Application

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The SC Teaching Fellows application is hosted by Kaleidoscope and serves as the first step in the rigorous identification process for Teaching Fellows. The application submission window is open from October 1st until December 1st. Students must apply for Teaching Fellows during their final year of high school.
 
In order for your application to be considered complete you must answer all mandatory questions and a high school transcript, your ACT and/or SAT scores, and two references must be submitted before 11:59 PM on December 1, 2020. You will enter your school counselor’s name and contact information as a part of the online application. Kaleidoscope will contact your school counselor and ask them to submit your transcript. We strongly encourage you to alert your counselor to the fact that you have applied and that they should receive an email from cerra@mykaleidoscope.com.

SAT and/or ACT test scores can be submitted to CERRA in one of two ways.
1) You may request that an official score report be sent to CERRA directly from the SAT and/or ACT test administrators by providing CERRA’s organization code. The SAT code is 3680 and the ACT code 3873.
2) Your school counselor can upload a copy of your SAT/ACT test scores when uploading your transcript.

If you are scheduled to take the ACT or SAT in December 2020 you may send a screenshot of your scores from the ACT website or download your score report from the SAT website and email this information to Dr. Jenna Hallman at hallmanj@cerra.org. The screenshot or score report must be received by 11:59 PM on January 3rd in order to be included in the first round of scoring. This allowance is for the December administration of the ACT and SAT only. All other test scores must be submitted through Kaleidoscope or sent to CERRA as described above.  
 
Once you begin the application process, you will have access to a personalized Kaleidoscope dashboard. It is your responsibility to monitor this dashboard and ensure your application, transcript, test scores, and references are submitted by the deadline. Incomplete applications will not be scored.
 
If you have questions or issues with the online application, please contact Kaleidoscope by phone at 800-278-8762 or by email at cerra@mykaleidoscope.com.
 
If you have questions about the Teaching Fellows Program, please contact CERRA by phone at 803.323.4032 ext. 6416 or by email at teachingfellows@cerra.org.
 
Before you begin the application, we strongly encourage you to watch the 2020 Teaching Fellows Application Overview Video that will be available on October 1st. You also should review the eligibility criteria and important dates listed below. The link to apply is posted below these resources.

​Teaching Fellows Overview

Eligibility

To apply for Teaching Fellows, you must be:
  • a United States citizen or permanent resident alien legally authorized to be in the United States (Please note - students categorized as Deferred Action for Childhood Arrivals (DACA) are not eligible for Teaching Fellows.)
  • a legal resident of South Carolina (Please note - Residency will be verified by the Teaching Fellows Institution after a student has been offered an award.)
  • a high school senior or junior graduating early

Important Dates

  • October 1, 2020 - The application window opens.
  • December 1, 2020 - The application window closes.
  • December 2020 - The Teaching Fellows Initial Scoring Committee will score all compete applications.
  • No Later Than January 8, 2021 - Letters are mailed to all applicants; up to 500 students will be invited to participate in the second stage of the application process, the interview*.
  • February 20 and 27, 2021 - Online interviews will be conducted with a selected group of applicants. Additional information will be provided to students who are selected to advance to this stage of the identification process. Applicants should hold both February 20 and 27, 2021 open although they will only participate one day. 
  • The final number of students awarded a Teaching Fellowship is dependent upon the South Carolina FY2022 budget, which is set by the General Assembly. Award notifications will be made in early spring 2021.

Start Your Application

APPLY FOR THE SC TEACHING FELLOWS PROGRAM

Regional Screening - "Interview Day*"

Qualifying applicants are invited to a regional screening and all applicants are notified as to whether they have been selected for this second phase of the identification process. The regional screening includes an interview, a presentation, and an assessment of writing ability. The purpose of the interview and presentation is to assess the following: communication skills, commitment to education, knowledge of educational issues, leadership potential, originality in responses, and problem-solving ability.
 
Interview
A diverse team of professionals from the business and education communities conduct interviews with Teaching Fellows applicants. The interview questions are pre-determined by CERRA and are not shared with applicants. Students who have been invited to participate in a regional screening should refer to their “Student Packet” for more information about the interview.
 
Presentation
Applicants who have been invited to participate in a regional screening will prepare and share an oral presentation on a topic determined by CERRA. These students should refer to their “Student Packet” for more information about the presentation.
 
Writing Assessment of Writing Ability
Applicants who have been invited to participate in a regional screening also will be scheduled to complete a 30 minute assessment of writing ability. Students who have been invited to participate in a regional screening should refer to their “Student Packet” for more information about the assessment of writing ability.
 
Scoring
Scores from the interview, presentation, and assessment of writing ability will be combined with the initial application score to create a total cumulative score. Up to 200 of the top scorers will be offered Teaching Fellowships. Other qualifying applicants will be placed on an alternate list.

*For 2020-21, all Teaching Fellows interviews will be conducted virtually. The above information is subject to change to accommodate the shift to online interviews.
Interview Day Tips
Here are some tips to help you prepare for the interview and presentation:
  • Review the information provided in the “Student Packet.”
  • Watch the informational videos about interview day.
  • Ask a professional what you should wear.
  • Research current educational issues.
  • Practice answering education-related questions.
  • Prepare a presentation that addresses all required questions, identified topics, and/or questions within the allotted time. Please note that the interviewers will NOT ask questions during the presentation and will not offer any additional time. The interview team will expect candidates to cover all three questions in their presentation.
  • Review the rubric for the written response.
  • Get a good night of rest before the interview.
  • Plan to arrive early in case you run into traffic. It is important that you arrive on time.

Teaching Fellows Institutions

The Teaching Fellows program is available at the following institutions: ​  
Visit the Teaching Fellows Institutions page for more info.

Questions?

E-mail teachingfellows@cerra.org or call Katie Gibson at 803-323-4032 ext. 6416.

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  • “In the teaching profession, experience is one of the most valuable assets you have. The Teaching Fellows program not only equips you with ample opportunities to have hands-on experiences in the classroom, but also empowers you to be a champion of progress in the educational system. Teaching Fellows gives you access to a vault of knowledge and support from successful educators, mentors, and community that wants you to succeed. As a Teaching Fellow, you become more than a teacher; you become a teacher leader.”

Graceanna McCray
Class of 2018 Cohort

Fifth Grade Teacher
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Calhoun Academy of the Arts - Anderson Five

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Being a Columbia College Teaching Fellow has given me the experience, tools and confidence that I needed to become an effective leader in the classroom.The size of our Columbia College cohort makes it ideal to establish meaningful bonds among our full Teaching Fellows Cohort. Being a Teaching Fellow allowed me to participate in travel, leadership and recreational experiences that have helped to shape me into the educational leader that I am today.

Kirsten Baker
Class of 2016 Cohort

Social Studies & Science Teacher
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Blythewood Middle School

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