FAQ
Teaching in Indianapolis Public Schools
What subject and grade levels do I teach through this program?
When do I start teaching?
Where will I teach?
How long is the commitment?
How safe are the schools?
What should I expect as a teacher in Indianapolis?
Licensure Program with Marian College
Will I receive a state teaching license?
Does this program award a master’s degree?
How much does the licensure program cost?
Which universities work with the program?
How is the coursework scheduled with Marian?
Program Eligibility
What exams will I need to take?
Am I eligible if I have no previous teaching experience or prior coursework in education?
Are individuals who have worked as substitute teachers eligible for the program?
Why aren't certified teachers eligible to apply, and what should they do to start teaching?
What if I don't have a 3.0 GPA?
Do I need to be a resident of Indianapolis to apply?
What subject areas am I eligible to teach through this program?
Application Process
Can I include letters of recommendation with my application?
Do I need to send transcripts with my application?
What happens after I submit my application?
When will I know if I am accepted into the program?
What should I do if I have not received a response from the program?
Where can I learn more about the Praxis exams?
Admission and Enrollment
When does the program actually begin?
What do I need to enroll in the program?
Compensation and Benefits
What is the starting salary for the Indianapolis Teaching Fellows?
What employment benefits do Fellows receive?
Will I be paid over the summer?
When do benefits as an employee start?
Teaching in Indianapolis Public Schools
What subject and grade levels do I teach through this program?
All Fellows will teach math, science, Spanish, or special education - math or science at the secondary level (which includes middle and high school) and Spanish or special education at all grade levels.
When do I start teaching in IPS?
All Fellows who successfully complete Summer Institute will officially start as full-time teachers on the date that all new district and charter teachers are required to report to school.
Where will I teach?
Fellows are eligible to teach in any Indianapolis Public School and select charters. For more information on schools, please visit www.ips.k12.in.us or http://www.indianapolisteachingfellows.org/teachinginindy.html. Please note that Fellows will teach in the schools where they are most needed and not necessarily the school of their choice.
How long is the commitment?
We hope that Fellows will commit to a lifetime career in education. The ambitious goal of the Indianapolis Teaching Fellows is to build a network of Indianapolis teachers passionate about educational equity and ready to work actively to achieve results in their classrooms on a daily basis, alongside other Indianapolis teachers with the same focus. We expect all Teaching Fellows to teach for a minimum of three years. We also hope that outstanding individuals who enter the teaching profession through the Fellows program will continue their careers as educators in Indianapolis , fulfilling our shared mission of closing the achievement gap, for many years to come
How safe are the schools?
We believe our schools are safe. We encourage concerned candidates to visit the areas in which they may teach during a regular school day to determine their own level of comfort with the environment.
What should I expect as a teacher in Indianapolis?
You should expect to work with diverse groups of students and teachers in an urban school district. To learn more specifics about IPS please visit the Teaching in IPS section.
Licensure Program with Marian College
Will I receive a state teaching license?
During the two year licensure program, Fellows will work under an emergency credential. After successfully completing the licensure program, each Fellow will receive an initial teaching license that is valid for two years. At the end of two years with an initial license, Fellows will be eligible to apply to the State of Indiana for a permanent teaching license.
Does this program award a master’s degree?
Yes, program with Marian College is a licensure program which means you will earn a Master of Arts in Teaching.
How much does the licensure program cost?
The licensure program costs $6,000 for individuals teaching math, science, Spanish and special Education at the secondary level. The program costs $7,000 for individuals teaching elementary special education.
Which universities work with the program?
The exclusive university partner of the Indianapolis Teaching Fellows program is Marian College.
How is the coursework scheduled with Marian?
As this is a cohort program, typically, all Fellows take courses together throughout the two year licensure program. Classes are usually scheduled two nights a week for 2-3 hour sessions.
Program Eligibility
What exams will I need to take?
To be accepted into the program, candidates will need to take and pass the Praxis I basic skills exam and the Praxis II content area exam that corresponds with the subject that they are eligible to teach.
Am I eligible if I have no previous teaching experience or prior coursework in education?
Indianapolis Teaching Fellows is designed for mid-career professionals and recent college graduates from all fields who demonstrate leadership, achievement, and a commitment to urban education. Previous coursework or experience in education is not necessary. We are looking for individuals to teach math, science, special education or Spanish.
Are individuals who have worked as substitute teachers eligible for the program? Yes, substitute teachers are eligible to apply.
Why aren't certified teachers eligible to apply, and what should they do to start teaching?
The Teaching Fellows program is specifically designed to provide training and support to individuals who have had no education coursework. For more information on employment in IPS for certified teachers, visit the IPS employment website.
What if I don't have a 3.0 GPA?
Candidates must have an average undergraduate GPA of 3.0 or higher in order to apply. Individuals with an average GPA between 2.75 and 3.0 with demonstrated exceptional achievement in some other area are also invited to apply. It is the responsibility of the applicant to explain exactly why his or her achievement should be considered exceptional on the application. Indianapolis Teaching Fellows cannot consider applications with average undergraduate GPAs below 2.75 due to district requirement.
Do I need to be a resident of Indianapolis to apply?
No, you do not need to be a resident of Indianapolis to apply.
What subject areas am I eligible to teach through this program?
The Indianapolis Teaching Fellows program is charged with recruiting teachers to fill vacancies in the critical shortage subject areas of math, science, special education and Spanish. If you are eligible to teach one of these subject areas, you should definitely apply.
Application Process
Can I include letters of recommendation with my application?
No. Because of the sheer number of applications we receive, we are unable to consider documents or materials other than those required for a complete application (application form, resume, and responses to application questions). Materials that are not required will be discarded. However, we do ask for references on the application, who we may contact to receive further insight on our applicants.
Do I need to send transcripts with my application?
No, you do not need to send transcripts with your application. However, all individuals invited to an interview will be asked to submit one official set of transcripts from every college/university they have attended and two additional copies will be needed later in the enrollment process. Because it often takes universities several weeks to process requests for official transcripts, we highly recommend that you request your three official transcripts now. We also recommend requesting three copies sealed in separate envelopes in order to expedite program enrollment and district processing needs upon acceptance to the program.
What happens after I submit my application?
All applications are reviewed for completeness and eligibility. Those applicants who demonstrate potential for success as Fellows are invited to interview. You will also be notified if you are not invited to interview. You should receive interview notification within two weeks of our receipt of your complete application.
When will I know if I am accepted into the program?
Notice will be sent from our office two weeks after your Interveiw Event.
What should I do if I have not received a response from the program?
In general, if you are not receiving emails from the program, you should provide us with a different email address.
If you have not received a response via email from the program within 2 weeks after submitting your application, you should contact the program by phone at 317-226-3942.
Where can I learn more about the Praxis exams?
ETS is the organization responsible for administering the Praxis exams. Visit www.ets.org and select Praxis for additional information. Our office cannot provide you with detailed information about Praxis testing.
Admission and Enrollment
When does the program actually begin?
All Fellows will start the Summer Institute in June.
What do I need to enroll in the program?
If you are accepted, the Indianapolis Teaching Fellows program will guide you through the enrollment process. The program will require that you submit three sets of official transcripts from every college/university you have attended, a copy of your official Praxis I and II score reports, a signed program Commitment Form and a copy of your CPR certification card.
The program will also guide you through the enrollment process for Marian College and the new hire process for Indianapolis Public Schools. Please note that you will need a $35 application fee in the form of a check or money order for Marian College and a $35 money order for your emergency permit application to the State of Indiana.
Compensation and Benefits
What is the starting salary for the Indianapolis Teaching Fellows?
The starting salary for Fellows is the same as that for all other beginning teachers in the IPS system; for the 2007-2008 school year, a first-year teacher made approximately $34,600 annually.
What employment benefits do Fellows receive?
Fellows are eligible for the same comprehensive benefits as all new teachers which include medical, dental, vision, and life insurance coverage. For more information on teacher benefits, visit the IPS Benefits Department.
Will I be paid over the summer?
At the end of the Summer Institute, each Fellow will receive a taxable $2000 stipend.
When do benefits as an IPS employee start?
All Fellows will be eligible for benefits 30 days after their official start date.
