New to Teaching
If you are considering a career as a teacher, you may qualify for a transitional license that allows you to work on your licensure requirements while you are teaching.
Memphis City Schools is looking for fully certified candidates all for all subject areas. However, the district will consider individuals with a Bachelor's Degree who are working toward becoming a licensed Tennessee teacher.
How does the transitional license work for teachers who are not yet certified?
Step 1 - Qualify
To be considered for a teaching position, you must QUALIFY for a transitional license.
There are two ways to qualify for a transitional license:
1) Hold a degree in the subject area that you wish to teach. For example, if you have a degree in Spanish, you can qualify to teach Spanish to grades 7-12. Official transcripts that show your conferred degree and major must be supplied to prove your eligibility for a transitional license.
2) Pass the required content knowledge PRAXIS exams in the subject area that you want to teach. This option does not apply to Early Childhood or Elementary Education. To see a list of the required PRAXIS exams, visit http://state.tn.us/education/lic/nte.shtml or www.ets.org for more information.
Step 2 - Obtain a position
If you qualify for a transitional license, you will need to apply through Teach Memphis (www.teachmemphis.org) as an alternative route candidate.
As an alternate route candidate, you will be required to submit an application consisting of
a completed online application form, a resume and responses to application questions about your desire to teach, the skills you possess that will ensure that you will be an effective teacher and raise student achievement and your past experience with setting and meeting goals in the face of challenges.
Promising candidates will be asked to attend a day-long interview event before being recommended to the new teacher pool. Once in the pool, a school may consider you for a teaching position. If hired, the school district applies for your alternative license.
NOTE: Teach Memphis will begin accepting alternative route candidate applications in mid-February 2010 for the 2010-11 school year.
Step 3 - Enroll
If hired on a transitional license, you must enroll in a Teacher Education Program within your first year, take the PRAXIS Content Knowledge exam in your subject area and agree to complete the necessary requirements to obtain a standard Tennessee teaching license. The alternative license expires after one year and you will not be rehired if you do not make significant progress (generally six (6) credit hours) each year. For more information on the transitional license timeline, visit the Tennessee Department of Education at:http://www.state.tn.us/education/lic/
Facts about the Transitional License
- Candidates are considered temporarily highly qualified under No Child Left Behind on a transitional license.
- Candidates are paid on the same salary schedule as a certified teacher.
- Memphis has several colleges and universities that offer Teacher Education Programs, including Christian Brothers University, Crichton College, Freed-Hardeman University, LeMoyne-Owen College, Union University and the University of Memphis.
- Many education schools offer a licensure only route, or you may choose to take a few more classes and earn your Master of Arts in Teaching. Contact each education school for more details.
Teacher Education Programs in Memphis
Christian Brothers University
www.cbu.edu
901-321-4350
Crichton College
www.crichton.edu
901-320-9752
Freed-Hardeman University
www.fhu.edu
901-683-5714
Lemoyne-Owen College
www.lemoyne-owen.edu
901-435-1278
Union University
www.uu.edu
731-661-5383
University of Memphis
www.coe.memphis.edu
901-678-2728
Special programs for teachers who are not yet certified
There are several subject-specific alternative certification programs in Memphis you may wish to explore, each with their own admission requirements and benefits.
Memphis Teaching Fellows is an opportunity for motivated, high-achieving professionals or college graduates to revitalize the Memphis education system. This highly selective program is a new MCS initiative to place talented and passionate individuals in math, chemistry, Spanish and special education classrooms. Fellows attend a summer training institute and begin teaching full-time in fall 2010 while earning a standard Tennessee teaching license. For more information and to apply, please visit www.memphisteachingfellows.org.
The Memphis Teacher Residency offers a 12 month cohort program that integrates a Masters in Urban Education coursework through Union University with extensive classroom experience. Each Resident is paired with an experienced Mentor-Teacher in their content area for four days per week for an entire school year. In addition, participants gain both a Masters of Arts in Urban Education and a State of Tennessee Educator License for either elementary or secondary education. For more information, visit www.memphistr.org.
Transition to Teaching seeks Math and Science professionals who decide to change careers and become teachers. Candidates receive a $5,000 forgivable loan for tuition toward the 18 graduate hours required to meet licensure requirements, support through an induction program and ongoing professional development opportunities. For more information and detailed program requirements, visit http://www.tnt2t.com.
