Description:   Alternative Teacher Certification Program

 

If you have a four-year degree and the desire to teach children - our program is for you! The Dallas ISD Alternative Certification Program is seeking individuals with a bachelor’s degree in all areas who would like to become teachers. Selected candidates will go through a one-year teacher-training program and be guaranteed a teaching position in our school district.

Please note that this teacher internship requires relocating to Dallas, TX. Relocation fees are not paid for by the school district.

Our Alternative Certification Program is one of the best teacher training programs in the state of Texas. We select 200-300 degreed individuals annually and train them to teach in the various areas of certification. Because of our 60% Hispanic student population, we are especially looking for bilingual (Spanish-speaking) individuals to teach elementary bilingual classes. We also offer certification in the areas of math, science, Spanish, speech, and technology fields. Information about our program and the different certification areas is available on our website: http://teachfordallas.com

Program Description
Selected candidates will begin training in a special 8-week training class and start teaching in an elementary or secondary school upon completion of the training class. Once in the classroom, the AC interns will have their own classes and will receive support from a mentor teacher, Alternative Certification coordinators, specialists from the New Teacher Support and Mentoring Department and the District Professional Development Department.
In order to receive the AC Program’s recommendation for state certification, the AC intern must have accomplished the following results:

• Passed the required state exams
• Performed well in the classroom
• Fulfilled all state and program requirements
• Received a favorable recommendation from their principal, mentor teacher and Alternative Certification Program specialist

Compensation
Annual Salary Range: $44,350–$69,715 (2008-2009)
Bilingual Stipend: $4,000
Math Stipend: $4,000
Science Stipend: $2,500
Spanish Stipend: $3,000
Signing Bonus: $1,000
Additional Signing Bonus for bilingual, math, science: $500

Application Packet 
We begin accepting applications for the 2010-2011 school year on July 1, 2009.  The deadline to apply is March 1, 2010.  Those who desire to apply to the AC Program must apply by sending the following documentation by mail or person to the Dallas ISD AC Office at 2909 North Buckner Blvd, 4th floor, Dallas, TX 75228:

• Copy of completed online application and application fee
• A copy of your picture id, such as a Driver’s License (Front and Back)
• A copy of your social security card (Front and Back)
• A copy of your resume
• Two official transcripts from the universities where you received degrees
• One official transcript from other universities you have attended

For more information, please visit our website: http://teachfordallas.com

International Candidates
If you are an International candidate and wish to apply, you MUST provide the following documentation:

• One notarized título or diploma in Spanish
• One notarized título in English
• Two original or notarized sets of transcripts in Spanish
• One original or notarized set of transcripts in English
• Three foreign transcript evaluations by a foreign credential service that will convert your transcripts to the U.S. equivalent (If you have not had your transcripts evaluated, you need to do that quickly. Our website list several companies you can use, but we recommend www.fcsa.biz because they are fast and will offer you a discount if you mention Dallas ISD on the application.)
• TOEFL Scores
• Copy of full passport
• Government-issued Criminal records report from your native country

Please visit our website for information about our traveling schedule. If you wish to be contacted about an Information Session near you, check the link "Recruitment Activities" on our website: http://teachfordallas.com

What are the advantages of the Dallas ISD ACP compared to other teacher preparation programs?

1. Guaranteed Bilingual, Mathematics and Science Teaching Positions – Because the DISD-ACP is a district-based alternative certification program, it guarantees employment to accepted candidates in bilingual, mathematics and science provided that the candidate submits all documentation in a timely matter, completes all testing requirements, and presents themselves well in the interview. The program hires in other areas but they are not guaranteed, however, 98% of all interns who complete the training are hired by the district
2. Intensive Summer Training – Each candidate will go through eight weeks of intensive summer training before having to be the teacher of record. Most of the training will be face-to-face training which allows the candidates to interact with extremely competent trainers who have taught in the district.
3. Scholarships are often available for the program in critical teaching fields.  These will cover $3,000 of the training fee. 
4. Our program works with the Veteran GI Bill - Monies awarded can be used towards the program fees, tuition costs or other program related expenses.
5. Teacher Support – The DISD-ACP provides each intern with a paid mentor in the school where the intern will be teaching. It also provides each intern with an instructional coordinator who will visit the intern on a regular basis to make sure that the intern is successfully progressing toward certification.
6. Cost – The cost of the DISD-ACP is significantly lower than private alternative certification programs and definitely lower than most regional and university-based alternative certification programs. In addition, the DISD-ACP allows interns to pay for most of the program costs through payroll deduction over the first year of the program.
7. Full benefits are available to all full-time teachers.

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