Some public schools require that you seek certification while you teach. If you are a new teacher, we encourage you to think critically about the support, training and experience offered by any teaching program. In some places, Teach for America provides opportunities to gain certification while teaching. The New York City Schools created the New York City Teaching Fellows Program to attract talented graduates and professionals to improve public schools. Teaching Fellows must commit to teach for two years in an under-performing city school.
Fellows receive some training and funding to complete a master's degree program.
The Teacher Quality Enhancement Office at the Massachusetts Department of Education is developing alternative paths to certification for new teachers and providing incentives to attract new staff. University Internship Program is a collaboration of the UCLA Graduate School of Education and the Los Angeles Unified School District to work with teachers who have emergency certification to provide professional development. All of these roles are ways folks can be critically involved involved in public education without becoming teachers. As schools work harder to connect with families and community agencies, new roles are being created in schools. There are a growing number of jobs that involve working in schools with students, teachers and parents, but do not involve classroom teaching.