About the Program

Program Overview

teachNOLA Teaching Fellows seeks the nation's most outstanding mid-career professionals and recent college graduates to significantly impact education by teaching in New Orleans public schools. This highly-selective initiative recruits talented individuals with an intense desire to drive the city's rebirth by boosting academic achievement for all students. Please note that it is in a candidate's best interest to apply as early as possible. teachNOLA runs a rolling admissions process, and our interview events tend to fill up quickly. Additionally, applying early ensures that candidates have a better chance of receiving their subject preference and have adequate time to prepare for the required tests. We are no longer accepting applications for the 2010 Teaching Fellows cohort. We encourage you to visit our site in October 2010 to view opportunities for the 2011-2012 school year. If you would like to be informed when we begin accepting applications again, we encourage you to register here.

This is a critical time for New Orleans and a potential watershed moment for public education in the United States. The reconfiguration of the city's schools following Hurricane Katrina provides a historic opportunity to transform one of the nation's lowest performing school systems. That transformation will not be possible, however, without a cohort of accomplished, goal-oriented individuals like you.

As a teachNOLA Teaching Fellow, you will draw on your experience and record of achievement to improve the lives of the city's neediest students. Teaching Fellows are part of a powerful network of committed education leaders working in one of the most exciting environments for urban education reform.

After being accepted to our program, Fellows are 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. For the 2010-2011 school year, we are recruiting Fellows to teach the following high need subjects: science, math, special education, Spanish and early childhood education.

Candidates accepted into the program begin their commitment by attending a five-week training Institute designed specifically for teachNOLA. During Institute, Fellows are exposed to seminars and workshops on standards-based instruction, teaching strategies, and classroom management and culture. teachNOLA Teaching Fellows also partner with current teachers, gain experience with lesson planning and have the opportunity to lead classes.

teachNOLA Teaching Fellows will receive personalized assistance with seeking a teaching position in one of the program's partner schools. teachNOLA will connect you with all of the city's highest-need open-enrollment charter and Recovery School District schools. Ultimately, however, Fellows are responsible for securing their full-time teaching position. teachNOLA is not the hiring agent and therefore cannot offer a job guarantee to Fellows. By enrolling in teachNOLA Teaching Fellows, you will instantaneously be immersed in our city’s network of dedicated teachers and school leaders. You will become part of the movement to bring excellence into all New Orleans classrooms.

Socially conscious professionals and recent college graduates that are looking to make a difference in New Orleans by addressing educational inequalities are strongly encouraged to apply.

The task of rebuilding our schools is monumental, and it will not be easy. However, the time is now. We are calling on you to accept the challenge of improving academic outcomes for all of our city’s children.