DH has applied for the Teaching Fellows program in the city. Because the NYC Board of ed. didn't see a good thing the first time, he didn't get it when he first interviewed in the spring... Now they want him to interview again for their mid-year program. Start training in September and start teaching in October....
Has anyone gone through the fellows program... particularly the mid-year program? I'm a teacher and i've taught in NYC, but i don't know too much about what the Fellows program is like at mid-year....
thoughts please....
ETA: He has a Political Science and Economis B.A. and a his law degree so he's really hoping for a social studies position, but it's not considered a shortage area, so we'll see.... Otherwise he's hoping for special ed.
Irishny8
Posted:
Member since
Re: NWR: RP- Teaching Fellows
I'm also a nyc teacher. My uncle retired from his job of 25 yrs last june and decided he wanted to teach. I teach special ed and he wanted to get into that. So he became a fellow. He started in sept 2006 and taught special ed 4-5th grade in maspeth. He HATED it and is not going back..... as far as I know you get placed where there is an opening, its not always based on your background (gotta love the city) the kids were out of control, severe ED. I hope i'm not scaring you or your DH but I havent heard good things about the fellow program b/c you get placed in really really tough classes. I wish your DH all the luck.
donegal419
Posted:
Member since
Re: NWR: RP- Teaching Fellows
Posted by Irishny8
I'm also a nyc teacher. My uncle retired from his job of 25 yrs last june and decided he wanted to teach. I teach special ed and he wanted to get into that. So he became a fellow. He started in sept 2006 and taught special ed 4-5th grade in maspeth. He HATED it and is not going back..... as far as I know you get placed where there is an opening, its not always based on your background (gotta love the city) the kids were out of control, severe ED. I hope i'm not scaring you or your DH but I havent heard good things about the fellow program b/c you get placed in really really tough classes. I wish your DH all the luck.
thanks for your input... i know that the fellows program is less than ideal. i was NYC teacher and now am in a district on LI. I teach special ed. i think DH really wants to teach and is using the fellows as an opportunity to get the Masters degree very quickly and cheaply...he is still paying off his law degree!! : ) i know they don't always put you with your background (in his case social studies) so we shall see what happens. the city is so screwed up and they wonder why they can't retain teachers. I tell him he's crazy for doing it, but deep down, he really wants it and i think he would be great... we shall see....
have you seen any fellows start mid-year and not in Sept? i am curious to know more about how they do that....
donegal419
Posted:
Member since
Re: NWR: RP- Teaching Fellows
bump for night crew
LVC8
Posted:
Member since
Re: NWR: RP- Teaching Fellows
I just finished my commitment to the fellows, got my masters degree and completed my second year of teaching. I feel very strongly about the fellows program, but it is not for everyone. A few things I had going for me were that I am born and raised in Queens, have always attended public school and feel very strongly about it, and I love the kind of diversity that exists in NYC. Teaching is draining and exhausting, as I'm sure you already know. But kids are kids everywhere.
I was initally assigned to region 3 in Queens, which is probably one of the best areas to work in in NYC. Then I was excessed and took a job in Brooklyn, also in a nice area. But truthfully, it doesn't matter where you work in NYC. You will have some students who push you to the edge, usually because they need more love than they are getting from the other adults in their lives.
If your DH doesn't plan on staying in the city system for a while, I would say he shouldn't do it. The energy and effort it takes to make it in an NYC public school aren't worth the free degree. If he is committed to the wonderful things a public urban education can do for young people and wants to be part of positive things in education, I say go for it. Sorry this is so long, but the teaching fellows program exceeded my expectations and I love teaching in New York City. I wouldn't teach anywhere else! If there is anything else I can do for you or DH, feel free to FM me.
MsPotterhead
Posted:
Member since
Re: NWR: RP- Teaching Fellows
I teach in a really nice school in Brooklyn, and about 1/3 of the new teachers hired last year were teaching fellows. They all say how lucky they know they are because a lot of their friends are in schools where they fear for their safety. But these fellows interviewed for these positions, so I do think that you do have a little bit of control as a fellow.
Snickers76
Posted:
Member since
Re: NWR: RP- Teaching Fellows
I also think that they are opening the positions for fellows into more areas of the city. I have been a teacher for 8 years in Brooklyn and have met lots of fellows. Most of them have strong bond and really love the program. They are smart and dedicated. I think if he really wants it, he should go for it. life is too short to wonder 'what if...'
DCLM726
Posted:
Member since
Re: NWR: RP- Teaching Fellows
I agree. I work at a school in queens and a lot of my co-workers are fellows ....Most say while it is intense, it has been a great experience.
donegal419
Posted:
Member since
Re: NWR: RP- Teaching Fellows
thanks everyone... i appreciate the feed back.
does anyone know anything about the fellows in terms of the mid-year placement.... (i.e. fellows that don't start in septetember, but rather later on in the year). It looks like this is where he is going to be as the classes and training have already started for the people that will start in september.
