Has anyone gone thru this program to become a teacher? IOr know about it in general? I am looking into everything and anything right now. All possibilities are open. Scary things about this program which concern me are: 1) you will be placed to tecah in a high need area of the city 2) you have no say over where you will be placed (nearly half the applicants from last year were placed in the Bronx). BUT - full pay + benefits & they also pay for your Masters while you are teaching... which is great. Ideally, I would like to teach on LI but since schools are overcrowded with teachers right now.. this is something I am just thinking about. Anyone?
metphan
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Re: NYC Teaching Fellows
I looked into applying to this program a few years ago, but since I was already enrolled in a teacher's education program I could not apply. You have to have no teaching experience. I was also concerned about where I would have been placed. I guess you have to weigh your options. Getting your Masters paid for is VERY good and if you have to spend a few years in a not-so-good area, maybe it's worth it.
my old roommate was in a 'bad' elem school and she had some pretty violent kids...
but one of my old coworkers did 20 years in a HS in the south bronx and loved it, b/c he said that less than 1/2 the students showed up for class...sad, but it makes it easier for the kids who DO want to learn...
if you do want HS...FM me and I will give you some tips...I had a great system to getting to all the kids...even the gang members
joeslauren
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Yeah.. I know... that's the only reason I am considering it. But I am deathly afraid of being sent up to a really bad school. I know they do send a small percentage to Manhattan and Queens, but don't know if I would be so lucky. Their website does say that you willmost likely find out where you will be placed before the training does begin (so no real time lost), but I'm still nervous! They have plenty of universities affiliated with the program on LI which makes it attractive... but I guess I'lll have to see! Thank you metphan.
ILT1221
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JoesLauren, One of our brides on here (Sha11209) is currently in the program. You should FM her or do a search.
joeslauren
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I'd prefer elem ed, but will probably have to take what I can get! Yabbo - I'll send you Fm. Thanks!
joeslauren
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Thanks Irenie - I will!
jeannad67
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OK I could not resist- here is my two cents I spent 4 years in an undergraduate teaching program. Upon graduation, took a job on the Queens/Brooklyn border in a troubled area where the situation was far from ideal. Taight fifth grade, and dealt with my share of violence, parents, having my car broken into three times. All I have to say is during that time I also spent close to $20,000 on my Masters' Degree. Why is that?? Because no one was paying for it. Not the city.. why not? Becuause I was an expereinced teacher who went to school to become a teacher. Basically I dont qualify for the fellow program because I know what I'm doing. Want to know my advice to the city? Stop giving money to inexpereinced people who went to school to learn totally different things, and raise the salary, or offer graduate school assistance, to those people whose first love is teaching and who have knowledge and experience in a classroom.
Just my two cents. Sorry for venting
joeslauren
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I agree with you 100% in that you guys should be #1 when it comes to receiving grants from the state. No, it's not right that others are entitled to it when people like you are not. I am just trying to get the scoop on what may work for me
ILT1221
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Lauren, If the program is out there give it a shot.
joeslauren
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Irenie - I just called the B of E and they are talking about a newer accelerated fellows program to teach this coming Fall. I dont know how much quicker than can make the Fellows program! Guess its worse than what we all know it to be.
ILT1221
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Wow! It's very accelerated. The old way was 6 weeks in the summer I don't see how they can make it faster without completely overwhelming you. You can always apply and go on the interviews for more information.
Julybaby
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I taught in the South Bronx during my first year of teaching on the high school level. The school was not great - in fact, it went on the SURR list after my first year. I am now in a Manhattan high school and I discovered that kids are kids, whether they're in the South Bronx or Manhattan. I also have a Master's and am now about $27,000 in debt with college loans. It will take me another 7 years to pay them off (I started 8 years ago). See how long you have to teach in a needed school. Keep in mind that high-need schools are getting a lot of attention these days. Good luck!
I also want to add that my Perkins loan was cancelled after working 1 year in the South Bronx and 4 years in Manhattan. Because the students in both schools come from low-income families, I was able to cancel this loan. That may be something else to consider if you have the Perkins loan.
joeslauren
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Re: NYC Teaching Fellows
Yeah - i dont know what the deal with this accelerated program will be either. It's a test pilot program. I guess we'll see what happens.
I am just keeping all my options open right now as far as teaching is concerned. If there's a program out there that suits my needs, I may as well explore. I do not want to teach in the city forever - I would like to get a few years experience under my belt and then move out to LI - where I'll be much closer to home. I have also been looking into scholarships that are offered by universities such as Adelphi and SJU (gov't funded) where you can get a full scholaship provided you teach in a high need area of LI (math or science) once completed. There are so many different ways to attain your masters without it coming out of pocket... I am just starting to see that.
ILT1221
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Lauren, Make sure do a search on here about teaching. There are a lot of teachers on this board to help you. Good luck!
prncssrachel
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Re: NYC Teaching Fellows
Hi, I just wanted to add to this thread that I was accepted for the NYC Teaching Fellows program this year and I turned it down. Here were my reasons' 1) I live in Eastern Suffolk and the commute would be way too much since they wanted me there from 8am-630pm, which is over 10 hrs. a day. 2)They wanted me to train for TWO AND A HALF MONTHS IN THE SUMMER FOR ONLY $2400! NO WAY. Also from 8-6:30pm. 3) I would have ended up teaching whatever they felt I should teach, not what I am interested in. 4) AND THIS IS THE MOST IMPORTANT REASON WHY I DID NOT TAKE THE POSITION: If you do not stay the three years, you aquire the debt of your Master's. God forbid something happened and I couldn't do it anymore, or I just hated it, I would be in major debt. I think this is a great program for people who know they can commit the time and the energy to it, but I know myself, and I would hate every second of it. My father always told me, 'Never sign a contract for a job, you're too young.' And basically, they are making you 'sign' a contract of three years by imposing the fine of paying back your masters. JMHO. For anyone in the program, I say good for you because I give you much credit!
joeslauren
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Thanks guys... Still mulling the whole thing over... and will be for the next few months!
jillnbrad
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I will be teaching in Sept, I was not part of the fellows but I have been working for the Dept of Ed for 4 years. I have seen a lot of fellows come and go. The %age of fellow who quit is like 90%! This is cause they do place you in really bad neighborhoods
