The Need

To ensure that America is ready for the 21st century, schools are being challenged to raise the bar – educate students to higher standards and graduate more students ready for college and a career.  Research shows that the most effective way to promote high-levels of student success is to have excellent educators  in every classroom.  However, the need for teachers continues to grow, particularly in high-need disciplines.  By 2015, it is projected that 280,000 new math and science teachers will be needed in America’s public school classrooms (Business-Higher Education Forum).

The Woodrow Wilson Teaching Fellowship program addresses these challenges by selecting exceptionally able college seniors and career changers from across the country and transitioning them to successful careers as math, science and technology (STEM) teachers.  Funded through several foundations and state governments, the initiative provides $30,000 fellowships to outstanding college graduates and career changers in science, technology, engineering, and math to complete an intensive, clinically-based master’s program at participating universities. In return, Fellows commit to teach for at least three years in a high-need secondary urban or rural school in the partner state. The program’s benefits include:

Drawing New Talent into the Teaching Profession

The Fellowship helps attract talented college graduates who often seek jobs in higher-paying math and science fields to careers in teaching. It also encourages accomplished professionals to bring their knowledge and experience to the students who need them most.

Strengthening STEM Education and Increasing High School Graduation and College Attendance Rates

At a time when the economy requires more students to graduate from high school and complete postsecondary education, increasing both the number of STEM teachers and the quality of secondary-level STEM instruction will likely boost high school graduation and college attendance and completion rates.

Improving the Quality of Teacher Preparation

The program provides participating universities with new resources to develop model programs that prepare teachers in math- and science-related fields. The Woodrow Wilson Foundation works with these universities in a broad range of areas: redesigning curricula to improve teacher preparation; creating clinical experiences in schools to help teacher candidates succeed with diverse populations; and assessing candidates’ performance in the classroom. In the long term, this approach can lead to the adoption of more rigorous teacher education standards nationwide. 

Keeping High-Quality Teachers in the Field

Nationally, about half of all new teachers leave within their first five years. The Fellowship  helps retain high-quality teachers by ensuring that their preparation is aligned with the skills teachers need to succeed in high-need schools, including significant teaching experience. Upon receiving their master’s degree, Fellows are assisted in securing teaching placements within districts that have strong leaders, experienced teacher-mentors, and pre-existing relationships with participating teacher education programs. Every Fellow receives ongoing, intensive mentoring and assessment focused on the first three years of teaching, as well as opportunities for continuing education through the partner university.