Why a Woodrow Wilson Teaching Fellowship?
For more than six decades, the Woodrow Wilson Foundation has been preparing outstanding individuals to teach, first at the college level, now in high school classrooms. Designation as a "Woodrow Wilson Fellow" signifies excellence, rigor and selectivity.
Teacher certification
Participation in an innovative STEM education master's program at some of the country's most well-established universities, hand selected by the Foundation for their commitment to innovation in the area of math and science teacher education.
Woodrow Wilson partner universities think "outside the box" to create programs for Fellows that combine best practices into one program. These best practices include but are not limited to: clinical immersion into secondary classrooms from day one, three years of mentoring support, and coursework that is tied back to clinical learning.
A Cohort of WW Teaching Fellows Passionate about Math and Science Education
The Woodrow Wilson Teaching Fellows are talented scientists, engineers, technologists, and mathematicians. They are also amazing people doing interesting things: fighter pilots, dolphin trainers, transportation engineers, and expert geneticists. They are brand-new grads who have tutored peers and coached kids while maintaining high GPAs and experienced R&D scientists with stacks of publications and patents. They are veterans of the armed forces, ministers, moms, and community volunteers.
The Fellowship is designed to support these incredibly talented individuals transition to a successful career in teaching. Woodrow Wilson Fellows are passionate about making a difference, about taking on one of the nation's most pressing challenges. And they want to serve the kids who most need their help.
Support in Job Placement, Mentoring, and Professional Development
The Woodrow Wilson Teaching Fellowship program offers Teaching Fellows support across a variety of areas: job placement, mentoring, and professional development.
Support in Job Placement
In addition to partner university faculty offering support to Woodrow Wilson Teaching Fellows in finding a job placement, Foundation staff commits to helping Fellows secure interviews that lead to teaching positions. Fellows work closely with Woodrow Wilson Teaching Fellowship staff in finding placements for themselves once they have obtained teaching certification. Though the Foundation does not guarantee a job placement, staff members work intensively to support Fellows in their search.
Mentoring
Once Fellows obtain their teaching position within a school district of their choice, the Foundation ensures that a university mentor is assigned to each Fellow for the duration of their three (3) year teaching commitment. Research shows that teachers with a mentor tend to persist in teaching over those without mentors.
Professional Development
Professional development for teachers in the field and for Fellows in the clinical year includes convenings, professional development events, and webinars with teacher leaders and experts on the latest teaching topics today. All professional development events are designed to meet Fellows where they are in their development as science, technology, and mathematics teachers.
Unique Benefits and Access at Each Campus
Fellows enjoy special benefits on the campus of their choice. As teacher candidates, handpicked by university faculty to enter this program, Fellows are highly regarded on their campuses. Some partner universities have chosen to offer Fellows additional benefits including but are not limited to: additional funding of the masters' degree, unique access and privileges while on campus, technology packages, special lounges, and more. Every campus creates a unique experience for Woodrow Wilson Teaching Fellows.