Application Process
Interested in applying? There are seven steps:
1. Read this website carefully.
2. Check your eligibility status. Applicants must meet all Eligibility Requirements to be considered for the program, so please make sure that you're eligible before you apply.
3. Apply Now! Applying is easy using our online application. A complete application includes the electronic application form, your résumé, and responses to three Application Questions. Your application will only be reviewed when all these elements are completed. You should take particular care with your responses to each of the Application Questions as they enable us to evaluate your writing and critical thinking skills, and more importantly, to gain a sense of your commitment to teaching high-need students in Arizona. You must provide a 200-400 word, carefully crafted response to each of the questions below:
- Nearly all Fellows 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 in Arizona? What challenges do you expect, and what experiences have prepared you to teach in a high-need school?
- You are a first year teacher in a high-needs school, with two months left until the end of the academic year. You implement fun and engaging activities in class and offer tutoring 3-4 times a week; however, one third of your students failed the last grading period. Several of these students consistently break established classroom rules by listening to their iPods, not turning in work, or engaging in off-topic conversation. Many of your students worry that because of all the distractions in class, they will not be prepared to pass the end-of-year standardized exam, which is required to move to the next grade level. You reach out to your principal for help. The principal states that other teachers with the same level of experience are more effective and you assure her that you already reached out to them, as well as more experienced teachers, for advice. She asks you what is going on in your class, and what you plan to do about it. What are the likely causes of the challenges in your classroom? Explain your top two priorities for addressing these challenges, including why you chose these priorities. What is the likelihood you could ensure high academic achievement for all of your students, and why?
- Briefly describe a time when you achieved a goal in the face of challenges or while balancing multiple responsibilities. 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.
4. Register and take the AEPA, Praxis, or equivalent out-of-state test. Fellows must pass all qualifying certification exams in order to start teaching in the fall. You can learn more about these exams by visiting the Testing Requirements section of this website. Candidates are strongly encouraged to register and take tests as soon as possible. In the past, failure to complete testing within the required timeframe has prevented candidates from moving through the application and enrollment process. It is therefore imperative that you are proactive about registering for and passing required tests.
5. Request your transcripts. If you are invited to an Interview Event, you will be required to bring an official (sealed) transcript from every college or university that you attended. Three additional official transcripts will be needed if you are accepted into the program. Because it often takes several weeks to process requests for official transcripts, we recommend that you request all four official transcripts from each school you attended upon submitting your application to the program. Please note: Graduates of foreign universities must have transcripts evaluated by a foreign credential evaluation agency. Please visit the Eligibility Requirements section of this website for additional information.
6. Attend an In-Person Interview Event. Candidates who demonstrate strong potential to be effective teachers will be invited to participate in an Interview Event in Phoenix, Arizona. In addition to bringing official transcripts to an interview event, you are also required to bring a copy of your passport, driver’s license or state issued ID card. Interview Events are designed to give us a strong sense of candidates’ attitudes and the talents they would bring to the classroom. Participants are asked to come prepared to:
- Teach a five-minute demonstration lesson;
- Discuss a classroom scenario with other candidates;
- Provide a written response to an educational issue; and
- Engage in a one-on-one interview.
Candidates invited to interview will receive an electronic Interview Event Guide. It is important to review the guide in depth, paying particular attention to Arizona Teaching Fellows' policy around cancellations, rescheduling, and absences.
7. Wait for a Decision. Admission to Arizona Teaching Fellows is highly competitive and will be based on the strengths of your submitted application materials and successful participation in an Interview Event. All interviewees will be notified of their status within three weeks after their interview date. We understand that being denied admission can be a disappointment, and it is natural to want to know the reasons behind the decision. Unfortunately, because of the large number of applications we receive, we cannot accommodate requests for personalized feedback on individual applications.
Learn more! Register for an upcoming Information Session:
2-3PM Pacific Time, 4/2/2012: https://www1.gotomeeting.com/register/525354984
2-3PM Pacific Time, 4/9/2012: https://www1.gotomeeting.com/register/749694585
2-3PM Pacific Time, 4/16/2012: https://www1.gotomeeting.com/register/421495192
2-3PM Pacific Time, 4/23/2012: https://www1.gotomeeting.com/register/584050129
2-3PM Pacific Time, 4/30/2012: https://www1.gotomeeting.com/register/667744808