Profile: Milwaukee Teaching Fellows

Milwaukee Teaching Fellows make a difference immediately.  Teaching Fellows earn their certification as they are teaching with a full-time salary and benefits in Milwaukee schools with the highest need.

 The Milwaukee Teaching Fellows has partnered with two highly respected universities in Milwaukee - Cardinal Stritch University and The University of Wisconsin-Milwaukee.  Fellows teaching either special education or elementary bilingual education will attend Cardinal Stritch University.  Fellows teaching math or science will attend The University of Wisconsin-Milwaukee.  Subject area assignments are determined by Milwaukee Teaching Fellows’ eligibility requirements prior to the start of Summer Institute.  More information about eligibility for subject area assignments can be found on the Eligibility section of the site. Once Fellows have completed their certification coursework, they will have earned a Wisconsin State Educator’s License in their field.  Both universities provide an optional Master’s degree program should Fellows decide to continue their education beyond the required certification coursework. Fellows attending Cardinal Stritch University will have six semesters of coursework to complete within two years (this includes two summer semesters in 2010 and 2011).  Teaching Fellows may decide to complete only the certification portion of their coursework, in which case, Fellows would not complete the final Master’s credits.  

Fellows attending The University of Wisconsin-Milwaukee will have four-five semesters of coursework to complete over the course of two years.  Teaching Fellows may apply a portion of their certification coursework to a Master’s degree.  If Fellows choose to complete only the certification portion, 36 completed credits are required.

Rather than completing a traditional teacher education program prior to entering the classroom, Fellows first engage in an intensive summer training program that is specifically designed for Milwaukee Teaching Fellows and is free of cost, before then completing additional academic licensure (also known as certification) requirements at a university while teaching full-time. This allows Fellows to become fully-licensed teachers in the state of Wisconsin while teaching and earning a full salary and benefits.

In order for Fellows to receive their Initial Educator License, they will need to enroll in our university partner's approved alternative licensing program, prove that they have passed the Praxis I and Praxis II exams, meet all coursework eligibility requirements, and complete additional enrollment processing steps (such as securing fingerprinting clearance and submitting official transcripts). While teaching full-time, Fellows will complete licensing coursework and requirements, meeting performance based standards. Fellows will enroll in their university program during the summer training Institute.

While the Teaching Fellows program helps Fellows connect the pieces to earn their teaching license, it is the Fellow’s responsibility to meet licensure program requirements. All Fellows formally commit to working towards and completing their licensing requirements when accepting their offer to join the Teaching Fellows program.  Note that all licensing courses and requirements are determined and managed by Milwaukee Public Schools, the state of Wisconsin, and/or university partners – NOT the Teaching Fellows program.

Most Fellows may be able to benefit from the Teaching Fellows AmeriCorps Education Awards Program. All Fellows are responsible for covering the costs of all licensure course requirements. However, it is likely that participation in the Milwaukee Teaching Fellows will make most first year Fellows eligible to apply to enroll in the AmeriCorps Education Awards program to earn an education award worth $4,725. This award is valid for seven years after issuance and can be used to pay for licensure or future education costs including repaying qualified student loans.

In order to be eligible to receive the award, Fellows must meet all AmeriCorps eligibility criteria, enroll in the AmeriCorps Education Awards program, and remain active as a Fellow in the district for the entire school year - meeting AmeriCorps service requirements. This service will include teaching your classes, creating lesson plans, correcting homework, planning projects for your students, reaching out to parents and guardians, and managing all other aspects of a teacher’s job, including professional development and licensure courses. Your service hours may also be spent participating in school committees, student clubs, after-school tutoring, and the recruitment and management of volunteers in your classroom or school. We are confident that first year Fellows who enroll in the AmeriCorps Education Awards program and who teach for their entire first school year will fulfill the service requirement for this award through the day-to-day work required of all new teachers.

More detailed information on enrollment in the Teaching Fellows AmeriCorps Education Awards Program and details on licensure costs will be provided to Fellows upon enrollment in the program and during summer Institute.