“When I learned that I would be teaching sixth grade I panicked because I thought they may be too young and intimidating of an age group. They are my greatest joy each day. They simultaneously inspire and challenge me to give them my best because they genuinely give me their best.”
-2007 Fellow
Subjects Fellows Teach
Candidates accepted into teachNOLA will be assigned to teach in a specific subject area. Subject assignments are based on teaching eligibility (including passage of appropriate teaching tests), district need, and—to the extent possible—the candidate’s stated preferences from the online application. Fellows will work towards certification in one of the following subject areas:
- Biology (grades 6-12)
- Chemistry (grades 6-12)
- Early Childhood Education (grades PK-3)
- English* (grades 4-8 or 6-12)
- French (grades 6-12)
- General Science (grades 4-8 or 6-12)
- Math (grades 4-8 or 6-12)
- Physics (grades 6-12)
- Spanish (grades 6-12)
- Special Education (grades K-12)
*Please note that we are recruiting a limited number of Fellows to teach English (grades 4-8 or 6-12). Because these positions are limited, we strongly encourage candidates to consider teaching one of the higher-need subject areas.
The need for teachers of math, science, special education, and foreign languages remains particularly great. Some candidates come from strong science and math backgrounds and join the Fellows to bring their expertise in their field to the children who need it most. Other candidates join our movement to ensure that students with special needs develop the same educational opportunities as their schoolmates. All Fellows will bring their particular knowledge and skills to raise student achievement.
Candidates do not need to have a major or minor in their content area or have experience with special education to teach these subjects. Candidates are required, however, to take and pass two exams – including an appropriate subject matter test (the Praxis II) prior to the start of the Training Institute in June 2008. Fellows should feel comfortable passing this state-required content area exam and then teaching in that subject. (Please note: Fellows teaching special education must initially pass a test in an assigned content area, not in special education. For more information about required teacher tests, please click here.)
The teachNOLA Training Institute prepares Fellows for success teaching in a high-need school, regardless of subject area. While Fellows will receive instruction in content-specific pedagogy, sessions will not focus on acquiring subject area content knowledge. It is our expectation that Fellows will join the program with existing expertise in their content area (whether that is physics, Spanish, math, chemistry, etc.), and will learn and practice high impact teaching strategies during Institute that will enable Fellows to translate their academic and professional experiences into their new careers in the classroom. The Training Institute curriculum for special education Fellows does, however, focus in a more targeted way on meeting the needs and raising the academic achievement of students with identified exceptionalities.
Below you will find more information on shortage area subjects, where the need for outstanding teachers is our top priority. For additional information on subject area eligibility and testing, view our pages on Louisiana Teacher Certification and Testing Requirements.
Special Education
The Facts
A Real Need: 30% of our nation's positions for college professors in special education go unfilled every year, and 3,000 fewer special education teachers are trained as a result. Multiply by sixteen children per teacher, and our nation is looking at 48,000 children affected by a lack of special education classroom teachers in one year alone*.
What is Special Education?
Special education is a legal definition for programs that provide greater resources for certain students. teachNOLA Fellows who are placed in a special education setting will work with students who have mild-to-moderate disabilities, such as difficulties in reading, math, or writing. Special education teachers teach academic subjects - such as math, language arts, science, social studies - and social/emotional skills like any other teacher. Teachers work in different settings with students—one-on-one, in small groups or leading a whole content-area or grade-level class as a co-teacher. No matter what setting or grade level a Fellow teaches, he or she, like all Fellows, will be working to increase student achievement.
“Special education” does not refer to a specific location or fixed concept but rather includes a broad range of student services from a smaller, more individualized learning environment, to assistive technology, to a modified curriculum that capitalizes on a student’s particular strengths. Under the law in the Individuals with Disabilities Education Act (IDEA), all students are provided services that support their needs. Special education teachers “work largely or exclusively with students who qualify for these services.” The teacher’s job is to meet educational goals that have been tailored to the needs of a particular student and write new goals each year as (s)he meets with a team that assesses the child’s progress and determines next steps in the student’s education.
What Background Do I Need to Teach Special Education?
Applicants do not need to have previous experience or training in special education in order to apply to teach in this essential field. Many educators agree that while a special education teacher needs more specialized training, effective special education teachers are just very good teachers - consistent, creative, and committed to implementing strategies and tracking student progress. Individuals from all academic or professional backgrounds can apply to become a teachNOLA Fellow in special education.
The public schools in New Orleans are committed to providing special education programs that enable students to be academically successful within the least restrictive environment possible. As a result, every teacher can expect to work with children with disabilities and need a basic understanding of the system. “Special education teachers” work largely or exclusively with students who qualify for services.
What Are the Benefits of Teaching Special Education?
One of the most exciting aspects of a placement in special education is the opportunity to be both advocate and teacher. While Fellows teaching special education are first and foremost responsible for academic goals, they also work to develop a positive school environment for students with special needs. Teachers encourage students to participate in all aspects of school life and become a liaison to ensure that students receive the same opportunities as their counterparts taking a mainstream course load. Teachers in a special education setting have the potential to see significant growth in students’ abilities and join a civil rights movement to ensure that all children have access to an outstanding education.
How Can I Learn More?
To find out more information about the training and ongoing resources that teachNOLA provides, click here.
For more information on the history of special education and the movement to provide all children with a free and appropriate education (FAPE), visit the website for the Council for Exceptional Children.
For resources for teachers, parents, and students involved in the system, visit the website for Learning Disabilities (LD) Online.
Math and Science
The Facts
- Teachers Matter: The teacher's depth of knowledge in science and math is the single greatest predictor of tenth grade achievement in these subjects**. Recent research in Illinois also found that students from schools with average teacher quality who only took math up to Algebra II were actually more prepared for college than students who finished calculus but attended schools with the lowest teacher quality.
- New Orleans Needs You: Before Katrina, students in New Orleans lagged far behind the rest of Louisiana in science and math performance. Less than half of New Orleans students scored at or above basic on the science and math portions of the state-mandated Graduation Exit Examination***.
The Recovery School District and charter schools need accomplished individuals to teach critical subject areas such as math and science to propel students into their futures. Fellows will offer students an experience that, in their absence, may not be possible. We encourage and invite candidates with knowledge of math and science to teach New Orleans' students in these important fields.
teachNOLA Fellows who teach math and science typically teach at the secondary level in classes ranging from sixth through twelfth grade. Fellows are charged with ensuring their students master the content knowledge for their particular grade level according to the Louisiana state standards. In high school, most Fellows teaching math teach algebra I or II or geometry. Most Fellows teaching high school science teach chemistry, physics, physical science and biology. In middle school, most Fellows teaching math teach pre-algebra and algebra, and basic geometry. Most Fellows teaching middle school science teach general science courses including introductory courses in earth science or biology.
During Institute, teachNOLA Fellows receive specialized training which focuses on leveraging prior experiences and content knowledge to translate into future classroom success. Training courses cover teaching pedagogy, and include topics such as lesson planning and delivery, and research-based High Impact Teaching Strategies (HITS). In addition, during the academic year, Fellows can attend specific district/school-sponsored workshops on school-based curricula and effective teaching methods to successfully communicate concepts while holding student attention.
Candidates do not need to hold a major or minor in science-related or math-related fields to teach these subject areas. Candidates who possess deep content knowledge in math or science - as indicated by successful completion of college-level coursework or professional experience in the field – should consider teaching these subjects.
To qualify to teach math or science in Louisiana, candidates must take and pass the required the required teaching tests (Praxis I and II). For information about subject-specific testing requirements, read our section on Testing Requirements.
• For more information on teaching math, visit the National Council of Teachers of Mathematics website.
• For more information on teaching science, visit the National Science Teachers Association website.
*
Smith, D.D., Tyler, N.C., Pion, G., Sinedelar, P.T., & Rosenburg, M.S., "T he Shortage of Special Education Faculty: Why It Is Happening, Why It Matters and What We Can Do About It," 2001
** Dan D. Goldhaber and Dominic J. Brewer, "Evaluating the Effect of Teacher Degree Level on Educational Performance," 1996.