STEP UP Program
Call for Applications for STEP UP
Fall 2023 at Harlingen CISD, Los Fresnos CISD and McAllen ISD
The UTRGV College of Education and P-16 Integration, in partnership with Harlingen, Los Fresnos, and McAllen school districts, invites you to apply for its Fall 2023 cohort for STEP-UP (Student Teacher Educator Preparation—University Partnership), an exciting and dynamic teacher preparation experience. The Fall 2023 cohort will be selected from applicants in the elementary teacher program and secondary per district need.
STEP UP offers undergraduate teacher education candidates a year-long, clinically-rich, K-12 school-based experience through a collaborative preparation approach. Preparing highly effective new teachers to enter the classroom requires narrowing the transition gap between pre-service and induction to the first years of teaching. The goal of the partnership is to prepare new teachers to enter the classroom with the knowledge, skills, and experience of a second-year teacher.
STEP UP teacher candidates receive opportunities of guided sustained supervision and mentorship from an experienced teacher and university faculty liaison as they spend an entire school year in the classroom.
Deans for Impact Content of Thinking Spotlight on STEP UP Program
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The Deans for Impact highlights the STEP UP Program interviewing Dr. Sandra Musanti and students in the program with a yearlong experience. Read full article.
STEP UP Fall 2023 Application Flyer
Fall 2023 Application Dates
- Application Now Open! Friday, March 10, 2023
- Application Closes on Monday, April 10, 2023
To apply complete an application on Tk20 for more information refer to the How to Apply tab below.
- School District Partnerships
- Program Benefits
- Program Requirements
- Roles and Responsibilities
- How to Apply
School District Partnerships
With the success of the original partnership and design with Harlingen Consolidated School District, STEP UP Program has now expanded to three new districts Brownsville ISD, Los Fresnos CISD, and McAllen ISD.
Program Benefits
The STEP-UP program provides an Immersive and intensive teaching experience designed and implemented by university faculty and district educators. Under the structured guidance of educators from UTRGV and district partner, teacher candidates develop their knowledge and skills of effective teaching in the authentic setting of a classroom. They receive support from professionals able to provide developmental feedback and guide candidates as they develop into self-reflective practitioners.
University faculty collaborate with teacher candidates and cooperating (mentor) teachers in classroom action research. District cooperating teachers model effective practices for candidates and provide mentoring and coaching support. All partners in the collaboration are continuously engaged in the discourse of highly effective teaching. Participation in the program results in candidates being highly prepared for their first year of teaching.
This program offers teacher candidates a variety of benefits, including:
- Immersive and intensive teaching experience designed and implemented by university faculty and district educators,
- Co-teaching opportunities with carefully selected mentor teachers throughout the year-long experience,
- Engagement with university faculty to discuss connections between theory and practice,
- Opportunities to experience a variety of school activities over the school year, participating in all aspects of school life, including in-service training, faculty meetings, and ARD meetings,
- District onboarding to prepare candidates for the expectations, policies, and procedures of the district, in advance of job interviews and the possibility for early hire in the district.
Program requirements
Candidates for Fall 2023 cohort at Harlingen CISD, Los Fresnos CISD, and McAllen ISD must be:
- Admitted into the UTRGV Teacher Preparation program
- Eligible to student teach in Spring 2024
- At a 3.0 or Higher GPA
- In the elementary teacher program or secondary per district need
- Selected through an application and interview process
The following outlines essential roles and responsibilities in STEP UP for teacher candidates.
Roles and Responsibilities for Teacher Candidate
First Semester
- Commit to complete a 2-semester program.
- Adhere to all district and university policies.
- Demonstrate high level of professionalism.
- Attend one assigned full day every week of the semester at their respective school.
- Attend the entire first week of class at their respective school.
- Attend Professional Learning Community (PLC) meetings with other teacher candidates and their cooperating teachers.
- Participate in co-planning, co-teaching, and feedback conferences with cooperating teacher and university supervisor. Co-teaching roles will vary over the course of the semester, with the candidate taking on greater responsibility as the semester progresses.
- Participate in professional development, faculty meetings, and other district sponsored events.
- Actively participate in their own professional development in the authentic setting of a real classroom by setting goals and focusing on continuous improvement.
- Be receptive to engage in other activities contributing to professional development.
- Have the opportunity to substitute teach.
Second Semester
- Adhere to district and university policies.
- Continue to demonstrate high level of professionalism and participate in the school/district meetings and events teachers are expected to attend
- Attend the equivalent of 14 5-day weeks over the spring semester and fulfill responsibilities of student teacher.
- By starting on the district start day, students may periodically substitute teach throughout the semester one day a week—optional but recommended.
- Continue to attend PLC meetings and Group Seminar meetings.
- Participate in planning and post-teaching conferences with cooperating teacher.
- Take on more planning, teaching, and administrative responsibility in the classroom as the semester progresses.
- Participate in parent meetings.
- Participate in mock interview process with district personnel.
- Actively participate in a seamless transition from student to professional.
How to Apply
For assistance, please contact the STEP UP Program Coordinator.
| Name | Campus | |
|---|---|---|
| Dr. Steve Chamberlain Program Coordinator |
steve.chamberlain@utrgv.edu | Brownsville BMAIN 2.216 |