Teaching Excellence and Achievement (TEA) Program

Application Deadline: Varying by Country

The U.S. Department of State and IREX announce an open competition for a program that will bring outstanding secondary-level school teachers to the U.S. for a professional development opportunity.

TEA seeks to:

• Enhance teachers’ expertise in their teaching discipline and equip them with a deeper understanding of best practices in teaching methods, lesson planning, and instructional technology.

• Create among educators a more nuanced understanding of the U.S.

• Develop productive and lasting relationships and mutual understanding between

U.S. and international teachers and their students.

• Contribute to improving teaching in participating countries and communities by preparing participants to serve as teacher leaders who, upon returning home, will apply and share

their experience and skills with their peers and students.

ELIGIBLE TEACHING DISCIPLINES FOR TEA ARE:

• English or English as a Foreign Language

• Social Studies (social studies, civics, history, geography, etc.)

• Mathematics

• Science

• Special Education teachers in the disciplines listed above

The Teaching Excellence and Achievement (TEA) Program provides international teachers with unique opportunities to develop expertise in their subject areas, enhance their teaching skills, and increase their knowledge about the United States. TEA consists of a six-week non-degree, non-credit customized academic program including seminars on new teaching methodologies, curriculum development, lesson planning , and instructional technology.

Participants will also take part in a practicum in a U.S. secondary school near their

host university to work closely with U.S. teachers and teach and present to U.S. students. Cultural enrichment, mentoring, and support will be provided throughout the program. The international participants will travel to the United States in two cohorts of approximately 80 teachers each in the spring or fall 2017.

Upon returning home, TEA program alumni are eligible to apply for small grants for essential teaching materials, follow-on training for other teachers, collaborative projects between schools in their home country and the United States, and other activities that build on their U.S. experience.

ELIGIBILITY REQUIREMENTS

Eligibility

Eligible applicants must meet the following requirements:

• Be current secondary school-level, full-time teachers in a school that serves a primarily local (not expatriate) population;
• Have five or more years of classroom experience in TEA teaching disciplines: English, EFL, Social Studies, Mathematics, Science, or special education;
• Be citizens of and residents in eligible TEA countries: Algeria, Argentina, Armenia, Azerbaijan, Bangladesh, Belarus, Bolivia, Burkina Faso, Cambodia, Cameroon, Chile, Colombia, Costa Rica, Cote d’Ivoire, Dominican Republic, Ecuador, Egypt, El Salvador, Estonia, Georgia, Ghana, Guatemala, Haiti, Honduras, India, Iraq, Jordan, Kazakhstan, Kyrgyzstan, Laos, Latvia, Lebanon, Lithuania, Malawi, Mali, Moldova, Mongolia, Mozambique, Nepal, Nicaragua, Niger, Nigeria, Panama, Peru, Russia, Rwanda, Senegal, South Africa, Sri Lanka, Sudan, Tajikistan, Thailand, Tunisia, Turkey, Turkmenistan, Ukraine, Uruguay, Venezuela, Vietnam, West Bank/Gaza, Zambia, and Zimbabwe;
• Have earned a Bachelor’s degree or equivalent;
• Obtain a minimum score of 450 on paper based TOEFL or equivalent English language examination*; and
• Demonstrate a commitment to continue teaching after completion of the program.

*A limited number of participants with TOEFL scores between 425 and 450, or equivalent, will be accepted for the program into a special cohort with additional English language training included in the professional development program.

TEA promotes diversity in the classroom and in learning. TEA supports inclusion and strongly encourages teachers with disabilities to apply.

* Continue teaching after completion of the program; and

Have submitted a complete application.
A limited number of Fellows with a TOEFL score between 425 and 450 will be accepted for the program and will receive additional English language instruction.
The Teaching Excellence and Achievement Program promotes diversity in the classroom and in learning. The TEA Program supports inclusion and strongly encourages teachers with disabilities to apply

Fellowship Worth:

The TEA fellowship is fully funded and provides:

J-1 visa support;
A pre-departure orientation held in participant’s home country
Round-trip airfare to and within the U.S;
A Welcome Orientation in Washington, D.C.;
Academic program fees;
Housing (generally shared with other program fellows) and meals;
Accident and sickness medical insurance coverage;
Transportation to the teaching practicum school (if necessary);
A daily allowance for meals and incidentals during the academic program;
A baggage/shipping allowance (domestic and international);
A book/professional development allowance;

Selection Criteria:

Demonstrated commitment to teaching in the field of secondary education;
Demonstrated leadership potential;
Professional and educational experience and achievements;
Potential for developing long-term linkages between U.S. and home country educational institutions and schools;
Preparedness (including maturity, flexibility, and ability to function independently) for an intensive U.S.-based training program with very limited free time for personal travel or sightseeing;
Willingness and capacity to work and live collaboratively with international peers to foster a positive learning community for professional development;
Ability to express ideas clearly and effectively; and
English language skills adequate to manage coursework, develop lesson plans, and team -teach in U.S. schools (a minimum paper-based or equivalent TOEFL score of 450 is required for TEA participation).
Applicants who have had few or no opportunities to travel to the U.S. will be given priority.

Timeline:

March-May 2016 TOEFL Testing/Interviews
September 2016 Notification of Finalists
December 2016 Pre-Departure Orientation Cohort I
Late January- March 2017 : U.S. Program Dates Cohort I
July 2017 : Pre-Departure Orientation Cohort II
September-November 2017 : U.S. Program Dates Cohort II

Apply Now for the 2016 Teaching Excellence and Achievement Program (TEA)

For More Information:

Visit the Official Webpage of the 2016 U.S. Department of State Teaching Excellence and Achievement Program (TEA)

Teaching Excellence and Achievement (TEA) Program

2016 U.S. Department of State Teaching Excellence and Achievement Program (TEA) for Outstanding Secondary-Level School Teachers (Fully Funded to the USA).

Eligibility