Summer Teaching Fellowship

Real teaching experience. Exceptional training.

Are you a college junior interested in a career in teaching? Every summer, Uncommon Schools welcomes a select group of Summer Teaching Fellows (STF) to its nationally-renowned pipeline program for teachers and leaders of color.

Submit Your Application

Orientation

At the beginning of the STF experience, all Fellows gather for a week of Orientation where they receive professional development from Uncommon leaders, build cohort culture, and connect with colleagues.

Host School Immersion

After Orientation, Fellows begin learning the key skills they need to lead high-achieving classrooms, meet and check in with their Mentor teachers virtually, and review lesson plans and continue their professional development.

Summer Academy

After spending time observing, Fellows go on to lead daily instruction in their own classrooms. They receive feedback through frequent coaching sessions with their Mentor and continue to receive professional development.

Hear from STF Alumni

Get a glimpse into the program and hear from STF Alumni and current Uncommon leaders about this life-changing experience.

The Best Start to Your Teaching Career

If you care about the fight for educational equity, the Summer Teaching Fellowship is the perfect program for you. We proudly offer one of the best summer teaching programs in the country, preparing college juniors for a teaching career at Uncommon.

Develop the skills to lead high-achieving classrooms by directly teaching and leading your own classrooms.
Receive one-on-one support and coaching by experienced Uncommon mentor teachers.
Join an amazing cohort of mission-driven college juniors, where you learn together and collaborate virtually.
After successfully completing the program, receive a job offer to begin working full-time upon college graduation.

While STF is traditionally done on-site at select schools, the COVID-19 pandemic has moved us to a virtual program. The virtual Fellowship is a paid, 7-10 week program that begins at the end of May. During the first week, all Fellows will gather for orientation and receive professional development from Uncommon leaders, build cohort culture, and connect with peers.

Following Orientation, Fellows will meet and check in with their Mentor teacher (a current veteran teacher at Uncommon Schools). They will also observe Master teachers in action, review lesson plans, continue professional development, and potentially lead individual or small-group instruction.

Fellows will progress to leading daily instruction virtually for a full class of students in their own classrooms, allowing for direct teaching experience, with the continued support and guidance of their Mentor teacher. Fellows participate in weekly professional development sessions around teaching taxonomies and receive regular coaching and feedback from their Mentors.

Additional information regarding the 2021 STF program will be finalized by March 1, 2021.

Successful Summer Teaching Fellow applicants will meet the following criteria:

Strong interest in pursuing a teaching career at Uncommon Schools following graduation
Passion for Uncommon’s mission to close the achievement gap and belief that all children deserve a high quality education
Desire to learn and grow through feedback
Undergraduate college juniors expected to graduate in December 2021 or Spring 2022
Minimum undergraduate GPA of 3.0
Eligible to work in the United States in August 2022
Available from May 24, 2021 to July 30, 2021

Dates:	Application Phase:
Sept. 25, 2020	STF 2021 Application opens
Nov. 6, 2020	Early Application Deadline 1
Jan. 12, 2021	Early Application Deadline 2
March 2, 2021	Final Application Deadline
May 24, 2021	STF 2021 Program starts for all Fellows
July 16, 2021	STF 2021 Program ends for Elementary and Middle School Fellows
July 30, 2021	STF 2021 Program ends for High School Fellows

We believe students learn best when they can see themselves reflected in the backgrounds and life experiences of their teachers and leaders. The Summer Teaching Fellowship is part of our commitment to attracting, hiring, and retaining teachers from underrepresented backgrounds to enrich our students’ learning experience. Today, over 50% of our teachers identify as people of color, more than double the national average.

Learn more about our Commitment to Diversity.

Not a current college junior but interested in careers at Uncommon Schools? Explore our Careers page for open roles and submit your application today.

Meet Our STF Alumni

Meet some of our former Fellows and learn how the program launched their teaching careers.

Tamesha McGuire

“STF is not only a fellowship, it’s a gateway to a career as an effective urban educator. Seven years ago I became a part of the Uncommon family, and I can’t imagine being any place else."

STF 2012, Principal

Jazmine Grant

“I consider STF to be one of my best experiences yet. This fellowship helped solidify my life’s calling. And now, eight years later, I remain committed to changing history.”

STF 2011, Principal

Equel Easterling

"This experience fueled my passion for making a difference in the lives of the children we serve every day. It is the root of the impact I have today as an urban educator."

STF 2016, Teacher

Stephanie Castro

"There are very few opportunities for college students who want to become teachers to learn from knowledgeable professionals. I am extremely thankful for my overall STF experience.”

STF 2016, Lead Lesson Planner & Teacher

STF In The News

Kings County Politics

Uncommon Schools Summer Program Trains Future Brooklyn Teachers

After graduating from an Uncommon high school and serving during college as a summer camp counselor for Uncommon students, he decided that education was his calling.

Roslindale Patch

From Roxbury Prep Alumna to Future Teacher

Ariana Gomes came back to her roots in Boston to learn how to be the type of teacher she had in middle school at Roxbury Prep.

Tapinto Newark

From North Star Academy Student to Teacher

Sami Armstrong went to Fairleigh Dickinson University to earn a degree in finance but he couldn’t quite shake the feeling that he wanted to work with kids.

Chicago Sun-Times

STF Alumnus and Morehouse Graduate Joins Uncommon Schools

And he does it with one huge benefit: no college debt thanks to a generous donor to the Morehouse Class of 2019.

Read

Wall Street Journal

How One Charter Network Recruits Diverse Teachers

Uncommon Schools recruits college juniors for summer teaching fellowships in hopes of hiring them after graduation.

Read

The Daily News

Wanted: Many More Teachers of Color

An op-ed by Quinterrance Bell, a current Principal at Uncommon Schools and former Summer Teaching Fellow.

Read

Frequently Asked Questions

Program Questions

STF is currently offered in Boston (MA), Camden (NJ), Newark (NJ), Brooklyn (NY), and Troy (NY). Candidates can indicate their choice of preferred location and, if selected, will be notified of specific STF placement sites in the spring. Please note that positions in your preferred location may not always be available. To increase the likelihood that you are selected in your preferred location, please apply by our early deadline.

Yes. Fellows receive $500 per week. Please note that all stipends are subject to applicable taxes and fees.

Fellows may be placed in any classroom from K-12. You will be able to indicate your grade level interest on the application. As with region, please note that a position in your preferred grade level interest may not always be available.

Application Questions

You can expect to hear from a member of our team within 3 weeks of submitting an application. Please allow 4 weeks to hear from us if you plan to submit an application during the winter holiday season (December 18-January 2).

Selection rates vary by site. To maximize your chance of being selected, we encourage you to apply early and be thorough and thoughtful in your application. Take time to review and proofread your resume and short essay answers before submission. Decisions are made on a rolling basis and while our review criteria are consistent throughout the process, as the selection season progresses, there are fewer positions available each week.

When completing the application, candidates will have an option to select their geographic preferences. Because the STF Team uses these questions to source candidates to specific regions, please be as candid as possible when answering. Please note that selectivity varies significantly by region as some regions, such as Brooklyn and Newark, are much larger than others, such as Boston, Camden, and Troy.

No. A major in education or prior teaching experience is not required for admittance into the program; however, the strongest candidates exhibit a demonstrated passion for working with students and an interest in pursuing teaching as a profession long-term.

Yes. If you are a December 2021 graduate, you are eligible to apply to STF for the Summer 2021 cycle. If you are graduating in December 2022, you are not eligible for STF 2021, but we encourage you to apply for our 2022 cohort.

If you are in a five-year program, please apply to STF for the summer between your fourth and fifth year. For example, if you will complete your degree program in Spring 2022, you should apply for Summer 2021.

STF is only open to college undergraduates who are rising seniors. For admittance in the Summer 2021 cycle, you must be graduating in December 2021 or Spring 2022. Uncommon has a range of other positions that would be suitable for recent graduates and graduate students. Please visit our Job Board to view current openings.

Real teaching experience. Exceptional training.