Application Process
TeacherNex candidates benefit from a streamlined application and selection process and, if selected, will participate in an intensive six-week training institute specifically designed to prepare them to enter their classrooms as highly effective teachers once they find full-time teaching positions.
Due to the competitive nature of our admissions process, we strongly encourage you to apply early.
Step 1: Read this website
Before you do anything else, please ensure that you have carefully read through the material on this website and familiarized yourself with the details of TeacherNex. The website covers everything from the subject you will teach to the benefits of joining TeacherNex. If you have additional questions, we encourage you to sign up for an information session.
Step 2: Check your eligibility
Please be sure to thoroughly read the section on eligibility, as this is a critical piece of the application process. Only applications of eligible candidates will be reviewed. If you still have questions about your specific situation, please email us at info@newark.teachernex.org.
Step 3: Apply now
We offer several application deadlines for the TeacherNex hiring pool. Because of the competitive nature of the program and the limited number of spaces, we recommend that candidates apply early. The next deadline is November 9, 2009.
Applying is easy with our online application. The online application form – as well as your resume and response to the Application Questions – can be submitted electronically.
A complete application includes the following:
- Responses to the three Application Questions
- Resume
- Online application form
Please note that all applications, including the resume and responses to the Application Questions, must be submitted online. TeacherNex is not able to accept paper applications.
Responses to Three Application Questions
Your responses to the application questions provide us with information not captured elsewhere. We use your responses to evaluate your writing and critical thinking skills, and more importantly, to gain a sense of your commitment to teaching students in Newark.
Please note that only original responses to the application questions will be considered. Do not submit a generic cover letter or personal statement in place of responses to the application questions, as it will not provide our office with the information we need to accurately assess your candidacy for the program. We recommend that you carefully review the guidelines below before responding to the application questions.
Application Questions (200-400 words each):
- Nearly all teachers are hired to teach in 'high-need' schools that are located in low-income communities. Why do you want to teach in a high-need school, and what experiences have prepared you for the challenges of teaching in a high-need school?
- The most important responsibility of a teacher is to ensure high academic achievement for all students. Explain how a skill or ability that you possess will help you ensure high academic achievement for all students and provide an example of how you have effectively demonstrated this skill or ability in the past.
- Teachers face new and significant challenges during their first year of teaching. Briefly describe a professional, personal or academic challenge you have overcome. What steps did you take to ensure you would meet your goal, and how will that experience contribute to your ability to be successful with your students?
Candidates should complete these three application questions in a separate Word document (Word 2006 or earlier version) and upload it when completing the online application. Please note: Only documents saved in Microsoft Word (.doc) or PDF (.pdf) format can be accepted. We cannot accept documents in Word Perfect, Microsoft Works, etc.
Resume
The resume should clearly outline a candidate’s work history in chronological order, including dates of employment and descriptions of responsibilities and accomplishments. In addition to providing employment information, the resume is the best way for candidates to highlight previous achievements—both academic and professional—along with any community involvement or volunteer experience. The resume should also highlight any teaching experience or student-related activities and ideally should be no more than one page in length.
Online Application Form
The completed online application form requires your undergraduate GPA, as well as information about undergraduate coursework. If you are granted an interview, it is based on material you provide in this application. Therefore, it is extremely important that all information is correct; all grades and coursework will be verified upon receipt of your transcripts on interview day.
Note that candidates with a cumulative GPA below 3.0 will have the opportunity to address any issues pertaining to their academic performance in the online application.
Step 4: Register for and study for the Praxis II Subject exam(s)
You must register for, study for and pass the Praxis II subject area exam(s) and verify sufficient knowledge of physiology, hygiene and substance abuse issues, including the effects of narcotics and alcohol through passage of an exam offered at county offices or through previous college level coursework in biology, health or nutrition or through basic military training. These tasks must be completed before accepted candidates can finalize enrollment in the TeacherNex hiring pool or begin interviewing with TeacherNex partner principals. It is imperative that all candidates study thoroughly for these exams. They often prove difficult even for individuals with deep content knowledge or relevant professional experience. Review the Testing Requirements section of this website for more information.
Step 5: Request transcripts
If you are invited to interview, you will be required to submit at least one (1) official copy of transcripts from every institution of higher education (community college, college or university) that you attended. If accepted into the program, you must submit an additional (3) three official (sealed) copies of transcripts, which must be filed with the TeacherNex office; admission is contingent upon receipt of official transcripts. Because it often takes universities several weeks to process requests for official transcripts, we recommend that you request at least three copies of these transcripts now.
Please note that we cannot return transcripts after they have been submitted, even if you are not admitted to the program. If you are admitted, you will need additional transcripts to submit for district processing and to gain admission to your alternate-route program.
If you attended a foreign university, please review the program eligibility section for information specific to candidates with foreign transcripts.
Step 6: Interview (if invited)
Applicants who meet all eligibility requirements and who demonstrate potential to be effective teachers in their assigned subject areas will be invited to participate in one of our interview events. Applicants will be notified as to whether they have been invited to interview within approximately two weeks of submitting a complete application. All candidates should be prepared to interview in Newark; no phone or virtual interviews will be available. Interviews include a writing sample, a discussion group with other candidates, submission of a sample lesson plan and a one-on-one personal interview with a TeacherNex representative.
Candidates invited to an interview will receive more information on how to prepare at that time. Please note that not all candidates will be invited to interview.
Step 7: Wait for a decision
After the interview, interviewees will be notified of their application status within approximately two weeks. Based on the strengths of the submitted application materials and successful participation in an interview event, TeacherNex will decide whether or not a candidate will be offered admission to the hiring pool. At this time, selected candidates will be given an enrollment package with additional information on our services and a deadline by which to enroll in TeacherNex.
Due to the competitive nature of our program, we strongly encourage you to apply early. Individuals applying for the early deadline will be first to schedule interviews and will be referred first to schools if accepted into the hiring pool.
