What is an Internship?

Internships allow an individual to be the teacher of record while completing an accredited professional preparation program. University internships are cooperative programs between a university and an employing school district that are administered by the university. Internship programs result in a preliminary or professional clear credential. To be eligible for an internship program, a candidate must have passed both the basic skills competency test (CBEST) and a subject matter knowledge exam (MSAT) or a program of subject matter (Praxis II and SSAT) and corresponding preparation courses.

What is a Pre-Internship?

California also has a pre-internship program. It is designed to provide support and assistance to individuals who still need to meet the subject-matter requirement before entering an internship program. Candidates must have passed the basic skills competency test (CBEST).

What kind of background do I need to have?

San José Teaching Fellows is an initiative of San José Unified School District to draw a new stream of high performing individuals into the classrooms that need them the most.  The San José Teaching Fellows is designed for individuals without an education background.  It is a highly selective program that is looking for professionals who can demonstrate leadership and achievement.  Applicants should have a minimum undergraduate GPA of 3.0.  Some candidates with exceptional records of achievement may be considered even if their GPA is below 3.0.

How long is this commitment?

How much will I be paid?

Those accepted into the program will receive a first-year, pre-credentialed teacher's salary of $36,735. Individuals with advanced degrees will receive an additional compensation supplement. 

What other benefits will I be eligible for?

As a SJUSD employee, Fellows will receive full medical coverage and excellent dental coverage for themselves and their family members, free life insurance, free income protection plan, retirement plan, and access to three credit unions.

Materials should be submitted to ONE of the following Application Round Deadlines: 

Deadline One: February 8, 2002

Deadline Two: March 8, 2002 

San José Teaching Fellows will have two deadlines. As SJTF will fill only have a finite number of positions to fill, early applications may have an advantage over later applications. Applicants will be informed of their interview status within two weeks of the respective application deadline dates.

Outstanding candidates will be invited to participate in an interview day, which includes a sample teaching lesson, group discussion of relevant issues in education, a writing sample exercise, and a personal interview.  Applicants will be contacted regarding their application status within two weeks of the receipt of their complete application. 

At the end of June all Fellows will start pre-classroom training.  The training will last through early August.  Classroom start dates depend on placement; however, most Fellows will begin teaching at the end of August. 

As a Fellow you will receive intensive pre-service training that includes:

•       Practice teaching under the supervision of a Teacher Coach in San José Summer Schools
•       Seminars and professional development activities on the theories and practices of teaching
•       Workshops covering subject specific information
•       On-site guidance from experienced teachers
•        Discussions and activities around the challenges of teaching in an urban system

Will I be paid over the summer?

Fellows will not be placed on the district payroll until they begin teaching in the fall.  We are currently working on obtaining funding in order to offer Fellows stipends during their summer training.  However, in the event that we are unable to obtain funds for this type of support.

Fellows will be placed in the public schools of San José Unified School District at all grade levels.  Location and grade determination will be based on the qualifications of each Fellow and the needs of the district. 

Class size in lower elementary classrooms (K-3) is 20 students on average. Upper elementary, middle, and high school classes average 30 students.

Yes, there will be both bilingual and special education positions available.  Specialized training will be provided for both of these areas.

The school day for teachers is about six-and-a-half hours long and usually begins by 7:30 or 8:00 a.m., though exact times vary by school site.  Teachers devote additional time to planning lessons, gathering materials, and grading papers. 

Once I start teaching, what then?
Once in the classroom, Fellows continue to learn and grow as teachers through:

• An accelerated certification program at San José State University
• Ongoing support and guidance from District Facilitator
• Coaches for individualized assistance
• Opportunities for ongoing professional development with other SJUSD teachers
• Opportunities to observe and be observed by master teachers
• Opportunities to collaborate with Fellows cohort in credentialing courses

We will work to ensure that Fellows are clustered with other Fellows in the same school. However, because school placements occur after Fellows are selected, Fellows may not know their specific teaching assignments before accepting the job offer.

We are planning to hire between 125-150 Fellows, so apply early! 

Applicants need either to be US citizens, permanent resident of the United States or have a work visa. 

No. 

Certified teachers are not eligible for this program.  San José Teaching Fellows is designed to bring people into the teaching professional who do not have previous teaching experience.  Certified teachers are encouraged to contact the SJUSD Human Resources Department to participate in the regular application process.  If interested, please visit the Human Resources website at www.sjusd.k12.ca.us or call the Human Resources department at 408-535-6088.

All deferments will be handled on a case-by-case basis. However, it is difficult to predict the exact needs of next year’s program and we will not be able to guarantee a position for candidates who request deferment. 

There are a variety of ways to become a teacher in San José Unified Public Schools.  Please contact the Human Resources office at 408-535-6088 or visit www.sjusd.k12.ca.us for more details.

We will be holding information sessions throughout January and February.  Please call our information line at (408) 535-4730, email-us at , or check the information session section of our website to learn the dates and locations of upcoming sessions.