Program Overview

We need dedicated, diverse new educators to close the achievement gap in Saint Paul.

Saint Paul Teaching Fellows seeks outstanding professionals and graduates to make a difference in the lives of the students who most need you. This highly-selective program is designed to recruit and train driven individuals, like you, who want to give back to our community by becoming teachers in some of our highest-need public schools.

Saint Paul Public Schools (SPPS) serve a diverse community of students and families: 30% of our students are African American, 30% are Asian, and 13% are Hispanic. The stark reality is that reading scores for 2/3 of our district’s African American students fall below the national average, while reading scores for 90% of their white counterparts surpass it. It is time to change those statistics.

Saint Paul students bring a world of experiences and varied backgrounds into the classroom: 41% of our students are English as a Second Language (ESL) students. The majority of these students are Hispanic and Hmong, a Laotian ethnic group. In total, Saint Paul students speak 113 languages and dialects. Our substantial new immigrant student population opens amazing opportunities for our children and community, but also presents an urgent challenge for educators to ensure both these students’ language acquisition and content mastery.

We know that all students can perform at high academic levels, and we know that all students deserve the highest quality education. This is your chance to become more than just a role model for the children in our community. This is your chance to become a leader in the movement addressing inequities in education by teaching. Saint Paul Teaching Fellows will work tirelessly to close the achievement gap in their classrooms. Dramatic change does not happen overnight, but Teaching Fellows’ perseverance each day will make a critical difference in student learning and success. 

Apply today to join a group of recent college graduates and professionals changing careers to teach in traditionally underserved communities.
There is no one profile of an ideal Saint Paul Teaching Fellows candidate. Fellows may be fresh out of college and ready to leverage their academic success into a teaching career. Fellows may be professionals with years of experience in the non-profit world or the private sector who are ready to change careers to teach where they are most needed. As a Fellow, you will become part of a powerful network of educational leaders, working with other progressive educators in Saint Paul to improve the quality of education in Saint Paul Public Schools...starting in your classroom.

This year, the Teaching Fellows program will offer 30 - 50 new teachers the opportunity to join this selective accelerated route into the classroom. Candidates will benefit from a streamlined application and selection process and, if selected, will have the opportunity to participate in an intensive Training Institute in summer 2008 before entering their classrooms as full-time teachers in the fall. Fellows will pursue their teaching license while teaching full-time. Most will be eligible for the added benefit of an AmeriCorps Education Award that will help defer the cost of licensure coursework. Review the Licensure section for more information. Fellows will receive a full-time teachers’ salary once they begin teaching in the fall.  

Use your content knowledge and life experiences in a meaningful career.
We are looking for outstanding candidates to teach math, science, bilingual elementary education and special education. You have the ability to leverage your experience, knowledge, and record of achievement to work with the diverse children of Saint Paul to set the course for their academic success. Open a world of opportunities for Saint Paul students. Apply today.

Want to learn more? Click here to join us for an Information Session.