jobbite
New York City Teaching Fellows is for recent college graduates or career changers looking for a change of pace. Over 20,000 - 30,000 people apply each year and about 1,500 get in. Fellows range in age from 22-50's. The New York City Department of Education hires you with transitional certification, and pays for most of the graduate school work that you are required to take as a fellow. You must complete summer training (with a $2,500 stipend), at least two years as a NYC teacher, and your graduate school coursework to become certified as a "real" teacher.
Pro's: The fellows gives you a chance to attend graduate school at a significantly low cost, and puts a lot into training new teachers. the summer coursework is rigorous and demanding, but it is all to help prepare you as you are thrown into the classroom. They really focus heavily on making quality teachers - and this is a great option if you have always wanted to teach but didn't get any sort of education background in college.
Con's: Although they train and "prepare" you - nothing can prepare you for being a school teacher in one of the highest need urban school districts in the country. The job is tough - and you have to be ready to give it your all. The fellowship does put a lot of strain on people with families. I have found that people who weren't really into teaching have failed at this - you have to really want to teach and be ready to give your classroom everything you have to get the students to succeed. This is not just another job - its a life choice. You have to be ready for it.
I personally have enjoyed it ... but as a teacher I sleep about 4 hours a night, work 12 hour days at school, and do NOT make enough money for what I do. The union (UFT) is great though - teachers in NYC have wonderful benefits and a great union to back you up. The salary also increases significantly if you have more education in your background and the longer you teach. And a great part of the fellowship is you meet hundreds of other people like yourself who have the same struggles as you do ... its great when other people can relate. I've liked the job - but you have to make sure you're ready for it.