Teacher Opportunity Corps II (TOC II) Program

The My Brother's Keeper, TOC II program is designed to increase the participation rate of historically underrepresented individuals, particularly males of color, in teaching careers. The program is open to both undergraduate and graduate students enrolled in a teacher certification program listed below, and to all genders and non-gendered students.

TOC II is supported in part by funds from the New York State Education Department.

TOC II Grant for School of Education Students

Who’s eligible

Eligibility for the state Teacher Opportunity Corps (TOC) II scholarship:

What it funds

The scholarship can support 30 education students per year at Nazareth.

  • Undergraduate students: The scholarship totals about $3,700 per student.
  • Graduate students: The scholarship covers up to half the tuition cost.
  • The scholarship also helps with the cost of required teacher certification exams (currently totaling over $700).

Current tuition costs.

Combined aid awards cannot exceed the cost of attending.

How to apply: Undergraduates
  1. If not already a student, complete the standard Nazareth undergraduate Admissions process and be accepted full-time into an eligible undergraduate degree program. Full-time requires at least 12 credits per semester for undergraduates.

  2. Apply to the TOC II program.

  3. Have two people who know your work (such as teachers, community service supervisors, or employers) email letters of recommendation to otwi@naz.edu

  4. Eligible candidates will be invited to an interview — only after we've received your application and letters of recommendation.

How to apply: Graduate Students
  1. If not already a student, complete the standard Nazareth graduate Admissions process and be accepted full-time into an eligible graduate degree program. Full-time requires at least 9 credits per semester for graduate students.

  2. Apply to the Teacher Opportunity Corps Program.

  3. Have two people who know your work (such as professors or employers) email letters of recommendation to otwi@naz.edu

  4. Eligible candidates will be invited to an interview — only after your application and letters of recommendation have been received.

Deadline

Applications are accepted anytime. Students are enrolled on an ongoing basis.

New York state and Nazareth have committed to fund this program through 8/31/2026.

Criteria for selection

We will consider candidates who are pursuing New York state teaching certification.

Priority will be given to candidates seeking degrees in Rochester City School District critical shortage areas.

Prepared for Success

80% of teachers who participated in TOC programs  continue to serve as teachers and administrators for more than 5 years after graduation

More Urban Education Work

Nazareth's Frontier Center for Urban Education also supports quality urban education by offering professional development for teachers, urban fieldwork placements for Nazareth students, and student projects in Rochester schools.