Overview
From its first Summer Institute in 2009, the Teacher Quality and Retention Program (TQRP) has provided high-caliber training and mentoring to aspiring, pre-service and new teachers from publicly-supported HBCUs and PBIs across the country. The result of lessons learned from a 2006 Gates School Reform grant, as well as the Teacher Prep Program Pilot in 2008, TQRP has emerged into a robust, research-based program that has impacted over 600 Program Fellows over the last 10 years across 20 different states and 45 TMCF member-schools. TQRP Fellows have impacted over 31,000 K through 12 students in high-need urban and rural areas across the nation.
TQRP is a five-year fellowship supporting new and aspiring teachers. TQRP provides high-quality, pre-service training, as well as personalized support once teachers enter into the classroom. Fellows are a part of a close-knit network of diverse teachers passionate about teaching in high-need urban and rural communities. Fellows have access to year-round PD and attend an intense 10-day summer institute that presents content from a culturally responsive, trauma-informed social-emotional learning approach. TQRP supports three individual areas of focus: HBCU Males, STEM and New Teachers in developing sound pedagogy and research-based educational practice– all with the goal of becoming future teacher leaders.
TQRP Fellows have the opportunity to collaborate with master teachers and TMCF staff to:
- Work toward becoming certified teachers
- Successfully complete their first three years in the classroom
- Acquire support in developing the knowledge and skills necessary to become National Board Certified Teachers when eligible to apply
The TQRP application process is competitive and open to all interested candidates. Chosen participants, called TQRP Fellows, will embark on a multi-year commitment that begins with a summer institute each year. Fellows will continue to be developed with opportunities to attend professional conferences, interactive online support, as well as mentorship and leadership training. Our TQRP Fellows will become the next generation of teacher leaders and part of a community of educators unlike any other.
The Need for TQRP
Less than 2% of Public School Teachers are African American males. [1]
- TQRP provides a forum for aspiring African American male educators to learn from, support and share experiences with peers and experienced faculty.
- Only 8% of all teachers with three or fewer years of experience are black
Nationwide, only 44% of middle school STEM teachers have STEM degrees. [2]
- TQRP recruits STEM majors and provides training and support to increase the population of minority STEM teachers in high-need schools.
Forty to fifty percent of teachers leave the profession in the first 5 years, while 20% after the first year alone. [3]
- TQRP offers professional development and support for TMCF member-school students and alumni, beginning with their pre-service training and continuing until their third year in the field.
1. U.S. Department of Education, Office of Planning, Evaluation and Policy Development, Policy and Program Studies Service, The State of Racial Diversity in the Educator Workforce, Washington, D.C. 2016.
2. Loeb, S., & Reininger, M. (2004). Public policy and teacher labor markets: What we know and why it matters. The Education Policy Center at Michigan State University.
3. Ingersoll, R.M. (2007). CPRE Policy Briefs: Misdiagnosing the teacher quality problem. Philadelphia: Consortium on Policy Research in Education.
Learn More
- Pre-Service Fellows have the opportunity to receive coaching and feedback as they walk through the process of developing and teaching a lesson from start to finish.
- New Teacher Fellows create content and provide professional development to peers and also learn how best to prepare their practice in order to become a National Board Certified Teacher.
- Fellows participate in thought-provoking, interactive sessions to learn how to educate the whole child in an engaging, rigorous, culturally responsive, and trauma-informed manner.
- Fellows partake in additional support throughout the year in the form of informational webinars, lesson feedback, mentoring – and additional ongoing professional development for select New Teacher Fellows.
- Throughout the program Fellows received support and assistance in securing employment and participate in professionalism sessions designed to help them prepare their portfolios, resumes, and hone their interview skills.
- Fellows receive a modest stipend and have all travel expenses covered by TMCF for program events.
The goal of TQRP is to recruit, support and retain the next generation of leaders from HBCUs to teach students in underserved urban and rural communities. All education majors are welcome to apply. In addition, to meet the growing need for science and math teachers in secondary schools, STEM majors in their junior or senior year are strongly encouraged to apply. TQRP is a 5-year, year-round professional development opportunity.
Below are the requirements for those interested in applying for this opportunity.
- Minimum 3.0 cumulative GPA
- U.S. Citizen or National/Permanent Resident Status
- Current HBCU student or alumni *
- Education or STEM major
- Participate in an intensive Summer Institute each year
- Engage in interactive online support sessions throughout each year
- Successful completion of a criminal background check
*Black Male Educators in their 1st -5th year of teaching are encouraged to apply for a one-year fellowship with TQRP even if they didn’t attend an HBCU. This is part of the TQRP Black Male Expansion initiative.
To prepare for the application process, you’ll need the following:
- Resume (including the following)
- Academic Achievement: Include name of degree(s), major(s), minor (s), cumulative GPA, and GPA in major. You should also describe any other academic achievements (thesis, honors program, academic awards, etc.).
- Work Experience/Extracurricular Activities: Include information about your recent work experience, involvement in extra-curricular activities, leadership roles, achievements, and awards (if applicable).
- College transcript (can be unofficial but must be complete)
- In-service teachers ONLY will be required to submit a copy of their most recent performance evaluation and a copy of their teaching certificate (if applicable)
- Be prepared to write a short essay and complete a video interview, in professional attire, about your interests, abilities, and experiences in education.
- What are your goals in teaching?
- What would becoming a TQRP Fellow mean to you?
- What qualities/character traits would you bring to the TQRP cohort?
*Eligibility to participate in TQRP will be dependent upon the applicant’s successful completion of a criminal background check. Successful completion of a criminal background check in prior program years does not satisfy this requirement for future program years.
Summer Institute
A major component of the Teacher Quality and Retention Program (TQRP) is the Summer Institute. The primary purpose of this rigorous, hands-on training is to better equip our TQRP Fellows with the knowledge and skills they need to enter and succeed in competitive and challenging teaching environments. In addition, the Institute helps our future and new teachers further develop their pedagogical skills, as well as work to acquire the tools needed to become teacher leaders on their campuses and beyond.
In 2023, nearly 80 TQRP Fellows comprised of current students and Alumni from 28 HBCUs, across 59 cities participated in an intense, virtual 10-day professional development opportunity. Fellows were deeply engaged in pedagogical and instructional practice sessions designed and delivered by experienced faculty educators; each Fellow participating in a tailored content track that strategically connect to maximize cross-cohort collaboration:
- Black Male Fellows foster rich dialogue about their experiences in the teaching profession and develop a network of peers to help in their ultimate goal of becoming National Board Certified Teachers. Pre-Service males also participate in the STEM-focused Practicum.
- Pre-Service Fellows have the opportunity to participate in a Practicum where they receive coaching and feedback as they walk through the process of developing and teaching a lesson from start to finish.
- New Teacher Fellows create content and provide professional development to peers and also learn how best to prepare their practice in order to become a National Board Certified Teacher.
Program Dates: July 14th through July 25st 2024, in person in Houston, TX.
Follow TMCF on Facebook, Twitter and Instagram or sign up to receive our newsletter to be informed when the application opens.
TQRP Partners
