Gov. Christie and Woodrow Wilson Foundation Announces 2016-17 Cohort of New Jersey Teaching Fellows
Princeton, NJ ― As further demonstration of the state's commitment to ensuring both strong schools and a strong New Jersey economy, Governor Chris Christie joined with the Woodrow Wilson National Fellowship Foundation on June 15 at a State Capitol event to announce the 2016-17 class of Woodrow Wilson New Jersey Teaching Fellows.
The Woodrow Wilson New Jersey Teaching Fellows program is part of a statewide effort to prepare excellent science, technology, engineering, and math (STEM) teachers for careers in New Jersey's high-need schools.
Sixty-two individuals will be part of the third cohort of the Woodrow Wilson New Jersey Teaching Fellowship program, which is offered at The College of New Jersey, Montclair State University, Rowan University, Rutgers University–Camden, and William Paterson University.
Launched in New Jersey in 2014, the highly competitive program recruits both recent graduates and career changers with strong backgrounds in the STEM fields and prepares them specifically to teach in high-need secondary schools.
​"Strengthening our educators with high expectations and strong support and training systems can make a life-changing difference for our children," said Governor Christie.
"Through the Woodrow Wilson Teaching Fellowship," Governor Christie said, "we are transforming the way teacher candidates are prepared so they can equip our students with the STEM skills required to succeed in the knowledge-based, global digital economy."
The Woodrow Wilson Teaching Fellowship focuses on preparing top-quality educators for many of New Jersey's most underserved public schools.
Each Fellow receives $30,000 to complete a specially designed, cutting-edge master's degree program based on a yearlong classroom experience. In return, Fellows commit to teach for three years in the urban and rural New Jersey schools that most need strong STEM teachers. Throughout the three-year commitment, Fellows receive ongoing support and mentoring.
"As the New Jersey economy continues to evolve, we must ensure that the state has the teachers today to prepare our students for the careers of tomorrow," Woodrow Wilson Foundation President Arthur Levine said.
"Because of Governor Christie, legislative leaders, university partners, and school districts across the country," Levine continued, "New Jersey now stands as a model for how to transform teacher education and ensure a strong pipeline of effective beginning teachers for all schools, particularly our hard-to-staff ones. New Jersey Teaching Fellows are the future of teaching in New Jersey, and we are proud to welcome these 62 teachers into this important effort."
The New Jersey Teaching Fellowship is funded through the generous support of donors such as the Geraldine R. Dodge Foundation, M. Brian and Sandy Maher, Overdeck Family Foundation, Robert Wood Johnson Foundation, PSEG Foundation, JP Morgan Chase Foundation, Schumann Fund for New Jersey, Educational Testing Service, William E. Simon Foundation, Drug, Chemical & Associated Technologies Association, and Jennifer A. Chalsty, with additional funding from a number of other foundations and philanthropists.
This is the third year of the New Jersey program. Before officially launching in 2014, the five selected universities spent more than a year tailoring their teacher preparation programs to meet the Fellowship's standards for intensive clinical work and rigorous related coursework.
As part of the effort, the Woodrow Wilson Foundation partners with a wide range of school districts across the state, including Bridgeton Public Schools, Burlington City Public Schools, Camden City School District, Clifton Public Schools, Ewing Township Public Schools, Glassboro Public Schools, Haledon Public Schools, Hamilton Public Schools, Millville Public Schools, Newark Public Schools, New Brunswick Public Schools, Orange Public Schools, Passaic City Public Schools, Paterson Public Schools, Pemberton Township Schools, Pennsauken Public Schools, Trenton Public Schools, Union City Public Schools, and Vineland Public Schools.
New Jersey is one of five states offering the Woodrow Wilson Teaching Fellowship program, joining Georgia, Indiana, Michigan, and Ohio in the effort.
More information on the national program can be found at: http://woodrow.org/fellowships/ww-teaching-fellowships/.