Training & Resources
Your commitment to your new career as a teacher begins with an intensive summer training institute designed specifically for this accelerated route to teaching. Summer training is one of the most exciting—and demanding—aspects of this selective program. Candidates accepted into TeacherNex begin their commitment with a six-week training institute that will include:
- A practice teaching assignment in a summer school classroom, which will provide you with an opportunity to observe, lesson plan and gradually lead classroom instruction with on-site guidance from experienced teachers
- Framework sessions with experienced educators designed to delve into a curriculum focused on student standards, foundations of teaching, classroom management and other skills necessary to become an effective teacher in a high-need school
- Discussions and activities revolving around the challenges and benefits of teaching in a diverse, high-need, urban educational setting
- An opportunity for networking with other TeacherNex candidates who have made the same commitment to improve the quality of education for Newark’s children
The institute consolidates a great deal of training into only a few weeks; thus, training is extremely demanding. Fellows must attend training five days a week from approximately 8:00 a.m. to 6:00 p.m. daily. All dates will be finalized as the summer school calendars are published for 2010, but the training institute is expected to run from late June, 2010 through early August, 2010. Due to the critical role that training plays in preparing you for success in the classroom, you cannot miss any portion of the institute.
As individuals joining TeacherNex will not start receiving a salary until they find a teaching position, it is essential that you prepare financially for the months of the summer institute. However, while you will be responsible for covering licensure-related costs, the institute has no tuition costs, and you will receive a pre-tax stipend upon successful completion of training, and when you have met all requirements for teaching in Newark, to help defer the cost of living. The exact amount of the stipend is not finalized, but will be around $1000.
Learn more about TeacherNex’s accelerated route to licensure.
By joining TeacherNex, you will become part of a cohort of dedicated teachers, forming a network for sharing resources and best practices for years to come. A new teacher’s first year is particularly challenging, and you should anticipate long hours and intense effort, especially during the first semester. Since TeacherNex candidates will work in high-need schools, often with limited resources, candidates are chosen for their ability to solve problems creatively and independently—an important factor in their success in the classroom. You will have access to several resources, including the network of other TeacherNex candidates with whom you will form close relationships as you begin teaching.
Teachers often develop their ongoing support network at the school level. Although every situation is different, teachers may pursue opportunities to collaborate with co-teachers at their school, and with school-provided instructional specialists, assistant principals, principals and/or a grade- or subject-level team. Although districts and schools work hard to offer a range of support services to all new teachers, they sometimes face resource limitations that may hinder these services. As a result, TeacherNex candidates often find that the most important avenue of ongoing support comes from both within their school community and from other TeacherNex teachers who are experiencing similar successes and struggles. The most successful educators proactively reach out to maximize these resources—collaborating, observing excellent teachers, and constantly refining their practice.
