NYC DOE Teaching Fellows
Welcome, New York City Teaching Fellows!
The New York City Teaching Fellows program prepares a critical mass of exceptional teachers committed to a better future for the New York City students who need them most. This partnership between Pace University’s School of Education, the NYCDOE, and the New York City Teaching Fellows has been ongoing since 2001. The School of Education's Master of Science for Teachers (MST) program will prepare you to become a successful teacher in the classroom as you learn to become a reflective practitioner who promotes justice, creates inclusive and welcoming classrooms and school communities, and enables all students to be successful learners.
Your Support Team
Joanna Lockspeiser
Assistant Director, Centralized Advisement
Phone: (212) 346-1481
Email: jlockspeiser@pace.edu
Make an Appointment
Dr. Jennifer Pankowski
Program Director Alternative Certification Programs
Phone: (212) 346-1059
Email: jpankowski@pace.edu
Linda Guyette
Director of Certification Services
Email: lguyette@pace.edu
Open Linda's Zoom Advising Hours: Monday, 4:00 p.m.–6:00 p.m. and Wednesday, 3:00 p.m.–5:00 p.m. (passcode: certify)
School Placements
Securing a teaching position is a critical part of the New York City Teaching Fellows Trans B program. If you are a newly admitted candidate, you must secure a teaching assignment that begins no later than the semester immediately following the Pre-service Component of your program. The DOE will host hiring events during the Pre-service period, and the appropriate accommodations will be made by instructional faculty to allow for participation in those hiring events.
Academic Progress
As part of the Fellows/Trans B program, you will progress through the program with your cohort, following the Scope and Sequence of courses distributed during orientation. If you have an extenuating circumstance that requires a modification to your program, please request that modification ahead of time, or during the semester in which the extenuating circumstance occurs. Such requests should be in writing and sent to Joanna Lockspeiser. These requests will be evaluated by a committee and you will be notified in a timely manner about the committee’s decision. If you stop attending classes without first receiving permission to modify your program, you will be dropped from the program and/or not allowed to resume studies at a later date. For those who wish to take a Leave of Absence or Medical Leave of Absence, please note you must first submit your request to the DOE for approval. Once it is approved by the DOE, please send documentation to Joanna Lockspeiser. She will submit a Leave of Absence for your Pace University courses and withdraw you from classes.
Deficiencies
As part of the Fellows program, your academic record will be evaluated to ensure that NYSED content core requirements in the Liberal Arts and Sciences have been met. If you have course deficiencies, you will be notified no later than your first semester/summer session(s) at Pace. All identified course deficiencies must be addressed as per your program Scope and Sequence included in your Orientation packet. It is your responsibility to take care of any deficiencies, and strongly advised that you have Joanna Lockspeiser approve any coursework intended to address deficiencies, prior to taking the course. (Note: identified deficiencies can be addressed at a community college or a 4-year school. You may also engage in online learning opportunities. However, all course work must be completed at an accredited institution that can produce a credit-bearing college transcript. You may also address course deficiencies through CLEP where applicable.) An official transcript that shows completed course deficiencies must be submitted to the School of Education to clear any “deficiency holds” on your record. Please note that the Registrar will not award a degree to a candidate with unmet course deficiencies.
Academic Policy
You are expected to (1) maintain a cumulative grade point average of 3.00, and (2) earn a “B” or better in each education course for which they register. Should you fail to meet either of these expectations, you will be placed on academic probation. You will be considered academically deficient when the conditions of academic probation are met, whether or not you receive written notification of this status. If you fail to raise your cumulative grade point average to a minimum of 3.00, after completing the probation semester, you will be dismissed from the program. If you are provisionally admitted and do not (1) earn a cumulative grade point average of 3.00 and (2)"B" or better in your provisional semester, you will also be dismissed from the program. If you are a Non-Degree Seeking (NDS) student who earns less than a "B" in your education course(s) you will not be allowed to register for additional courses. You must be in good academic standing at Pace University in order to continue your employment in the DOE. If you lose your position in the DOE for any reason, you will not be permitted to continue your Pace University Trans B Teaching Fellow program. This is true regardless of your academic standing at Pace University. In addition, anyone dismissed by the DOE from the Fellows program is not eligible to transfer into any traditional graduate Education programs at Pace. If you decide to withdraw from the NYC Teaching Fellows program, you have the option to continue your Master’s degree at Pace as a traditional student. Contact Dr. Pankowski or Joanna Lockspeiser to discuss this option. This does not apply if you have been dismissed from the DOE.
Trans B Certificate/Certification
NYSED requires all candidates enrolled in a Trans B program, like the NYC Teaching Fellows, to be on a Trans B teaching certificate. To earn the Trans B certificate requires:
- successful completion of the required exams;
- fingerprint clearance reported to TEACH. (Please note that PETS clearance is only the first part of the fingerprint clearance process. You must also secure fingerprint clearance through NYSED, which is then reported to your TEACH account.
The School of Education will review the required exams with you during the Orientation process, along with the deadline by which you need to be on the Trans B certificate. We also provide free tutoring for these exams. If you fail to earn the Trans B certificate by the stated deadline, you will be dismissed from the program. Exceptions will only be considered if you meet both of the following criteria:
- you have a minimum of two unsuccessful attempts to pass each required exam prior to the stated Trans B deadline;
- you have attended the tutoring workshop(s) provided by the SOE.
The Trans B certificate is valid only while you are actively enrolled in your Trans B program. Once you have completed all of your coursework and the University has “awarded” your degree (i.e.: “degree awarded” listed on your academic record with the award date), the School of Education is obligated by NYSED to enter a recommendation for the Initial certificate. Pace University’s recommendation for the Initial certificate will automatically expire your Trans B certificate. Please note that the Initial certificate will not issue unless you have successfully completed the other certification requirements (fingerprint clearance and all exams). Without a valid and current teaching license, you will not be allowed to remain in your teaching placement. Please also note that there is no way to “extend” the Trans B license after program completion. The Trans B certificate is linked to the Trans B program.