ROC Urban Teaching Fellows Program

Preparing purpose-driven, high-quality teachers to make an immediate impact in the Rochester City School District.

The ROC Urban Teaching Fellows Program is a paid teacher residency program designed to prepare teachers for a career in the Rochester City School District.

  • Earn your master's degree in teaching with initial certification
  • Participate in a 15-month paid teacher residency: Earn a salary of up to $43,000 plus health and dental benefits
  • Co-teach with experienced mentors while completing your master’s degree
  • Receive $15,000 toward your tuition
  • Continue employment in the Rochester City School District following graduation and successful completion of the residency program

Get all this in addition to the Educational Partner Network discount, and the Teacher Opportunity Corps II benefits (for eligible applicants).

Join a highly competitive cohort of teacher candidates who are deeply committed to urban education and the Rochester community!

Application deadline: March 1 for the 2024-2025 cohort

Complete both steps to be considered:

1. Apply to your Naz grad program:

2. Indicate interest in the Roc Urban Teaching Fellows program:

Indicate interest

Program Overview

The ROC Urban Teaching Fellows' year schedule

  • 15-month residency program includes a full academic year in a Rochester school, co-teaching four days per week with an experienced mentor teacher and serving one day per week as a building substitute.
  • You'll start graduate classes in late May (Summer A term) and finish the following August.
  • You move through the program in a cohort for enhanced community and support.

Innovative curriculum

  • Culturally responsive curriculum
  • Build your reflective teaching skills

Teacher certification

Upon completion of the residency year, you are eligible to apply for up to two certifications.

  • New York State initial teaching certification in Childhood Education (Grades 1–6) and Teaching Students with Disabilities at the Childhood Level (Grades 1–6)
  • New York State initial teaching certification in Early Childhood Education (birth - Grade 2) and Teaching Students with Disabilities at the Early Childhood Level (birth - Grade 2)
  • New York State initial teaching certification in Adolescence Education (Grades 7-12) and Teaching Students with Disabilities at the Adolescence Level (Grades 7-12)
  • or New York State initial teaching certification in TESOL (prek-12)

Affordability/Financial support

  • Receive at least $15,000 of tuition assistance
  • Receive a non-exempt salary of up to $43,000 plus health and dental benefits from the Rochester City School District for the 2024-2025 academic year.
  • You may also be eligible for Nazareth's Educational Partner Network discount, and Teacher Opportunity Corps II benefits.

Post-graduation commitment

You commit to teach in the Rochester City School District for a minimum of two full school years following graduation, during which you will receive continuous mentorship as a beginning teacher. See more about the Rochester City School District »

Mentors

  • Your co-teacher(s) is highly trained and well supported by the Rochester City School District
  • You are matched with a co-teacher who meets your professional developmental needs
  • You'll learn models of good practice, receive guidance in context, and benefit from collaborative support and feedback.
Shaylee Picow working with young RCSD students

Naz grad education student Shaylee Picow '23G is among the first in the new urban teacher residency partnership with Naz, U of R, and RCSD that has her in the classroom teaching and earning a salary while working on her degree.

Master's in Education with Initial Teacher Certification

The Master's in Education degree will prepare you to stand out as an innovative teacher—a teacher who lives to inspire and loves to teach.

You'll find curricula informed by research and best practices and supportive and passionate faculty of researchers and accomplished practitioners. You'll learn to be a culturally-responsive teacher who builds community with students and families to foster engagement and well-being. You'll become an educator of all students.

More about Nazareth’s School of Education and its programs »

Commitment to the Rochester City School District

The ROC Urban Teaching Fellows Program was founded on principles of educational equity and social justice, with a focus on learning from day one how to serve all of Rochester’s students and families. You will become part of a community of educators with a shared commitment to excellence, equity, and social justice in the Rochester community.

Our program aims to prepare educators to alleviate the teacher shortage and create a more diverse workforce in Rochester. Graduates make a minimum two-year commitment to teach in the Rochester City School District after their residency year, which will immediately support students’ learning opportunities and outcomes.

Join our community of educators committed to excellence, equity, and social justice in the Rochester community.

Get Started Today

This is a highly competitive program, with only 10 openings for the academic year.

Apply + Indicate Interest

Contact

For more information about the Nazareth ROC Urban Teaching Fellows Program, contact Kai Strange at kstrang7@naz.edu or 585-389-2684.

For information about admissions requirements, academic programs, financial aid, or any other non-ROC Urban Teaching Fellows Program questions, contact admissions at gradadmissions@naz.edu or 585-389-2860.

FAQs

What is the ROC Urban Teaching Fellows Program?

This paid teacher residency program is designed to prepare teachers for work in the Rochester (New York) City School District.

  • You will earn your master's in teaching with initial certification while also co-teaching with a mentor throughout a one-year paid teacher residency.
  • Then, following graduation, you will be employed by the Rochester City School District for two years.
What is a residency?

A residency is a year-long experience in the Rochester City School District, where you will hone your skills and knowledge by co-teaching alongside an experienced mentor teacher. During the residency, you also will be immersed in graduate-level coursework in the School of Education at Nazareth that will inform your classroom practice.

Who is eligible?

Our ideal candidates are individuals from historically underrepresented backgrounds who want to teach in the Rochester City School District. While others will be considered, preference will be given to candidates who strengthen the diversity of teachers within the Rochester City School District, in accordance with the students and families the district serves.

Additionally, professionals looking to make a career change are also encouraged to apply.

What is the schedule?

During the summer semesters, you'll take Nazareth School of Education graduate coursework.

During the school year — fall, winter, and spring — you are at your school placement and continuing to complete graduate coursework. 

Throughout, coursework will be a mix of face to face (evenings), hybrid, and online.

What is my teaching schedule during the school year?
  • four days per week co-teaching with a mentor teacher
  • one day working as a building substitute

You will follow the Rochester City School District's school-year calendar.

How am I matched with a mentor teacher? How does mentorship work?

You are matched with a mentor teacher in your certification area.

Mentors have received professional development in mentorship from the Rochester City School District's Career in Teaching Program. Mentors and residents use a co-teaching model throughout the school year.

Will I rotate or stay in one classroom/school?

We anticipate your residency will take place at one elementary school in the Rochester City School District for the full school year. You will be partnered with two mentor teachers. We anticipate you will be placed in a classroom where an integrated co-teaching model is being used between a general education teacher and a special education teacher.

What is the teaching commitment at the end of my residency year?

Upon successful completion of the residency program, you commit to teaching for a minimum of two years in the Rochester City School District.

If I'm not admitted to the residency program, will I be guaranteed a spot in the standard master’s program?

If you are not admitted to the residency program, you can still be admitted to the regular teaching master's program that you applied to initially. The residency program does not replace the standard master's teaching program, but rather is an option for individuals who are committed to urban education and can commit to teaching in the Rochester City School District for two years beyond the residency program.

Other questions?

For more information about the ROC Urban Teaching Fellows Program, contact:

Kai Strange, kstrang7@naz.edu

For information about admissions requirements, academic programs, financial aid, or any other non-ROC Urban Teaching Fellows Program questions, contact Grad Admissions:

gradadmissions@naz.edu

585-389-2860

This program is a partnership between Nazareth University School of Education, University of Rochester Warner School and the Rochester City School District.

This program is partially funded by the Max and Marian Farash Charitable Foundation.