Teach/Here Selection Process Begins for Hamilton & Knox Counties

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Submitted by Joe Legge on May 21, 2010 - 6:02pm.

While the Hamilton County School system's proposed budget eliminates several teaching positions, new jobs will be created in the fall. Competition for a handful of special Math and Science teaching spots remains fierce.

You might call it a try-out, for teachers. In groups of six, these Teach/Here candidates work to solve a mid-school year problem: Little Johnny may flunk if the school doesn't create a plan to get him back on track.With evaluators taking note of every decision, tthis group problem-solving exercise makes up just one of several tasks candidates must tackle to prove they deserve a spot in a real classroom. Along with an interview, they must also teach an 8 minute lesson on math or science to middle school students. "These teachers or residents are going into tough settings where children may not be developmentally ahead as other grade levels so how do you handle those kids that are not on grade level and don't have the preparation," says Cheri Dedmon with the Public Education Foundation.

Teach/Here aims to ease professionals from other fields into teaching, through a residency program that offers a one-year masters program -- and mentoring. Many applicants say having that seasoned professional to guide them attracted them to Teach/Here, as opposed to going a more traditional route. Amelia Adams of Knoxville says "I know personally a bunch of friends of mine who became teachers and then became burnt out very quickly because they didn't have those classroom, those real world classroom experiences under their belt and were thrown to the wolves when they went into teaching."

Brent Carr of Tallahassee was also drawn in by the mentoring angle. "I think its spending a year with one teacher in their classroom, the entire time sharing their curriculum with them sharing the teach time, teaching shoulder to shoulder with them," he says.

Carr and Adams are among 50 candidates competing for 18 positions. 10 will end up in Hamilton County, while 8 will go to Knox County. Teach/Here officials will review all the candidate evaluations in the days to come. Those selected for the special program will be notified before the end of next week, and in a classroom this fall.