The Commitment

Woodrow Wilson Teaching Fellows teach for at least three years in high-need secondary urban or rural schools, contingent on completing their master's degree program and attaining their teaching license.

Successful Fellows enjoy one (1) full time year of coursework at a university of their choice that starts in the summer of 2013 and continues through summer 2014, through to teacher certification. While some WW partner universities offer the master's degree at the end of year one, most programs see successful Fellows receiving the master's at the end of year two and later.

Coursework during this full time year is clinically immersive with intensive hours spent in classrooms. Universities arrange clinical immersion placements in a variety of ways for Woodrow Wilson Teaching Fellows. Fellows are learning to teach through both observation, active lesson planning, and teaching in front of the classroom very early in the process.

Once teacher certification is obtained, successful Fellows are then eligible to accept teaching jobs in science and math classrooms in high needs secondary schools or school districts anywhere in the state in which they are completing their master's program. They commit to teaching science, technology or mathematics in a high-need secondary urban or rural school for three years while working full-time and being mentored through their university program.

Year 1

Full-time participation in the master's program
Teaching candidates immerse themselves in the secondary classroom, plan lessons, learn from master and teacher leaders handpicked by universities and the Foundation
At completion of a successful year, Fellows obtain teaching certification
$30,000 stipend

Year 2

The Woodrow Wilson Foundation and partner universities work to support Fellows in obtaining job placement
Teaching in a high need secondary school for the next three (3) years begins with salary paid by the school district
Coursework at some partner university continues
Master's degree obtained by most Fellows at the completion of the second year
Fellows receive ongoing mentoring from a university mentor

Year 3-4

Fellows continue their employment at a high-need secondary school
Ongoing mentoring

While Fellows are free to choose the future direction of their career, we believe that the high-quality preparation and support the Fellowship provides will position Fellows for a sustained and successful career in teaching.

Once selected, Woodrow Wilson Teaching Fellows become lifelong members of a national network of intellectual leaders. Today's 20,000 Woodrow Wilson Fellows include 13 Nobel Laureates, 35 MacArthur "genius grant" recipients, 14 Pulitzer Prize winners, two Fields Medalists in mathematics, and many other noted scholars and leaders. In addition, the Woodrow Wilson Foundation can help Fellows find out about requirements for National Board Certification—for which Fellows will be eligible after three years of teaching.