NYC Teacher Residency FAQ

• What does alternative certification mean?

  As an alternate route program, the NYC Teaching Residency accelerates the process of bringing new teachers to the classrooms that need them most.  Rather than completing a traditional teacher education program prior to entering the classroom, Residents are immersed into a NYC public school community working as an apprentice teacher for one school year and complete further academic requirements while working within the Department of Education.

• Do Residents receive state certification?

  Residents are certified under a Transitional B certificate issued by NY State following the successful completion of their Residency year. Upon completion of the master's degree program Residents may apply for Initial certification.
  

• Do Residents take teacher certification exams like the LAST and CST?

  While you do not need to take the LAST and CST exams prior to beginning the Residency program, you must pass these exams before you can begin teaching full time following your Residency year. Residents take the LAST and their subject area-specific CST in the spring of their Residency year.

• What is the difference between the Residency program and other alternative certification programs, like the NYC Teaching Fellows program or Teach for America?

  While both NYC Teaching Fellows and TFA corps members participate in a short, intensive summer training program prior to their first year of teaching, NYC Teaching Residents learn the essentials of great teaching while fully immersed in a NYC public school community for one full school year. Residents will be assigned a training school, will learn from and work alongside a highly skilled mentor teacher in their classroom, and benefit from the support of a small cohort of fellow Residents in their school. In addition to the school-based residency, Residents will take university coursework towards a master’s degree in education that is tailored to support their work towards turning around low-performing schools and will provide a foundation for a lifelong career in education.

• What does “school turnaround” mean?

  The phrase “school turnaround” refers to a strategy focused on turning around a school’s performance.  Schools undergoing school turnaround are typically some of New York City’s lowest performing schools. 

• What type of person makes a good candidate for the NYC Teaching Residency?

  We look for candidates from a broad range of personal and professional backgrounds that are committed to raising student achievement in their classrooms and working with their entire school community to drive change in school turnaround efforts.  Successful Resident candidates display excellence in their previous endeavors, and are dedicated to reaching and influencing students—especially those in under-resourced areas—on a daily basis for long-term impact. Learn more about who we look for in Residency candidates.

• How can someone determine whether s/he is eligible for the NYC Teaching Residency?

  Applicants to the Residency must meet a number of strict eligibility requirements.

• Is a candidate eligible if they have no prior teaching experience or education coursework?

  Yes. Individuals without prior teaching experience or coursework in education are eligible for the program and encouraged to apply. The Residency is specifically designed to attract high-quality applicants from diverse, non-education backgrounds into the teaching profession.

• Why aren't certified teachers eligible to apply, and what should they do to get teaching positions in NYC?

  The NYC Teaching Residency program is specifically designed to provide training and support to individuals from a variety of educational and career backgrounds that would otherwise be unable to be certified to teach and that are interested in making a career transition into teaching. For more information about other opportunities to teach in New York City, please refer to the Department of Education's recruitment website or call 1-800-TeachNYC.

• I have a Bachelor's degree from a non-U.S. university. Can I still apply?

  Yes, you are welcome to apply; however, you must have your transcripts evaluated by World Education Services, a foreign education translation service, and submit the evaluation with your transcript to the NYC Teaching Residency and to your university. Please note that evaluations must be completed by World Education Services.

• What type of master’s degree do Residents earn?

  NYC Teaching Residents will pursue a Master of Science in Adolescent Education at St. John’s University with a concentration in the subject area in which they will be teaching.

• How long does it take to complete the master’s degree?

  The master’s degree will take between two and three years to complete depending on the Residents subject area and their prior academic coursework. 

• What is the cost of the master’s degree to the Resident?

  While the exact amount has not yet been finalized, August 2012 Residents can expect to contribute $6,600 towards their degree through paycheck deductions once they begin receiving a full-time teaching salary.

• Are Residents eligible for the Teacher Loan Forgiveness Program?

  The Teacher Loan Forgiveness Program is intended to encourage individuals to enter and continue in the teaching profession. Under this program, individuals who teach full time for five consecutive, complete academic years in certain elementary and secondary schools that serve low-income families and meet other qualifications may be eligible for forgiveness of up to a combined total of $17,500 in principal and interest on their FFEL and/or Direct Loan program loans. Residents may be eligible for the Teacher Loan Forgiveness Program, but since this is a federal program, Residents should contact the program directly to determine eligibility. More information on this program can be found here.

• What do Residents teach?

  August 2012 Residents will be certified to teach science, math, English or social studies in grades 7-12.

• How does a person know what he/she is eligible to teach?

  Subject area eligibility is determined by a candidate’s academic background. In general, candidates must have an undergraduate degree within a specific subject area in order to be eligible to teach that subject. Please refer to our subject area eligibility requirements for additional questions.

• Where do Residents teach?

  Residents will focus their job search within a specific set of NYC public schools identified as the most in need of improvement.  Recently, these schools have been concentrated in the Bronx and Brooklyn, with a few in Manhattan and Queens. 

• How does the job search process work?

  In order to support Residents in securing a full-time teaching position after the residency year, the NYC Teaching Residency program will provide Residents with guidance, tools, and access to events that will help Residents to connect with hiring representatives and available positions within the target set of schools.  Whenever possible, the NYC Teaching Residency program will also work with principals in order to facilitate the hiring of multiple Residents into the same school so that the Residents are a part of a cohort of teachers working together to improve student achievement in a school community.

• What do Residents earn while completing the year-long residency?

  NYC Teaching Residents will earn an apprentice teacher salary of $22,500 during their residency year and will be eligible to receive health benefits. Note that salary is contingent on negotiations with the UFT.

• What is the starting salary for Residents in their first year as a full-time teacher?

  As participants in the NYC Teaching Residency program, Residents will be eligible to be hired with one year of seniority and at one salary step above other first-year teachers. A Resident with only a bachelor’s degree and no additional coursework at the start of the Residency program can expect to earn a starting salary of $48,434.  Upon completion of the master’s degree, Residents can expect their salary to increase to $54,731.

• What is meant by “subsidized master’s degree”?

  Please see our master’s degree page  for more information about the subsidized Master’s Degree at St. John’s University.

• How are Residents prepared for the classroom?

  Residents spend the Residency year fully immersed in a NYC public school classroom working as an apprentice teacher with the guidance and support of an experienced mentor teacher. Residents also attend university coursework at St. John’s University, learning supplementary theoretical context for their immersive classroom experience. Residents also are trained by program staff at Residency Practicum Sessions in key strategies designed to raise student achievement and to support Residents’ ongoing efforts to promote positive change in the classroom. At the end of the Residency year, Residents will be well versed in instructional and behavior management strategies that will serve as building blocks of a highly effective teaching practice.

• How intensive is the Residency year?

  The Residency year is a full-time commitment. During the Residency year, Residents will work in a NYC public school as apprentice teachers Monday through Thursday from 8 am to 3 pm and will attend university coursework at St. John’s University on Fridays. In addition, there are evening hours required a few times a month for additional training and development.

• What support is provided to NYC Teaching Residents?

  NYC Teaching Residents have many sources of support both during their Residency year and once they begin teaching full time. During the Residency year, Residents are supported by their Resident Mentor Teachers in the classroom, by a program staff member on site at their school, and by a small cohort of fellow Residents also working at their training site. Following the Residency year, a Field Consultant from St. John’s University will visit Residents on site in their classroom. The Field Consultant provides Residents with constructive feedback and support and help Residents make connections between their ongoing university coursework and their work in the classroom.