Teaching Fellowship
The Teaching Fellowship Program at Germantown Friends School is an experience for novice teachers (teaching assistants, graduate students) interested in additional training and professional development in an independent school environment. Fellows will work under the mentorship of a lead teacher and meet regularly as a cohort to discuss topics related to teaching and learning. Outside these seminar meetings, Fellows will take on teaching duties, complete brief readings and reflections, and conduct classroom observations. In addition to a salary, Fellows will receive a stipend and tuition support for their participation in graduate Education coursework. Like a teaching hospital or a lab school, we seek to bring together the expertise of experienced faculty and share it with preservice teachers.
Our Mission
Germantown Friends School is dedicated to reaching that of God in every person. Our mission is to seek truth, challenge the intellect, honor differences, embrace the city, and nurture each student’s mind, body and spirit.
Our goal is to recruit and train prospective teachers, particularly those who may be unfamiliar with the independent school environment. We seek to broaden and diversify the pool of teaching candidates at Germantown Friends School. Most importantly, our goal is to develop outstanding educators who are ready to lead their own classrooms in an independent school.
Teaching Fellow Responsibilities
- Serve as the teaching assistant in a K-5 classroom from 8 a.m.-12:30 p.m. daily
- Shadow and support lead teacher
- Participate in whole-class lessons and activities
- Provide small group and individual instruction
- Help supervise lunch, recess, and transitions
- Plan and teach lessons
- Attend a seminar 1-3 p.m. weekly
- Complete readings, reflections, and observations on seminar topics
- Share ideas and queries about teaching in an independent, Quaker school
- Explore aspects of identity and culturally responsive teaching
- Learn from guest speakers each week
Benefits of Program
- Authentic, hands-on classroom experience
- Teaching Fellows learn together through a cohort model (3-5 fellows)
- Receive mentoring from an experienced lead teacher
- Training and support to set new teachers up for success as they launch their educational careers
- Explore the latest research and educational best practices
- Attending workshops for ACT 48 credit
Requirements
- Bachelor's Degree
- Enrollment in a Master’s in Education program
- Commitment from August 2025 - June 2026
For more information please contact Director of Community Engagment, Dr. Zarah Adams or Learning Specialist for Lower School, Jenny Stetzer Goldberg.