Apply to Pathways Fellowship

Why Diversifying NYC’s Teacher Workforce Matters

Male students of color make up 43% of NYC’s public school demographic, yet Black, Latino and Asian men make up only 8% of NYC’s teacher workforce. While great teachers undoubtedly come from all backgrounds, and a person’s race is certainly not a prerequisite for being effective in the classroom, we know that teacher diversity is important for our children, for our teachers, for our schools, and for our communities. Published evidence suggests that the lack of diversity among teachers may contribute to the achievement gap. According to the Learning Policy Institute, students of color who study with a teacher of color perform three to six percentile points higher on reading and math tests than those without. By becoming a teacher, you can build a great career while being a force for educational equity.

About the Pathways Fellowship

The Pathways Fellowship is a 10-month program designed to provide young men and women of color, who are currently enrolled in or recently graduated college, with an enriching experience that offers: professional development workshops, an after-school practicum, early career support, mentorship, and networking opportunities. The program offers Fellows three different tracks–general education, STEM, or Computer Science– to receive training.

General Education: Fellows will be placed in an after-school practicum to provide academic and enrichment activities, curricula support, and small group tutoring to youth. This track targets predominantly young males of color to prepare them for successful entry into New York’s City teaching workforce. Participants who opt into this track can potentially benefit from further support through NYC Men Teach after completing the program.

STEM: Fellows will be placed in an after-school practicum to provide academic and enrichment activities using STEM curriculum. In the STEM track, you will discover the techniques and tools to feel confident delivering high-quality STEM lessons. This track targets young women and men of color who have an interest in becoming a STEM teacher in New York City public schools.

Computer Science: Similar to the STEM track, fellows will be placed in an after-school practicum to provide academic and enrichment activities using a computer science curriculum. This track targets young women and men of color who have an interest in becoming computer science teachers in New York City public schools.

What Fellows Receive

Fellows can expect to be a part of a cohort with like-minded individuals whose ultimate goal is to become a teacher in NYC. As a fellow you will receive:

• placement in an afterschool practicum in Brooklyn, Queens, Manhattan, or the Bronx
• monthly professional development gatherings with your cohort
• mentoring from a certified DOE teacher
• ongoing support from your content-track coach

Our fellows aspire to become certified teachers in NYC Public Schools. Following Pathways, our fellows have been accepted into:

Program Requirements

To be considered you must:

• be enrolled in college in a CUNY school or a college/university in New York City or a rising senior who expects to graduate in the spring of 2021 or a rising junior who expects to graduate in spring of 2022
• be committed to becoming a New York City public school teacher
  have a minimum 3.0 grade point average (special consideration may be given to individuals who do not meet this requirement)
• be able to satisfy pre-employment screening, including employment eligibility verification and background checks by related agencies, such as New York City Department of Education and Department of Health

Time Commitment

As a participant you will be required to:

• participate in the Fellowship from August 2020 to June 2021
  attend professional development workshops at ExpandED Schools
• participate in an afterschool practicum from Monday through Friday from 2:00 pm to 6:00 pm

How to Apply

The application process for the 2020-2021 school year is currently open. Click here to apply.