Glasscock School launches Urban Teacher Fellows Program for Rice students

Aspiring teachers graduating from Rice University now have a new pathway to the classroom that will pay them a salary while jump-starting their careers in education.

The Urban Teachers Fellowship Program is a post-baccalaureate program designed for Rice graduating seniors that combines coursework, highly structured fieldwork and first-year teaching experience with a paycheck. Rice’s Glasscock School of Continuing Studies has teamed with Breakthrough Houston, an educational program that puts motivated middle school students from underserved areas on the path to college, to offer this unique, accelerated teaching certification.

“This 13-month path offers rigorous training for aspiring classroom teachers,” said Glasscock School Senior Associate Dean Jennifer Gigliotti. “The first one-year cohort starts in April and offers 240 hours of field experience through the Breakthrough Houston summer program in the Greater Houston area.”

Engaging Houston and empowering its success are also goals of the university’s Vision for the Second Century, Second Decade (V2C2), organizers noted.

The program’s courses are designed to offer authentic teaching and learning, all under the supportive assessment of experienced teachers. Upon completion of the program, participants will receive a standard state of Texas teaching certificate.

Applications for the program can be found at http://bit.ly/2HdCKxr. Interested Rice students are eligible for a fellowship and reduced tuition. RSVP here to attend an information session at the Rice Student Center’s Miner Lounge Feb. 6.

The Glasscock School offers multiple degree and certificate programs for educators interested in advancing their careers and effectiveness as a teacher, principal or college access counselor. For more information, go to https://glasscock.rice.edu/areas-study/education/education-degrees-certificates.