Application Process

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• Read this website carefully.

  Our website provides extensive information about eligibility, testing requirements, application process, and training/licensure. Please review this website thoroughly to find answers to common questions and make an informed decision about your application. In addition, we encourage candidates to view a recorded Information Session.

• 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.

• Create a TeacherTrack account.

  All applications for the DC Teaching Fellows program are completed and submitted online through TeacherTrack. TeacherTrack is DC Teaching Fellows' applicant portal, where applicants can complete their applications, receive program updates and event invitations, and communicate with program staff through the Message Center. TeacherTrack's Message Center is the best way to be in touch with the program with any questions you have about the application process or the benefits associated with joining DCTF.

• Submit payment for processing fee.

  The DC Teaching Fellows program requires a significant investment of time and resources towards Fellows' long-term career in education. The cost of the program is shared between Fellows, DC Teaching Fellows, and DCPS. Due to the high number of applications DC Teaching Fellows receives, there is a $25.00 non-refundable processing fee for all individuals applying to the DC Teaching Fellows program. As our application has closed for Summer 2012 and will not reopen for Summer 2013 until this winter, we are not accepting processing fees at this time. All payments are submitted via PayPal, and can be easily submitted by clicking on the below "Pay Now" button. For instructions on how to process and submit proof of payment, please see the PayPal Instructions.  You will be required to upload a receipt of payment before submitting your completed application.

  DC Teaching Fellows does not offer processing fee waivers; however, candidates who ultimately enroll in the program will have their processing fee applied towards the $150 cost for summer and school year training materials.

• Submit Application.

  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 D.C. 

  You must provide a 200 - 400 word 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 specifically in a high-need school, and why specifically in D.C.? 
  • What challenges do you expect, and what experiences have prepared you for the challenges of teaching in a high-need school in our community? 
  • 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 specific steps did you take to ensure you would meet your goal, and how did you know you were successful? How will you apply that experience to set goals and measure your success in the classroom?

• Register for and take Praxis exams.

  Fellows must pass the Praxis I and Praxis II tests administered by the Educational Testing Service (ETS) prior to starting Pre-Service Training (score reports need to be submitted to DCTF by June 1st, 2012). You can learn more about these exams by visiting the Testing Requirements section of this website. Candidates are strongly encouraged to register and take the Praxis tests as soon as possible. In the past, failure to take and pass required tests within the required timeframe has prevented candidates from moving through the application process. It is therefore imperative that you are proactive about registering for and taking required tests.

• Request your transcripts.

  If you are invited to an Interview Event, you will be required to bring an unofficial transcript from your undergraduate institution. If accepted into the program, you will need to provide four official (sealed) transcripts from every college or university that you attended. 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 for additional information.

• Schedule your initial phone interview (invited candidates only).

  Candidates who demonstrate strong potential to be effective teachers will be invited to participate in an initial phone interview via email notification. The phone interview is the first of the two-part interview process and is designed to assess candidate strengths in the following essential traits:

  • Your commitment and potential to become an excellent teacher and lead high-need students to high levels of academic achievement, including students with disabilities and those who are performing below grade level;
  • The ability to think critically, make sound judgments, and generate multiple solutions to challenges; and
  • Exemplary professionalism, including reliability in meeting commitments and deadlines, professional oral communication skills, and professional interactions with your interviewer.

• Attend your final in-person Interview Event (invited candidates only).

  Candidates who demonstrate strength in our essential traits during their phone interview will be invited to participate in a final in-person Interview Event via email notification. 

  Interview Events are designed to assess our essential traits and baseline proficiency in our Fast Start skills via candidate demonstrations of real teaching tasks and a personal interview. Participants will be asked to:

  • Teach a five-minute demonstration lesson on a topic selected from a list provided by us.  In this activity, you will be assessed on the following criteria.
    • Clearly communicating lesson content, including displaying thorough knowledge of the lesson content and presenting content in a way that is logical and precise
    • Using time during the demonstration lesson well, including progressing at a quick pace with no unnecessary pauses or wasted time
    • Presenting lesson content in an engaging way and being intentional about engaging all participants actively in the lesson
    • Giving directions to participants that are clear and short
  • Re-teach a portion of your lesson, incorporating feedback from your interviewer. In this activity, you will be assessed on how well you incorporate feedback, including following specific directions given by your interviewer and accurately interpreting the feedback given by your interviewer
  • Engage in a one-on-one interview, where you will be assessed on your commitment and potential to become an excellent teacher and lead high-need students to high levels of academic achievement, and your ability to think critically to make sound judgments and develop multiple solutions to challenges

  Throughout the in-person Interview Event, you will be assessed on your professionalism (one of our essential traits), including being on-time and well-prepared for all activities, your use of professional oral and written communication, and having professional interactions with others.

  In addition to bringing official transcripts to an Interview Event, you are also required to bring proof of test registration to the event. If you’ve already taken and passed the test prior to your in-person interview, you are required to bring a copy of your score report.  

  All candidates will be notified of their status with DC Teaching Fellows within two to three weeks of the interview event.