General Program Questions
- What is the difference between the residency program and the fellowship program?
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Teacher Residency Program
The residency is a 1 year program followed by a 3 year teaching commitment. This gradual release model supports individuals with a wide range of experience to transition into the classroom.
- No background in education required
- 1 year residency before teacher of record year
- 3 year teaching commitment
Teacher Fellowship Program
The fellowship is designed for individuals with extensive classroom experience, allowing them to earn their teaching certification within a year. Following teacher certification, The EA continues to provide support and coaching to ensure fellow graduates are set up for success in their career.
- Requires significant instructional experience and a current lead teacher role in a partner school
- Teacher of Record year 1 in the program
- 2-year teaching commitment
- You have two different pathways AND two different tracks? What's the difference between the two tracks?
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Each pathway has a Certification Only track and a Master’s Degree + Certification Track.
The Certification Only track is for those who want to earn a teaching certification without pursuing a master’s degree, ideal for those with an advanced degree, concerns about student loans, or a GPA below 2.4.
The Master’s Degree + Certification track, however, provides both certification and a master’s degree, offering benefits like a higher salary, job security, and deeper expertise in educational theory, making it suited for those looking to enhance their career potential.
- Which subjects can I be certified in?
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The Educator Academy prioritizes certifying teachers in core content areas. Currently we are providing certification and placements in the following areas only:
- Early Childhood Education
- Elementary Education
- Middle School English Language Arts
- Middle School Science
- Middle School Math
- Special Education (For Residents only)
- Which school districts are in the EA network?
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The Educator Academy works with dozens of public district schools and public charters. All our of our partner schools are Title 1. For a list of our current partner schools. check out our partner page. Note that depending on availability and need, the placement sites for Residents and Fellows do vary year-to-year
- When does the program start?
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Residents and Fellows begin with Summer Institute (SI) that typically takes place beginning in early/mid-June. For Residents, SI is 5 weeks long. Fellows participate in an additional 2 weeks of SI after the first 5 weeks. Additionally, while the formal start date is not until June, once you are accepted into the program, there will be a set of required onboarding tasks before the start of the program.
- What are the application window dates?
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The application typically opens each fall with the start of the new school year and closes mid to late spring.
Additionally, our application windows lead up to Selection Day, the final stage of the application process. Our Selection Days for this year are as follows:
- Fall: November 14, 2024
- Winter: January 30, 2025
- Spring: March 27, 2025
We definitely encourage candidates to apply earlier in the window rather than later!
- Where do I apply?
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The residency application can be found at educator-academy.org/apply-residency.
The fellowship application can be found at educator-academy.org/apply-now-fellowship.
Teacher Residency FAQs
- What is a resident?
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Residents are AmeriCorps members of our program who are seeking certification and development to become teachers. Once they complete their Residency year, we refer to those teachers as Graduates. Hear more about the Residency experience here!
- Do I have to have an undergraduate degree in education to be eligible for your program?
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No! To be eligible, you do have to hold a Bachelor’s degree from an accredited college or university, but we consider applicants from a variety of backgrounds.
- How long is the residency program?
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Joining The Educator Academy Program includes committing to the one year-long certification Residency, followed by a three-year commitment to teach in our network of partner school districts.
- What is the schedule like for a resident?
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During the Residency Year and AmeriCorps service year, teacher residents spend 1 day and 1 evening a week in EA coursework. Coursework both prepares residents for their classroom experience, and grounds them in foundational principles of instruction that will prepare them for their teaching certification and beyond. The other 4 days of the school week, residents are in the classroom with their mentor teacher serving students and applying their learning in real time. This model allows residents to gain substantial experience in the classroom before becoming a teacher of record. This rigorous program provides a gradual release into teaching responsibilities. EA staff support residents through coaching, and testing support, so residents are fully certified by the end of the residency year.
- Who is eligible to apply?
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You are eligible to apply if you meet the following requirements:
- Hold a bachelor’s degree from an accredited college or university
- Minimum 2.0 GPA
- Able to commit to teaching in an Educator Academy partner school for at least three years
- US citizen or permanent resident
- How much does the program cost?
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Certification Only Track:
Certification Costs – Residents are responsible for a background check and the cost of certification test. Costs vary depending on the content area of certification and the number of testing attempts. Assistance with certification costs may be available.
Certification + Master’s Degree Track
The exact cost varies depending on the financial situation of the Resident. Certain benefits like the Residency stipend are taxable and tax brackets vary from person-to-person. Other benefits are only for qualified individuals (ex. The Josephine Silone Yates scholarship is only available to Black Residents; see more information in the FAQ below).
Costs that Residents are responsible for include:
- Tuition to UMKC (36 credit hours across 6 semesters at the Metro rate, see current tuition and fees here)
- Certification Testing fees (varies depending on certification area)
- Other various costs that Residents will be responsible for include fees for official transcripts, parking costs, and textbooks.
- What financial supports am I eligible for?
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The Educator Academy strives to provide resources and assistance to our members to ensure their successful completion of the program. We understand that money plays a role within your consideration of our program. If you’d like to learn more about the financial aspects, send us a message!
- The Educator Academy Stipend: To support you during your Residency year, The Educator Academy offers a $25,000 stipend to all Residents. We disburse this stipend throughout the year in bi-monthly installments on the 15th and last day of the month via direct deposit. After your Residency year, you will become a full-time employee at a partner school where you will receive a full-time teacher’s salary from that district.
- AmeriCorps Segal Award: Our Residency year is an AmeriCorps program, which comes with many benefits, including the opportunity to earn an education award. The national AmeriCorps program sets the dollar amount for this award each year.
- Josephine Silone Yates Scholarship: Through our partnership with the National Center for Teacher Residency’s Black Educator Initiative, we can provide a scholarship to historically marginalized individuals who are representative of the students in the schools we serve.
- We acknowledge the systemic barriers that impact Black people entering the teaching profession; we also know that representation in the classroom can have a positive impact on student achievement. Because of this, The Educator Academy strives to reduce barriers for Black individuals entering the teaching profession.
- Federal Student Aid: Residents who choose the Certification + Master’s Degree track will be considered UMKC students and are eligible for financial aid and loan deferment for existing loans.
- Can I tell you where I want to be placed?
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Residents do play a role in determining their placement sites, though The Educator Academy is ultimately responsible for and manages the placement process. Through our approach, Residents can visit school partners at their school sites and then outline their preferences. If you have a school placement site in mind prior to applying to The Educator Academy program, please reach out to a member of our recruitment team to communicate this preference.
- How does the residency model work?
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Through the teacher residency, residents complete coursework to earn certification while training under a mentor teacher. This model allows teacher residents to learn theory and apply strategies in real time. Residents gradually transition from observing and supporting the mentor teacher, to lead-teaching full days of instruction by the end of the school year. After the residency year is complete, graduates commit to being a teacher of record in Kansas City for at least 3 years. Throughout the entire process, The EA provides instructional coaching to our teachers to ensure they are growing to become highly effective in their classrooms.
- How do I apply for the Residency Program?
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You can apply online at educator-academy.org/apply-residency.
Teacher Fellowship FAQs
- What is a fellow?
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Fellows are program participants who are seeking certification while employed full-time by an EA partner school. Once they complete their Fellowship year, we refer to those teachers as Graduates.
- How long is the fellowship program?
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Joining The Educator Academy Fellowship Program includes committing to the one-year-long certification Fellowship, followed by a one-year commitment to teach in our network of partner school districts.
- What is the schedule like for a fellow?
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Fellows year:
- Attend Summer Institute and Intersession a full-time, 7-week intensive training
- Attend courses on Wednesday evenings and once per month on a Saturday
- Teach full-time Monday – Friday as a teacher of record in a partner school
- Participate in coaching and development opportunities
- Take content test for Certification
Graduate year:
- Work full-time as a teacher of record within one of our partner public schools in Kansas City for 1 year after the completion of the fellowship year
- Continue to engage in The Educator Academy coaching and development opportunities
- Who is eligible to apply?
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You are eligible to apply to the Fellowship program if you meet the following requirements:
- Hold a bachelor’s degree from an accredited college or university with a minimum 2.0 cumulative GPA
- Currently work in a K-12 (or Pre-K) classroom at one of our partner schools
- Will have at least 8 months of full-time instructional experience by the time the program begins in June 2025
- US citizen or permanent resident
- How much does the program cost?
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Certification Only Track
Certification Tuition: Fellows are expected to pay tuition for their certification coursework. Tuition is $8,000 for the Fellows year. However, all school partners provide some financial assistance and support. This will be a combination of (1) compensation during summer coursework, (2) covering the entire cost of certification coursework in exchange for an extended employment agreement, or (3) structuring payment arrangements to make paying tuition easier.
Certification Costs: Fellows are responsible for a background check and the cost of certification tests. Costs vary depending on the content area of certification and the number of testing attempts. Assistance with certification costs may be available.
Master’s Degree + Certification Track
The exact cost varies depending on the financial situation of the Fellow. Other benefits are only for qualified individuals (ex. The Josephine Silone Yates scholarship is only available to Black Residents; see more information in the FAQ below).
Costs that fellows are responsible for include:
- Tuition to UMKC (36 credit hours across 6 semesters at the Metro rate, see current tuition and fees here)
- Certification Tuition: Fellows are expected to pay tuition for their certification coursework. Tuition is $8,000 for the Fellows year. However, all school partners provide some financial assistance and support. This will be a combination of (1) compensation during summer coursework, (2) covering the entire cost of certification coursework in exchange for an extended employment agreement, or (3) structuring payment arrangements to make paying tuition easier.
- Certification Testing fees (varies depending on certification area)
- What financial supports am I eligible for?
-
The Educator Academy strives to provide resources and assistance to our members to ensure their successful completion of the program. We understand that money plays a role within your consideration of our program. If you’d like to learn more about the financial aspects, send us a message!
- Salary & Benefits: Fellows are full-time employees of the school district or charter school where they teach. As such, they receive compensation and benefits from that organization. The specifics of salary and benefits vary by site.
Fellows in the Master’s Degree + Certification Track may be eligible for:
- Other Benefits – Fellows on this track are also eligible for financial aid through UMKC.
- TEACH Grant – This is an optional grant managed by the Federal Government that many residents choose to pursue to help cover the cost of their tuition, providing grants of up to $4,000 a year. The requirements for the TEACH grant are separate from and beyond the EA commitment.
- Higher Earning Potential – Many of our school partners have a salary schedule that includes higher wages for individuals with an advanced degree. Teachers who have an advanced degree can make more over the life of their career.
- How does the fellowship model work?
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The fellowship program is geared toward people who have significant experience in the classroom. As such, fellows will play the role of lead teacher, immediately making an impact in a local classroom. Fellows are employed by the school they teach at and earn a full salary and benefits while earning their certification and completing the fellowship. Throughout the entire process, The EA provides instructional coaching to our teachers to ensure they are all growing to become highly effective in their classrooms.
- How do I apply for the Fellowship Program?
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You can apply online at educator-academy.org/apply-now-fellowship.
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