STATE OF TENNESSEE

DEPARTMENT OF EDUCATION
PHIL BREDESEN 6th FLOOR, ANDREW JOHNSON TOWER BRUCE OPIE
GOVERNOR 710 JAMES ROBERTSON PARKWAY COMMISSIONER
NASHVILLE, TN 37243-0375

October 11, 2010

Dear Teach Tennessee Candidate:

Thank you for your interest in Teach Tennessee. Information about both programs is included in the
enclosed application information. The deadline for submitting a portfolio for the Spring, 2011 selection
process for both programs is February 28, 2011.

Should you have questions, you may contact any of the following:

Barbara Floyd, Administrative Assistant 615/253-2590

Barbara.Floyd@tn.gov

Becky Kent, Director, Teach Tennessee 615/532-2815

Becky.Kent@tn.gov

Earlene England, Consultant 615/532-2843

Earlene.England@tn.gov

Again, we appreciate your interest in the teaching profession and look forward to receiving a portfolio from
you. Tennessee needs great teachers, and we hope that you will consider teaching as a new career for you!

Sincerely,

Becky Kent
 TEACH TENNESSEE Governor’s Fellows APPLICATION
PACKET

____ Please check here if you would like to be considered for the Commissioner’s Fellows
program if not selected as a Governor’s Fellow.

DEADLINE FEBRUARY 28, 2011

FOR SUMMER, 2011 INSTITUTE

Return completed portfolio to:

Teach Tennessee Office

710 James Robertson Parkway
6th Floor, Andrew Johnson Tower
Nashville, Tennessee 37243

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 Teach Tennessee Governor’s Fellows Applicant Timeline

November 15, 2010 Updated information about Teach Tennessee and address
for requesting an application is available on the Department’s
website www.state.tn.us/education/teachtn or
www.teachtennessee.org

February 28, 2011 Portfolio/Application deadline (postmarked date) **

April, 2011 Teach Tennessee information session / interview for those

contacted

Early May, 2011 Notification by phone of selection to the Teach Tennessee

program

June 6 - 11 and Teach Tennessee Institute in the

June 20 - 25, 2011 Nashville area. (Those who cannot attend this
(Twelve days total) Institute should wait to apply in the next selection round.)

For updated information please check the website listed above.

** Special Note: All requirements and components of the portfolio (including letters of
recommendation, transcripts and work verification) must be postmarked by the February 28, 2011
deadline. Faxes will not be accepted. It is the candidates’ responsibility to assure the portfolio
is complete. Incomplete portfolios will not be considered. If you wish to check on the contents
received, you may contact Barbara Floyd by emailing barbara.floyd@tn.gov.

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TEACH TENNESSEE Governor’s Fellows Selection Criteria and Sequence of Events

Step I - To be considered for selection, the candidate must

• hold a Bachelor of Science or Bachelor of Arts degree from a regionally accredited institute of higher education.
(Priority is given to those with a major or minor in math, science (chemistry or physics is preferred) or foreign
language. Elementary, Special Education, Occupational, and elective course areas are not included in the
Teach Tennessee program at this time).

• have five or more years of relevant, full time paid work experience in the subject area to be taught (current
within three years of application to the program is preferred).

• have 24 credit (semester) hours in the subject they are wanting to teach with a GPA of 3.0 (on a 4.0 scale) OR
have passed the Praxis II (Content) exam in the area they are wanting to teach in grades 7-12.

• submit a Teach Tennessee Portfolio that includes all required components (requirements will follow).

• undergo a federal and state criminal background check (if invited for an interview).

• if contacted (meaning candidate has passed the initial screening process), attend a Teach Tennessee
information session / interview.

Step 2 - Once selected, participants

• may seek employment in Tennessee school systems.

• attend a two-week (12 day) Teach Tennessee Institute in the Nashville area. After successful completion of
the Institute and it’s requirements, ‘Fellows’ will hold a Transitional License.

Step 3 - Next, Fellows

• upon completing the Institute requirements and obtaining a position, successfully teach the first year.

• participate in 40 (clock) hours of professional development during the year (in addition to the system’s regularly
scheduled in-services and local professional development requirements).

• work with an assigned Teach Tennessee mentor for 25 days during the school year.

• reflect on their progress by submitting weekly emails to the Teach Tennessee office during the first year of
teaching.

• study for and pass the Praxis I (or provide the equivalent), and Praxis II (Specialty Area) tests in the
endorsement area(s).

Step 4 -The summer following their first year of teaching, Fellows

• in cooperation with their mentor/principal/others, begin working toward completing their first Individual
Professional Education Plan (IPEP) program of study (which could include up to 12 hours of college coursework
and/or a minimum of an additional 40 hours of professional development each of the two years).

• attend a wrap-up the school year seminar to assess the first year of teaching and the Teach Tennessee
program and begin the process toward renewing the license.

• take the Praxis Principles of Learning and Teaching exam.

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 • must pass the Praxis I (or equivalent) and Praxis II (Specialty Area) if they have not previously done so.

• are reissued a license upon the recommendation of the school system in accordance with local evaluation
procedures and successful completion of all Teach Tennessee and testing requirements.

Step 5 – Progression toward the Professional License (minimum of three years) will require the Fellow to

• pass the Praxis Principles of Teaching and Learning exam.

•
• complete Individual Professional Education Plan (IPEP) requirements annually.

• request a mentor if needed.

• attend a wrap up session following the second year of teaching.

• submit all required information to the Teach Tennessee office.

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 Teach Tennessee Governors’ Fellows Portfolio

Teach Tennessee is looking for exceptional candidates who are mid-career professionals with expertise in
specific subject knowledge (especially in math, science and foreign language) and bring an abundance of
strengths and talents from their years of work experience using that content knowledge. Candidates are
required to submit a portfolio of their knowledge and skills (as described in the application packet) to be
considered in the selection process.

The portfolio submitted should be comprehensive, well organized and detailed. Reviewers will be looking
for quality, not quantity, so special attention should be given to being selective in its contents. Excess
materials/documentation should be avoided and will not be reviewed. All information should be sent to the
address below as a single, complete packet (with the exception of the transcripts and letters of
recommendation which should come directly from the school or author). Incomplete portfolios will not be
considered. It is the candidates’ responsibility to assure the required transcripts and letters have been
received by the postmark deadline.

A complete portfolio must include:

• A cover letter explaining why you are applying to be a Teach Tennessee ‘Governor’s Fellow’ and
your commitment to the program if selected.

• A complete and signed Teach Tennessee Application (enclosed).

• Documentation of five or more years of successful and relevant full time paid work experience on the
Teach Tennessee Prior Employment Verification Form must be notarized (enclosed).

• A current resume including mention of any awards, professional achievements or publications

written by you or about you, etc. You may determine the format of the resume.

• Official transcripts from the postsecondary institutions attended. Transcripts must be submitted
directly to the Teach Tennessee Office (address below) in a sealed envelope(s) bearing the seal or
signature of the registrar.

• Five current reference letters from people (former employers, respected experts in your major field
of study, community leaders, and others) who would know your character, leadership skills, work
ethic, etc., and could speak to qualities you possess that would make you an effective teacher. The
letters should be signed and include contact information. Please have them sent by the author
directly to the Teach Tennessee Office at the address below.

• The completed Teach Tennessee Performance Assessment Questionnaire 5 page maximum

response (enclosed).

• Any test scores available (Praxis, ACT, or SAT). Test scores must be submitted as originals (in a
sealed envelope from the originator).

• A signed Statement of Assurance.

NOTE: Please keep in mind that your paid work experience, and 24 college credit hours OR successful
Praxis II Specialty Area exam score, must be in the same content area that you are wishing to teach.

Send completed portfolio to:

Teach Tennessee Office

710 James Robertson Parkway
6th Floor, Andrew Johnson Tower
Nashville, Tennessee 37243

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 TEACH TENNESSEE Governor’s Fellow APPLICATION
NAME________________________________________________________________________________________
Last First Middle Maiden

ADDRESS ____________________________________________________________________________________
Number and Street Apt. #
______________________________________________________________________________________________
City State Zip

HOME PHONE ______________________________ WORK PHONE _______________________________

Include Area Code Include Area Code

E-MAIL ADDRESS _________________________________FAX #_______________________________________

SOCIAL SECURITY NUMBER _______-__________-_______ CELL # __________________________________

Include Area Code
EDUCATION
College or University Degree Date Received Major Minor

Minimum education for licensure is a Bachelor’s degree. Official transcripts must be mailed directly to the Teach Tennessee Office.

AREA OF ENDORSEMENT
What specific subject/endorsement(s) are you qualified to teach (24 hrs or passing Praxis II in content)? Please list in
order of preference.________________________________________________________________________________

Please circle the grade level(s) you are interested in teaching. 7 8 9 10 11 12

Are you willing to relocate? ____yes ____no

List the counties (in order of preference) where you are interested in teaching.
___________________________________________________________________________

___________________________________________________________________________

When are you available to begin to teaching? ____________________________________________

CURRENT LICENSE
Do you currently hold a license to teach: in Tennessee? _______ In another state? ________
(Note: Those holding a current or expired license, or an out of state license, will not be selected for the TEACH
TENNESSEE program.)

Are you currently enrolled in another teacher licensing program in Tennessee? ____yes _____no
If yes, which program and when enrolled?
___________________________________________________________________________
Have you previously been enrolled in another teacher licensing program? If so, when and where?
____________________________________________________________________
(Those currently or previously enrolled in another licensure program will not be considered for Teach Tennessee.)
Have you recently applied to another teaching licensure program in TN ___yes ___no
If so, where _________________________________

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PAST EMPLOYMENT (A minimum of five years related to the subject area to be taught is required.) Please list most
recent first.

Date (from / to) Name of Employer or Firm Responsibilities Reason for Leaving

Have you ever taught in any grade K-12 position? If so, please explain.

HISTORY
Have you ever been convicted, forfeited bond, or are you currently on probation for any felony (or any equal offense
under military law)? (A felony is defined as an offense punishable by imprisonment for a term of one year or greater.)
REQUIRED ANSWER MUST BE RECORDED. ____ yes ____ no

If yes, give details on a separate sheet of paper for each felony offense. Include (1) date, (2) charge, (3) place, (4) court
and (5) action taken. You must disclose any felony conviction involving a sentence or suspended sentence. A
conviction will not necessarily disqualify you from the job for which you are applying. A conviction will be judged on its
own merits with respect to time, circumstances, and seriousness.

SIGNATURE
Under penalty of perjury, I certify that the information I am providing in this application is correct and complete to the best
of my knowledge. I am aware that should investigation show any falsification or material misrepresentation, I will not be
considered for the program, or if selected, I will be dismissed and disqualified from future licensure. I hereby authorize
the State of Tennessee to make all necessary investigations concerning me or my actions and to receive my academic
records or other materials pertinent to my qualification. I further authorize and request former employers, educational
institutions, or organizations (including law enforcement agencies) to provide all information that may be sought in
connection with this application.

________________________________________________ ________________________
Signature of Applicant Date

NOTE: All applicants shall be considered for the Teach Tennessee program; however, submission of a Teach
Tennessee application does not guarantee enrollment in the program or an offer of employment.

The State of Tennessee is committed to the principles of equal opportunity, equal access, and affirmative action. The
State of Tennessee does not discriminate against applicants or employees on the basis of race, color, religion, creed,
age (over 40), national origin, sex, pregnancy, disability, veteran’s status or any other classification protected by federal
or state law.

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 ***OPTIONAL INFORMATION***

The following information is for Equal Employment Opportunity/Affirmative action purposes only. To
assist the State of Tennessee in its commitment to equal employment opportunity, applicants are asked to
provide voluntarily the following information. The State of Tennessee is authorized under federal law to
retain this information for research and statistical reasons. This information will not be used in a selection
decision and refusal to provide this information will not affect an applicant’s selection opportunities.
Information requested is to be completed on a voluntary basis. Data will be held confidential and only
used in accordance with applicable federal law.

ETHNICITY (Please place a check in the applicable category)

____American Indian ____Alaskan Native ____Asian ____Black-non-Hispanic

____White-non-Hispanic ____Hispanic ____Pacific Islander ____Other

(Ethnicity information is used for statistical purposes and to provide information required by the U.S.
Department of Education in accordance with applicable federal regulations. Your cooperation in providing
this information is appreciated.)

GENDER

______ Female ______ Male

Note: This page will be detached from the application upon receipt.

MILITARY EXPERIENCE

_____ Yes _____No _________________ Field of Service

**********************************************************************************************************************

For Teach Tennessee research purposes only:

How did you hear about the Teach Tennessee program?

_______ TV _______ Family, Friend, etc.

_______ Radio _______ Higher Education Institution

_______ Newspaper _______ Website

_______ Other (Please explain ___________________________________________)

**********************************************************************************************************************
The State of Tennessee is committed to the principles of equal opportunity, equal access, and affirmative
action. The State of Tennessee does not discriminate against applicants or employees on the basis of race,
color, religion, creed, age (over 40), national origin, sex, pregnancy, disability, veteran’s status or any other
classification protected by federal or state law.

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 TEACH TENNESSEE Governor’s Fellows PRIOR EMPLOYMENT VERIFICATION FORM

Please use the section below to report your minimum of five years of paid work experience
related to the subject you are wishing to teach. The information must indicate the place of
work, the type of work, and the dates of work, including the hours per week. The statement must
be signed by the employer and notarized. In lieu of this form, a signed statement by the
employer (to include the same information and be notarized) on company letterhead may be
submitted. Should you have had several employers over the five years, this form should be
duplicated. Five years of relevant full time paid employment verification is required.

NAME OF CANDIDATE __________________________________________________________

COMPANY_____________________________________________________________________
DATES WORKED: FROM____________________________TO: ____________________________
HOURS PER WEEK____________________________________________________________________
JOB DESCRIPTION______________________________________________________________
_______________________________________________________________________________________
_______________________________________________________________________________________
_______________________________________________________________________________________
_______________________________________________________________________________________

___________________________________________________ ___________________
Employer Signature Date

____________________________________________________________________
Street Address/ P.O. Box City State Zip

________________________________________
work phone number (required)

_____________________________________________________________________
(Employer of Teach Tennessee candidate)
Personally appeared before me, ____________________________, a Notary Public in
(Notary)
_______________________________. Sworn and subscribed before me, this ______day
County and State.

of _________,20____.

____________________________________________ Place Notary Seal Here

Notary Signature

PLEASE MAIL COMPLETED FORM TO:

TEACH TENNESSEE OFFICE
710 James Robertson Parkway
6th Floor, Andrew Johnson Tower, Nashville, TN 37243

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 TEST SCORES

The following original (in a sealed envelope from the originator) test scores are included, if
available, in the portfolio:

______ ACT

______ PSAT

______ Praxis I- PPST

______ Praxis II (Content area)

_______ Praxis Teaching and Learning

______ GRE

______ NTE

______ Other

The only test score required in the portfolio is the Praxis II (Specialty Area to be taught) when
being used in lieu of the 24 hours of college credit.

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 Teach Tennessee Governor’s Fellows Performance Assessment Questionnaire

Effective teaching requires much more than just a thorough understanding of the subject matter
you are teaching and good classroom management skills; it requires an ability to understand
diverse learning styles and communicate the subject matter in a way that is absorbed and
understood by each of the students in your classroom. In Tennessee, we measure a teacher’s
professional development against the eleven Tennessee Teacher Licensure Standards, and we
are looking for Teach Tennessee candidates who not only demonstrate proficiency in a particular
subject matter, but who also possess the ability to effectively instruct students in the subject
matters they will teach.

In an essay format, please describe how your own professional and leadership experiences have
prepared you to meet the following performance standards. Please be very concise and label each
response by simply Standard 1, Standard 2, etc. (you do not need to repeat the specific standard
or the questions asked). Please limit your responses to no more than five (5) pages total.

Standard 1

Discipline Taught Candidates know, understand, and use the central concepts, tools of inquiry
and structures of the discipline(s) they teach and can create learning experiences that develop
student competence in the subject matter.

Please give an example of a time you were responsible for teaching co-workers, peers or a youth
group about some aspect of your profession. How did you determine what they needed to be
taught in order to understand the broad concepts of your lesson? How did you present the
information? Were there any learning tools you employed that were especially effective, or
are there tools you wish you had employed to make the learning experience more interesting
to participants?

Standard 2

Student Learning and Development Candidates understand how students learn and develop
and provide learning opportunities that support student intellectual, social and personal
development.

Please give an example of a time you worked alongside someone who had a dramatically different
way of learning than you have. What were the physical, social, emotional, moral and
cognitive differences between the ways you each approached the learning process? What
were the major differences between how you and the other person constructed knowledge
and acquired skills, and how were you able to work together (if at all) to learn the subject
matter presented to you?

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Standard 3

Diverse Learners Candidates understand how students differ in their approaches to learning and
create instructional opportunities that are adapted to diverse learners.

Using that same example or a different one, please explain your experience identifying a situation
when you were responsible for teaching skills or knowledge to a diverse learner (or group of
diverse learners), and how you designed and adapted instructional techniques to meet the
learning needs of your audience.

Standard 4

Teaching Strategies Candidates understand and use a variety of instructional strategies to

encourage development of critical thinking, problem solving and performance skills in students.

Please give an example of how you have taught co-workers, peers or youth groups how to develop
critical thinking, writing and problem-solving skills they would need to meet instructional goals
and objectives? What were the skills or the knowledge they were expected to learn? How did
you set short-term and long-term learning goals for the group and/or individuals within the
group? How best would you describe the role(s) you took in the teaching process –
instructor, facilitator, coach, participant, or some combination – and why was this effective or
not effective?

Standard 5

Learning Environment Candidates use an understanding of individual and group motivation and
behavior to create a learning environment that encourages positive social interaction, active
engagement in learning and self-motivation.

Please give an example of your experience creating a productive learning environment that was
respectful of the different skills of the participants, and which supported positive social
interaction, active engagement in learning, and opportunities for self-motivation. How were
you able to organize and manage resources such as time, space, facilities, technology and
participants to maximize the amount of time spent on productive learning?

Standard 6

Communication Candidates use knowledge of effective verbal, nonverbal and media

communication techniques to foster active inquiry, collaboration and supportive interaction in the
classroom.

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Please give an example of how you have applied a variety of communication techniques –
including verbal, non-verbal and media communication tools such as audio, video and
interactive media – to engage an audience of co-workers, professional peers, or youth in
collaboration on a project. What communication techniques did you use, and why do or why
don’t you think they were effective with members of your audience?

Standard 7

Planning Candidates plan instruction based upon knowledge of subject matter, students, the
community, and curriculum goals.

Please give an example of a situation in which you were responsible for developing instructions or
formal curriculum that you or someone else used to teach a specific subject? What was the
subject, and who was the audience? What existing materials or resources did you draw from
while developing your instructional plan? What strategies were employed to ensure the
instructions or curriculum could be used by many different people to help them learn the
subject matter?

Standard 8

Assessment and Evaluation Candidates know, understand and use formal and informal
assessment strategies to evaluate and ensure the continuing intellectual, social and physical
development of the learner.

Please give examples of the formal and informal performance assessments your supervisors have
used to gauge your job performance and skills. In your opinion, what types of performance
assessment tools and tests were most appropriate for evaluating your professional
development? Were you ever responsible for assessing the performance of people who
reported to you? If so, what kind of assessment tools have you used to gauge their
performance? How did you combine informal and formal assessment strategies to compile
useful records to document their performance?

Standard 9

Reflective Practitioner Candidates are reflective practitioners who continually evaluate the
effects of their choices and actions on others (students, parents and other professionals in the
learning community) and who actively seek out opportunities to grow professionally.

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Please give several examples of the ways you have pro-actively sought opportunities to grow
within your profession. What resources (professional literature, industry colleagues, trade or
professional organizations, government agencies, etc.) did you utilize for your professional
growth? How did you assess your professional growth to ensure your skills were increasing at
a pace and in a direction consistent with the way your industry was progressing?

Standard 10

Colleagues, Parents, and Community Candidates foster relationships with school colleagues,
parents and agencies in the larger community to support students’ learning and well-being.

Please describe any experience you have working with youth other than your own children, or with
new members of your profession, during which you were responsible for collaborating with
community agencies, parents or religious organizations to advocate on behalf of the youth or
new colleagues. What issues or problems did you have to address, and what resolution were
you able to reach?

Standard 11

Technology

11.a. Candidates use technology and technology-based resources to facilitate developmentally

appropriate student learning.
11.b. Candidates use technology to enhance their professional growth and productivity.
11.c. Candidates effectively use and manage all technology available to them and explore uses
of emerging resources. They promote the equitable, ethical and legal use of technology
resources.

Please give an example of a time you used technology to guide the learning process for a group or
individual you were responsible for instructing at your work or in your community activities.
What technology-based resources did you use, and how did you become familiar with those
resources? How was the technology integrated with other learning strategies (such as
hands-on instruction, lectures, reading assignments, etc.)?

In your own profession, how have you used technology to continue your professional development,
and what tools do you rely on to help you compile data and present it to co-workers and
peers? How do you keep up with new technology resources and the legal issues surrounding
them?

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 Teach Tennessee Governor’s Fellows Statement of Assurance

As a selected Teach Tennessee ‘Governor’s Fellow’, I, _____________________________________,

understand that there are requirements and expectations of me for continued inclusion in the Teach
Tennessee program. These include, but are not limited to the following:

I agree to attend and complete the requirements of the intensive two week Teach Tennessee Institute in
Nashville.

I agree to complete the Teach Tennessee licensure program.

I agree to seek employment as a teacher in my endorsement area after completing the Institute.

I agree that I will only accept a position teaching courses allowed in my area of endorsement and in grades
7-12 until I obtain a Professional License.

I agree to notify the Teach Tennessee office and the Mentor Coordinator as soon as I am employed by a
school system.

I agree that mentoring is a program requirement and that a Teach Tennessee mentor will work with me for
twenty-five days during the first year of teaching.

I understand that the mentor’s role is to assist me in my goal of being a successful teacher and that I will
consider and act upon their suggestions and recommendations as a means to achieving that goal.

I agree to reflect on my first year of teaching by completing weekly emails to the Teach Tennessee office
regarding my progress.

I agree to maintain contact with the Teach Tennessee office relative to providing updated contact information
as well as for answers to questions about program requirements.

I agree to complete any Teach Tennessee office requests for information, evaluations, surveys, etc. in a
timely fashion.

I agree that it is my responsibility to notify the Teach Tennessee office that Praxis test dates have been
scheduled and results will be forthcoming.

I understand that during the progression from the Transitional License to a Professional License (a minimum
of three years), I will be required to complete 40 hours of Professional Development the first year, then two
Individual Professional Education Plan(s) (IPEP) programs of study (which could include up to 12 hours of
college coursework and/or a minimum of 40 additional hours of professional development) the following two
years.

I understand that it is my responsibility to file all appropriate licensure paperwork with the Teach Tennessee
office.

I agree to attend two (first year and second year) “end of year meetings” in Nashville to advance my license.

I agree to stay in contact with the Teach Tennessee office for the first five years of teaching.

I agree that should I leave the teaching profession within the first five years I will contact the Teach
Tennessee office and complete required paperwork.

_____________________________________ ___________________________________
Signature Date

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