Application Process

Interested in applying?  There are eight steps:

1. Read this website carefully.  Answers to most of your questions are probably on our list of FAQs.

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 Nashville. You must provide a 200 - 400 word response 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 Nashville? 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. (1) What are the likely causes of the challenges in your classroom? (2) Explain your top two priorities for addressing these challenges, including why you chose these priorities. (3)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?

4. Register and take PRAXIS exams. Fellows must demonstrate they are Highly Qualified to teach by passing a Praxis II content area test administered by the Educational Testing Service (ETS) prior to starting summer institute. 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 test(s) as soon as possible after receiving an invitation to interview. In the past, failure to take and pass required tests within the required time frame has prevented candidates from moving through the application process. It is therefore imperative that you are proactive about registering and taking required tests. 

5. Request your transcripts. If you are invited to an Interview Event, you will be required to bring a copy of your transcript (official or unofficial) from every college or university that you attended. Four additional official (sealed) transcripts will be needed from each institution if you are accepted into the program. Because it often takes several weeks to process requests for official transcripts, we recommend that you request your 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.

6. 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 (including students with disabilities and those who are performing below grade level) to high levels of academic achievement
• 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

(Note: Nashville Teaching Fellows is adding the initial phone interview on February 1 as part of streamlining our application process.  Candidates who participate in an in-person Interview Event prior to February 1, 2012, will not take part in a phone interview, and this will have no negative effects on your status as a candidate.)

7. 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.

(Note: Nashville Teaching Fellows is adding the initial phone interview as of February 1 as part of streamlining our application process. Some candidates may have received an invitation to an in-person Interview Event before receiving notification of the required phone interview. As long as these candidates complete the phone interview at least three days before their scheduled Interview Event, they may participate in their scheduled Interview Event as planned.)

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.

1. Clearly communicating lesson content, including displaying thorough knowledge of the lesson content and presenting content in a way that is logical and precise
2. Using time during the demonstration lesson well, including progressing at a quick pace with no unnecessary pauses or wasted time
3. Presenting lesson content in an engaging way and being intentional about engaging all participants actively in the lesson
4. 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 a copy of your transcripts, you are also required to bring proof of test registration to the Interview Event.

8. Wait for a Decision. Admission to Nashville Teaching Fellows is highly competitive and will be based on the strengths of the submitted application materials and successful participation in an Interview Event. All interviewees will be notified of their status within two 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.