Teacher Fellows Program

The purpose of the Teacher Fellows Program is to provide a supportive professional community for beginning teachers. Through school/university partnerships, the program facilitates on-going professional development for new and experienced teachers that results in effective teaching and enhanced student learning. 

The goals of the Teacher Fellows Program address the needs of the beginning teacher, the experienced teacher, the university and the participating school district. The goals include the following:

• Support classroom-based inquiry focused on improved teaching and learning.
• Provide continuous professional learning opportunities for beginning teachers, mentors, and university faculty.
• Build collaboration between school district and university to bridge the gap between theory and practice.
• Deepen the knowledge and skills of beginning teachers through advanced coursework and on-site mentoring support to improve teaching expertise and increase retention in the profession.
• Assist beginning teachers in creating environments that promote student learning and positive social interactions.

Teacher Fellows is a collaborative induction program between Texas State University and several Central Texas school districts. It addresses early career teacher needs based on an exchange of resources between the university and the participating school districts.

Through the program, Teacher Fellows earn their M.Ed. while also serving as the fully certified teacher- of-record in participating school districts. In exchange, experienced teachers (thus called Exchange Teachers) from these districts are released from classroom assignments to serve as on-site mentors to the Teacher Fellows during their first year.

The cohort approach of the Teacher Fellows program builds on shared experiences and the expertise of a seasoned teacher. These Exchange Teachers, who are released from classroom teaching duties, provide intensive on-site induction and mentoring support for the Teacher Fellows. As on-site mentors, they provide the novice teachers many types of support such as: information about procedures, guidelines, and expectations of the district; use and availability of materials and resources; teaching and assessment strategies; classroom organization and management; and methods for working with family and community members.

Since 1994, more than 500 beginning teachers have completed the program.  Participating school districts currently include: Hays CISD, Leander ISD, and Round Rock ISD.

This program is open to Pre K-Grade 6 beginning teachers. A cohort approach, which includes a full-time master teacher mentor per three beginning teachers/graduate students, builds on the shared experience and expertise of seasoned faculty. Additional benefits include:

• Tuition & fees paid (36 semester credit hours)
• Fellowship stipend (currently $19,200)
• Opportunity for Texas State health insurance through Student Health Center
• Ongoing intensive on-site induction support from Exchange Teachers
• Peer support of Teacher Fellows cohort
• Opportunity to increase and refine teaching skills with academic support through graduate classes

Teacher Fellows are fully certified early career teachers who have completed all Texas certification requirements. Teacher Fellows assume full responsibility for a teacher-of-record position in a participating school district. During that year, Teacher Fellows are supported through direct involvement and supervision by both district and Texas State personnel. The majority of Teacher Fellows are recruited from the student teachers in Texas State’s undergraduate programs, although graduates from other institutions are eligible.

Interested students submit applications, which are screened on the basis of academic, instructional, organizational, managerial, and interpersonal capabilities, as well as on the basis of commitment to teaching and professional growth and development. Individuals applying to the Teacher Fellows program must meet the following minimum requirements:

• Baccalaureate degree in elementary education, sped, bilingual, or 4-8 education from an accredited college or university
• Passed all Texas Examination of Educator Standards (TExES) by date of interviews
• Valid Texas teaching license/certificate
• Undergraduate GPA of 2.75 or better
• Admission to Texas State Graduate College

Summer I

CI 5313: Human Growth & Development

CI 5370: Classroom Mgt. & Legal Issues

Summer II

CI 5326: Elementary Curriculum

CI 5375: Integrating Technology in Elementary Curriculum

Fall

CI 5390: Research Seminar

CI 5317: Advanced Curriculum Leadership

Spring

CI 5389 Action Research for Practitioners

CI 5327: Principles and Practices of Elementary School Teaching

Second Summer I & II

12 hrs of electives