The Educator Academy Teacher Fellowship
The Teacher Fellowship Model
At The Educator Academy (The EA), we envision a city where equitable education is guaranteed. Research shows us that the greatest school factor that can impact a child’s learning outcomes is the quality of their teacher. Therefore, we are focused on recruiting, preparing and developing highly effective teachers in the classroom. Unlike the residency, 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.
Year 1: Certification Year
In Year 1 of the fellowship, fellows are earning their teaching certification while working full time as a teacher. Ahead of the school year starting, Fellows go through 7 weeks of summer training led by The Educator Academy to prepare them for their classrooms in the fall. This training with a cohort model builds a strong foundation for the year to come. Throughout the school year and the following summer, fellows will complete virtual and in-person training related to their certification. Beyond just providing certification, The Educator Academy’s coaching focuses on developing skills a teacher will need to transform their classroom into a place where students receive the education they deserve. Through coaching and testing support, The Educator Academy provides a comprehensive approach to supporting teachers.
Year 2: Graduate Year
After earning their certification, fellow graduates continue to teach as a teacher-of-record in a partner school. Fellow graduates continue to receive instructional coaching, development and networking opportunities through The Educator Academy. During the second year, fellows focus on building a robust skill set that will push student’s academic success and emotional development forward. The Educator Academy’s coaches support them in that pursuit through classroom visits and debriefs, as well as providing resources and connections to other educators.
The Educator Academy Teacher Fellowship
Fellowship Benefits
- Expedited Runway
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Many other models require a longer pathway to certification, but in our fellowship model, fellows earn their certification in 1 year, while remaining in the classroom. This timeline allows you to continue to make an impact in classrooms while also quickly earning the certification required by the state of Missouri and districts throughout the metro. In contrast to other certification pathways, Educator Academy’s program is faster and more effective.
- Career Development
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Our fellowship program allows you to refine your skills and widen your impact in the classroom. Through our coaching and support of a cooperating teacher, fellows get individualized coaching and support geared towards their success in education.
- Support with Certification
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We aren’t just a pathway to certification–we provide hands-on support for your whole certification process. Our staff provides support and guidance throughout the certification process including testing strategies and direct instruction in content. Choosing our fellows program provides you a unique set of supports as you take the next step in your education career.
- Community
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Our model connects you with a community of like-minded professionals in education. With your cohort of fellows you will gain insight and community with teachers going through the process with you. Beyond your fellowship cohort, The Educator Academy’s network is expansive throughout the region, supporting your growth and development wherever your career takes you in education.
- Teacher Wellness Supports
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In addition to our programmatic development through classroom mentorship and coaching, Educator Academy also offers well-being and sustainability supports to our members as they work towards accelerated certification including:
- Experience Check-Ins:
- Time and Task Management Tools
- Teacher Support Spaces
- Access to free and low cost mental health services
The Educator Academy Teacher Fellowship
Benefits of Teacher Certification
If you are already in the classroom, there are many reasons you should consider becoming a certified teacher.
Increase your impact: A certified teacher of record position allows you to build relationships and connections with a whole classroom while leading them through a year of growth. The certification process through EA’s Fellowship is an investment in your career and will benefit the students in your future classroom.
Career Sustainability: We need more highly qualified individuals in classrooms with kids. All teachers provide meaningful contributions to the education system, but teacher certification comes with unique benefits including better pay and more career mobility.
Grow your Network: Expand your connections with other like-minded educators looking to make a difference in education. By going through The EA’s Teacher Fellowship program, you’ll open a door to further connections.
One program – two tracks:
Certification Only or Master’s Degree + Certification
Our fellowship program offers two tailored tracks: Certification Only or Master’s Degree + Certification.
Certification Only Track:
This track is ideal for those who already hold an advanced degree, prefer to avoid taking on additional student loans, or may not meet the GPA requirement for a master’s program (under 2.4). By choosing this track, you can focus on earning your teaching certification without the commitment of a master’s degree.
Master’s Degree + Certification Track:
For those looking to enhance their qualifications and maximize their career potential, the Master’s Degree + Certification track offers several benefits. Earning a master’s degree can lead to a higher salary, greater job security, and increased opportunities for leadership roles in educaiton. Additionally, it can provide a deeper understanding of educational theory and practice, which can be invaluable in the classroom.
Explore your options and choose the fellowship track that best fits your needs—click here to view a detailed side-by-side comparison of the two tracks.
teacher fellowship
Financial Aspects of the Certification Only Track
The Educator Academy is a financially competitive option for receiving your teaching certification. Too often, finances keep well-qualified individuals from joining education, so we work to make the financial components of our teacher training program as reasonable as we can.
Financial Supports
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.
Costs of Program
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 Cost: 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.
Teacher fellowship
Financial Aspects of the Master’s Degree + Certification Track
The Fellowship Program provides you with the opportunity to pursue a Master’s degree. Fellows on this track pay for tuition through the University of Missouri-Kansas City for the master’s degree and are therefore eligible for federal student aid, scholarships, and grants. The Master’s Degree + Certification track gives access to additional education and development, particularly in the second year, along with access to higher earning potential at many of our partners, who have a graduated pay scale for teachers who hold a Master’s. This pathway comes with additional benefits and costs, outlined below.
Financial Supports
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.
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 and fellows 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.
Costs of Program
UMKC Tuition: Program participants who pursue a Master’s complete their Master of Arts in Teaching through our partnership with the University of Missouri Kansas City (UMKC). This program consists of 36 credit hours completed over 6 semesters. The tuition rate is set by the University of Missouri Kansas City (UMKC) and may vary depending on state residency. For year 2 of the master’s program, individuals must purchase any needed textbooks.
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.
Financial FAQs
- Do I still receive my salary and benefits from my school?
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Yes, fellows remain full-time employees of the school district or charter school where you teach while participating in the program. As such, you receive compensation and benefits from that organization. The specifics of salary and benefits vary by site.
- What are the matriculation and testing costs for?
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This includes the cost to take the PRAXIS certification exam, background checks that are required, as well as ordering all official transcripts.
- What is the certification tuition?
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Fellows are expected to pay tuition to The Educator Academy for their certification coursework. Tuition is $8,000 for the fellows year. **However, all school partners provide some financial assistance and support. This could be one or a combination of the following: (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.
- What is the TEACH grant?
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The TEACH Grant Program is a federal program that provides grants of up to $4,000 a year to students who are completing or plan to complete coursework needed to begin a career in teaching and are committed to teaching for at least four years after receiving the grant. This grant can be used toward tuition or student loans. Participants pursuing the Master’s degree would be eligible for this grant. Many participants choose to utilize the TEACH grant, but this grant program is not facilitated by The Educator Academy. You can find more details at: studentaid.gov/teach-grant-program.
- How do I figure out what my tuition rate will be for the Master’s degree?
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If you are choosing the Certification + Master’s track, you will have additional tuition fees due to UMKC. Tuition rates for the Master’s degree through UMKC vary depending on where you live. There are 36 credit hours in the Master of Arts in Teaching. The tuition rates per credit hour are listed on UMKC’s Cashiers Page (umkc.edu/cashiers/tuition-fees) and are as follows.
- Missouri resident and Graduate Metro Rate: $512.40 (Atchison, Douglas, Franklin, Jackson, Jefferson, Johnson, Leavenworth, Miami, Osage, Shawnee and Wyandotte Counties)
- Midwest Student Exchange Program: $768.60 (Indiana, Kansas, Minnesota, Missouri, Nebraska, North Dakota, Ohio, and Wisconsin)
- Nonresident: $1,286.25
- In addition to the tuition due, you can expect additional fees to be included each semester.
The Educator Academy Teacher Fellowship
The Educator Academy Process
- Eligibility
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- 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
- Be a US citizen or permanent resident
- Application
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- Stage 1: Initial Application – Applicants submit an initial application with their basic information including academic history, background experience, certification preferences, as well as one short answer question. Submit your application here!
- Stage 2: Phone Interview – The Educator Academy conducts a 30 minute phone interview where we ask a few questions, check in about application materials, and answer any questions candidates may have. Applicants also submit a recommendation from an administrator.
- Stage 3: Selection Day + Observation– Applicants attend a full day event which includes additional interviews, a group project, & the completion of a handful of independent tasks. Within a few days of this event, a coach from Educator Academy will also schedule a visit to your classroom to observe your teaching and debrief that observation.
- Fellows Year
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- 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
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- 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
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Which Program is right for me?
The Residency vs Fellowship
Both of our teacher certification programs provide you support and development in your career in education. Both pathways are rigorous and accelerated, yet each has unique requirements and offerings.
Both Offer:
- Teacher wellness support
- High quality instructional coaching
- Certification in 1 year
- Access to The Educator Academy Network
Fellowship
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 instructional experience, as a lead teacher focused on academics and current role in a K-12 (or Pre-K) classroom
- Teacher of Record year 1 in the program
- 2-year teaching commitment
Residency
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
The Educator Academy Teacher Fellowship
Ready to be a Teacher?
Are you ready to earn your teaching certification and Master’s degree while receiving coaching and support in a hands-on classroom environment? Then we want you to apply for the most innovative teachers training programs in Kansas City.