The American Consulate General in Jerusalem Announces
the 2016 Teaching Excellence and Achievement Program (TEA)
Deadline: May 15, 2016
This program is designed to bring together international secondary level teachers of English, English as a Foreign Language (EFL), social studies, math, science, and social studies, and special education teachers in those subject areas, to the United States for professional development programs. Teachers will be placed in cohorts of about 18-20 teachers at eight U.S. universities that will be selected through a competitive process. One program will take place either in the spring or the fall of 2017. The program is fully sponsored by the U.S. Department of State in cooperative with the International Research & Exchanges Board (IREX).
Brief Description:
The program will provide a six-week professional development program at a U.S. university including: academic coursework, leadership training, instructional technology seminars, and a practicum in a U.S. secondary school. The program will consist of academic seminars focusing on new teaching methodologies, curriculum development, lesson planning, teaching strategies, and instructional technology training. Intensive English language instruction will be offered to teachers who need additional practice. The program will also include a practicum at a U.S. secondary school where participants work closely with U.S. teachers and teach and present to U.S. students. Cultural enrichment, mentoring, and support will be provided to participants throughout the program. The program consists of academic seminars focusing on new teaching methodologies, curriculum development, lesson planning, teaching strategies, and instructional technology training. Intensive English language instruction will be offered to teachers who need additional practice.
After returning home, teachers who successfully complete the program will be eligible to compete for small grant awards for essential teaching materials, follow-on training for other teachers, collaborative projects between participating American schools and their home schools, and other activities that build on the exchange experience. A 3 minute video of the program can be viewed to learn more about it: http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=6Rc0UiplMTc.
Candidate Qualifications:
ü Applicants must be secondary-level, full-time teachers with a Bachelor’s degree or the equivalent, and have five or more years of classroom experience in English, English as a Foreign Language (EFL), math, science, or social studies, including special education teachers in those subjects.
ü Please note that this is a program for practicing teachers. Ministry of Education officials, full-time principals or educational administrators, full-time teacher trainers, university faculty, private English Language tutors, and teachers from schools primarily serving expatriates are not eligible.
ü Be proficient in English to enable active participation in the academic program. Attain a minimum score of 450 on the TOEFL or equivalent exam, ITP or IELTS.
ü Demonstrate strong leadership qualities;
ü Have a sustained high level of academic achievement, as indicated by grades, awards, and teacher recommendations.
ü Indicate a serious interest in learning about the United States.
ü Have had little or no prior study or travel experience in the United States or elsewhere outside of their home country;
ü Participants are expected to participate fully in the academic program.
ü Applicants must reside in the country of citizenship at the time of application.
ü Applicants who have recently traveled to the U.S. for exchange programs such as SUSI or IVLP or to other Western countries for professional development should be given lower priority.
ü Holders of American passports or green card are not eligible.
ü IREX will provide all teachers with an international airline ticket. IREX will also reimburse them for round-trip travel expenses between their home city and the point of departure for the U.S.
Application Guidelines and Deadlines:
TEA applications are available on-line at:
Applicants must submit their application on-line by May 15, 2016.
For questions or other inquiries:
Jerusalem and West Bank Applicants: send an email to [email protected]; or call 02-622-7172 or (0545) 420 953 for more information.
Gaza Applicants: send an email to [email protected]; or call 08-286-4623 for more information.
