Online refresher courses: You can review your subject area knowledgewith detailed lessons, video demonstrations, and more than 300 pages of content listed by topic.

• State requirements: Complete all other state requirements to earn fullcertification.


4


STEP 3: PRE-SERVICE PREPARATION

• Observation Experience: Before you enter the classroom you will observeand work alongside an expert teacher as you transition into teaching.Working with an expert teacher, you will gain experience in lesson planning, classroom management and interact directly with students.

• Prepare to Teach workshops: Online tutorials are available to help youprepare for your classroom.

• New Teacher Hotline: Free access to podcasts where you can get advicefrom teaching experts at www.newteacherhotline.com

• Stipend: You will receive a $1,000 stipend upon completion of your pre-service preparation activities.

The American Board collaborates with several school districts in your

state that are in need of great teachers. After you complete your certification

we will assist you in finding the right teaching position in your selected

high-need district.

STEP 4: PLACEMENT ASSISTANCE 5

“There is a critical need for new high quality teachers to address the teacher shortage. We believe that mid-career professionals with subject matter expertise and agood pedagogical knowledge can not only fill vacancies but help improve student achievement.” WILLIE COLE,

President/CEO Urban League of Greater Jackson, MS

STEP 5: ONGOING SUPPORTWHILE TEACHING

6

MENTORSHIP

During your first year of teaching, you will receive ongoing support from

a trained teacher mentor in your school and/or subject area. The mentor

will observe you in the classroom, provide feedback, and work with you

to improve your teaching skills. Mentors are trained to provide you with

a personal action plan based on areas needing improvement identified

during the observations.

MY TEACHING PARTNER

Developed by the University of Virginia Curry School of Education, My

Teaching Partner (MTP) provides high-quality, evidence-based teaching tools

and support for your work with students. The MTP website will give you

access to an extensive collection of teaching tips, activity demonstrations,

and video clips of excellent teachers.

You will complete MTP’s Quality Teaching training which features

video-based teaching challenges that encourage reflections and problem

solving about common classroom issues.

TEACH & INSPIRE SUPPORT NETWORK

You will be part of an elite corps of highly effective teachers committed to

ensuring success for all students. With access to an online support network,

you will join a forum discussing ways to help difficult students, to improve

lesson plans, and to work with parents.

“I felt ABCTE’s expectations for certification in my state were made clear and that I passed two very challenging and thorough certification exams. Passport toTeaching fit my need for a speedy certification perfectly. Compared to the traditional alternative route certification programs, Passport to Teaching was veryaffordable and the abundance of test dates allowed me to get certified in a veryshort amount of time.” —JOHN “TREVOR” BAKER, Lafayette High School, MS



ADDITIONAL INFORMATION ABOUT TEACH & INSPIRE HIGH-NEED DISTRICTS

Broward County, FL – Urban/suburban, Ft. Lauderdale, Student Population: 265,000, 44.1% free/reduced lunch, startingsalary: $38,500, median home: $261,500, 42.0% minority

Miami-Dade County, FL – Urban, Miami, Student Population: 356,000, 66.8% free/reduced lunch, starting salary: $38,000and one-time $1,200 stipend, median home: $252,100, 79.3% minority

DeSoto County, FL – Rural, Arcadia, Student Population: 4,600, 67.7% free/reduced lunch, starting salary: $33,516, medianhome: $142,100, 38.8% minority

Duval County, FL – Urban, Jacksonville, Student Population: 125,000, 47.4% free/reduced lunch, starting salary: $37,000,median home: $182,200, 36.5% minority

Gadsden County, FL – Rural, Quincy, Student Population: 6,200, 81.0% free/reduced lunch, 43.9% graduation rate, startingsalary: $30,010, median home $142,500, 64.1% minority

Hillsborough County, FL – Urban, Tampa, Student Population: 188,000, 54.3% free/reduced lunch, 77.3% graduation rate,starting salary: $37,014, median home: $198,700, 36.7% minority

Volusia County, FL – Suburban/rural, Daytona Beach, Student Population: 64,000, 48.4% free/reduced lunch, 81.9% gradua-tion rate, starting salary: $34,010, median home: $177,500, 18.1% minority

Mississippi – statewide salary schedule with beginning teacher minimum salary of $30,900, some districts add supplements tobase pay, moving costs reimbursement up to $1,000, $6,000 housing assistance loan available

Canton Schools – Suburban/rural, student population: 3,400, 89.1% free/reduced lunch, 55.6% graduation rate, medianhome: $71,000, 81.4% minority

Clarksdale Schools – Suburban, student population: 3,700, 81.4% free/reduced lunch, 85.5% graduation rate, median home:$54,100, 70.3% minority

Coahoma County, MS – Rural, Clarksdale, Student Population: 2,000, 89.7% free/reduced lunch, 60.6% graduation rate,median home: $65,400, 70.9% minority

Coffeville Schools, MS – Rural, Student Population: 700, 91.2% free/reduced lunch, 45.8% graduation rate, median home:$50,700, 55.5% minority

Drew Schools – Rural, student population: 700, 82.6% free/reduced lunch, 90.0% graduation rate, median home: $41,300,84.9% minority

Greenville Schools – Urban, student population: 7,400, 85.0% free/reduced lunch, 84.5% graduation rate, median home:$56,300, 71.3% minority

Houston Schools – Rural, student population: 2,000, 57.9% free/reduced lunch, 71.2% graduation rate, median home:$54,700, 42.8% minority

Indianola Schools – Suburban/rural, student population: 2,800, 85.8% free/reduced lunch, 88.1% graduation rate, medianhome: $55,700, 74.6% minority

Moss Point Schools – Suburban, student population: 4,000, 73.9% free/reduced lunch, 81.7% graduation rate, median home:$71,700, 72.8% minority

Noxubee County Schools – Rural, Macon, student population: 2,200, 86.6% free/reduced lunch, 77.2% graduation rate,median home: $59,800, 70.8% minority

Philadelphia Schools – Rural, student population: 1,200, 66.7% free/reduced lunch, 87.5% graduation rate, median home:$57,400, 45.1% minority

Quitman County Schools – Rural, Marks, student population: 1,600, 90.2% free/reduced lunch, 76.9% graduation rate,median home: $47,400, 69.7% minority

Senatobia Schools – Suburban/rural, student population: 1,700, 40.4% free/reduced lunch, 90.9% graduation rate, medianhome: $95,000, 32.5% minority

South Panola Schools – Rural, Batesville, student population: 4,700, 62.8% free/reduced lunch, 85.5% graduation rate,median home: $71,000, 44.0% minority

West Bolivar Schools, MS – Rural, Rosedale, student population: 1,050, 94.3% free/reduced lunch, 55.8% graduation rate,median home: $44,400, 83.2% minority

Teach & Inspire is in the process of adding more high-need districts where program participants may teach.Please visit www.teachandinspire.org to access an updated list.

7

Now more than ever, schools are in need of a diverse teaching force that

brings real-world knowledge and leadership into America’s classrooms.

Teach & Inspire is looking for applicants like you!

• Get a $650 scholarship towards earning your teacher certification.

• Receive a $1,000 stipend upon completing ABCTE pre-service preparation.

• Applications must be postmarked by February 1, 2008.

Apply online today at www.teachandinspire.org


8

“For the first time, I am working to benefit others

and it is extremely satisfying. Teaching makes me very

happy and I am forever indebted to the American Board

for allowing me this opportunity.” JASON LANGIN,

American Board teacher

WHY WAIT?

“This affordable and convenient alternative option was a perfect

complement to my busy work schedule. The American Board

program allowed me to work full-time and pursue becoming a

teacher.” –CLARK SARGE, American Board English teacher

“Teaching is one of the most rewarding careers. I wanted to be

teaching within a year. My certificate was treated the same

as that of any other starting teacher and I received a full salary.”

–ERROL FORSMAN, American Board elementary teacher

“My experience with the American Board has been flawless.

The staff was extremely supportive and genuinely interested

in my successful completion of the program. By obtaining two

certifications, I can finally empower my students to reach for

the stars and pursue their dreams.” –KATHLEEN HEFNER,

American Board elementary and special education teacher

“Going through the regular channels, it would’ve taken me three

or four extra years. The American Board let me get into the

classroom a lot sooner.” –UDO LUTES, American Board math teacher

1225 19th Street, NW, Suite 400

Washington, DC 20036

(877) 669-2228 phone

www.teachandinspire.org

TI0710

about teach & inspire

Documents