OVERVIEW

What is the Fund for Teachers Fellowship Program?

In 1998, Raymond Plank, Chairman of Apache Corporation in Houston, Texas, founded the Fund for Teachers (FFT), a national nonprofit organization dedicated to recognizing outstanding and dedicated teachers across the United States. Since 2003, New Visions for Public Schools has collaborated with the Fund for Teachers organization to award FFT fellowships to New York City teachers.

FFT fellowships support the personal and professional development of outstanding teachers by funding summer learning experiences. Successful applicants complete summer projects designed to support their own unique goals and interests as educators and life-long learners. As a result, these educators return to the classroom with a renewed commitment to teaching as well as with new insights, skills, and resources.

Teachers that meet the eligibility requirements can apply for grants of up to $5,000 for individuals or $10,000 for those applying as a team. FFT fellowships fund an extraordinary variety of applicant-designed summer learning projects. Through their summer projects, FFT fellows:

> Deepen their mastery of content areas;
> Develop new instructional strategies;
> Return to the classroom with primary source materials;
> Create new and enhance existing curricula;
> Attain global perspectives;
> Cultivate professional relationships with other educators;
> Learn about the culture and language of their students;
> Serve as role models for students and colleagues by taking on new challenges.

What kinds of projects do teachers undertake?

Since 2003, more than 300 New York City public school teachers have pursued their professional interests through Fund for Teachers Fellowships. Past Fellows engaged in a variety of projects, for example:

> In Cambodia, a Spanish and history teacher researched the landless farmers' movement with a professional journalist and assisted a rural literacy specialist in developing a literacy program.
> In Sumatra, a science teacher studied an orangutan population as part of a Global Vision International research expedition.
> In Hong Kong and mainland China, a team of mathematics teachers examined math teaching methods in urban and rural schools.
> In the northwestern United States, a biology and earth science teacher studied the geology of national parks.
>

In the Galapagos Islands, a science teacher studied evolution for an interdisciplinary project on law and evolution.

> In South Africa, a humanities teacher gathered primary source materials to be used in curricular units on apartheid and post-apartheid society.

Please click on these links to view a complete list of 2006 or 2007 New York City FFT fellowships.

WHO IS ELIGIBLE?

In order to be considered for this fellowship, applicants must be employed in an eligible New York City public school. In addition, applicants must have taught for at least three years by June 2008 in pre-kindergarten through grade twelve and must spend at least 50 percent of their time in classroom instruction. Upon acceptance of the fellowship in April 2008, fellows must commit to returning to teach in a New York City public school for the entire 2008-09 school year. Teachers may be awarded a FFT fellowship once every five years.

HOW DO I APPLY?

Applicants must apply online at www.fundforteachers.org. The 2008 application deadline is Thursday, January 31 at 5:00 p.m. Central Standard Time.

 

New Visions for Public Schools - 320 W. 13th Street - New York - NY 10014 - phone. 212-645-5110 - fax. 212-645-7409