Memphis Teaching Fellows

Before the blog quickly turns to non-stop TFA content, I'd like to share my experience with Memphis Teaching Fellows (MTF).  

I applied to Memphis Teaching Fellows after being inspired by the TFA mission, but being unsure if I would get accepted into TFA.

MTF is very similar to TFA in many ways.  It is run by The New Teacher Project (TNTP), an organization founded by a TFA alumni.  TNTP also runs Fellowship programs in numerous other cities, including New York, DC, Baltimore, etc. 

Similarities to TFA:

• Both programs recruit individuals without existing teaching credentials
• Both rovide summer training and ongoing credential certification
• Both place teachers in high need schools
• Both programs have a partnership with a local university for reduced cost tuition for a Masters degree

Differences:

• MTF places only in Memphis; whereas TFA places nationally.  Thus if you know for sure that you only want to work in one city you may have better odds with a Fellows program.
• MTF is more targeted to career changes; TFA is more targeted to recent college grads.  However, both programs recruit/accept both 
• MTF application process is more streamlined - online application/in-person interview; TFA application process is extremely comprehensive - online application, phone interview, online response work, in-person interview, recommendation form submissions, etc.
• MTF summer training is in Memphis; TFA summer training is in Atlanta
• MTF charges up to $5,000 for teacher certification costs; TFA certification costs vary by state, but in TN the cost is $0
• MTF does not provide housing during summer training; TFA does provide housing during summer training
• MTF provides a $2,000 stipend after summer training is complete; TFA does not
• MTF only places in traditional Memphis public schools; TFA also places in charter schools
• MTF only places middle and high school; TFA places from pre-k through high school
• MTF is not an americorps organziation; TFA is an americorp organization which, depending upon how the budget shakes out, may result in a $5,000 award that can be applied towards higher education

I personally found the pool of applicants to be very different between the programs.  At my TFA interview, I felt surrounded by young whipper-snappers (though there were at least 3 other mid-career changers there out of a group of 12).  With the exception of one young man, I felt that everyone's 5-minute lesson was interesting, if not well organized.  I felt I did a good job at my interview, but after seeing the competition and knowing that this was happening every day a week in numerous different cities, I did not feel confident I would receive an offer.

Jump to my MTF interview.  Most everyone looked like mid-career changers.  During the initial information session I was sitting next to one girl who was a recent college graduate, but she was one of the few.  I ended up in a small interview group with only 4 or 5 others.  Their lessons varied from good to poor.  One girl simply read a book as we were a kindergarten class.  Another guy, seemed to be winging his lesson plan and  he kept self-commenting.  For example, he said aloud, "I guess I should've prepared a handout for you guys since everyone else did."  Later, when leaving the building, one of the other applicants was looking at a map.  The security guard asked the guy if he needed help finding a hotel.  The guy replied, "No, I'm looking for an AA meeting." 

I know the AA anecdote is actually not an indication of whether not someone would be a good teacher, but it was surprising/hilarious for me to hear.  I actually think that AA guy would make a good teacher.  He looks like a teacher and if he's overcome a such a huge obstacle as alcoholism in his life, he may be able to inspire children to overcome their own challenges.  Still, I wouldn't recomment asking about the nearest AA meeting at a job interview.

In the end, I chose TFA for their name recognition and long history and for the cost savings (no certification cost and potential americorps).

How it began...

In the beginning, on January 28, 2011, I came across an article about Teach For America.  Having graduated from a small state college more than 10 years ago, I had not heard about Teach For America when I was in school.  There was no campus recruiter...or if there was, they weren't looking for me.  I was actually fairly uninvolved in college life.

So January 28th, a mere two months ago, was my first introduction to Teach For America.  I was immediately intrigued and wanted to apply.  I figured that at least I should apply and then if I received an offer I could decide if this was really really something I was willing to do.

I read all about the TFA mission and began getting excited about the opportunity to be a part of reforming education in America.  I sent in my application 7 days after reading that newspaper article to meet the February 4th final deadline.  

After my application was sent, I continued to read more.  I started to get more invested in the possibility of being a teacher.  And then I came upon information about TFA's highly competitive application process and low acceptance rate.  I wondered how I would compare to young ivy league grads.  I read that in 2009 nearly 10% of Princeton graduates applied to the program and only 25% of those who applied were accepted.  I started to become concerned that this newly hatched dream may not become a reality.  


So I started making contingency plans.  I discovered that there were other alternative certification programs, many other programs.  I quickly became overwhelmed and tried to narrow down my options based on cities that I thought I would want to live in, cities I could afford to live in, cities that weren't laying off significant numbers of teachers already, cities in states that weren't completely bankrupt, and programs that seemed to offer some financial incentives.  

In the end I applied to:  

• Memphis Teaching Fellows  
• Because of the comparably lower cost of living and comparably higher teacher salary, and while knowing very little about Memphis the idea of it appealed to me
• teachNOLA
• Because I love New Orleans
• Mississippi Teacher Corps
• For the program benefits and although I knew nothing about the Mississippi Delta, it sounded intriguing
• DC Teaching Fellows
• Because I love DC

I was offered in person interviews with each program except for Mississippi Teacher Corps (Mississippi Teacher Corps does not do in person interviews).  

I will detail my experience with each program in greater detail in coming posts.  However, as of today 3/31, here is the status of each:

• Teach For America
• Phone interviewed, In-person interviewed, waiting for results to come in 4 days!
• Memphis Teaching Fellows
• In-person interviewed for an English position, received an offer! 
• teachNOLA
• Received an offer to interview for a Special Ed position, but didn't sign up quickly enough and wasn't sure if I could afford to live comfortably in NOLA on a teacher's salary
• Mississippi Teacher Corps 
• No phone interview or in-person interview, received rejection email :(
• DC Teaching Fellows
• Received an offer to interview for Elementary Education, but canceled the interview mostly because I didn't think I could afford to live in DC on a teacher's salary and it sounds like things in the school district are a particularly big mess

So now I'm weighing options of my current job, Memphis Teaching Fellows, and hopefully a 3rd awesome TFA option next week!