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. TQRP has grown into a robust, research-based program that has impacted over 350 program fellows over the last 10 years across 20 different states and 57 TMCF member-schools. TQRP Fellows have impacted over 50,000 K-12 students in high-need urban and rural areas across the nation.
TQRP is a fellowship supporting new and aspiring teachers. It 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 communities. Fellows have access to year-round professional development and attend an intense 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.
The TQRP application process is competitive and open to all interested candidates. Chosen participants, known as TQRP Fellows, embark on a multi-year commitment that begins with a summer institute each year. Fellows continue development with opportunities for year-round professional development and support, as well as 1:1 coaching, 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
Having one Black teacher in elementary school lowers the high school dropout rates of low-income Black boys by 39% and raises the college aspirations of poor Black students, both male and female, by 19%.
- 50% of students in public schools are minorities. Only 6% of teachers are Black and less than 2% are Black male teachers.
- Black teachers leave the profession at rates approximately 25-30% higher than white teachers.
- 91% of former fellows are still working in the field of education.
- 73% of supervisors report that TQRP training will improve teacher retention.
- TQRP Fellows were judged more proficient than their peers 62% of the time.
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 coaching and professional development to peers.
- 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 webinars, lesson feedback, mentoring – and additional ongoing professional development for select new teacher fellows.
- Throughout the program, fellows participate in professionalism sessions designed to help them prepare their portfolios, resumes and hone their interview skills.
- Fellows receive a modest stipend and have meals, hotel and 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.
The application is currently closed.
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 and acquire the tools needed to become teacher leaders on their campuses and beyond.
In 2024, over 80 TQRP Fellows comprised of new and aspiring Black teachers representing 32 HBCUs across more than 60 cities participated in an intensive, in-person, 10-day professional development opportunity. Fellows engaged deeply in pedagogical and instructional practice sessions designed and delivered by experienced educators, with the theme "Not just good, but Thurgood."
Participant Tracks:
Black Male Fellows - Receive specialized mentoring through virtual monthly sessions designed to foster rich dialogue about their experiences in the teaching profession and develop a network of peers. They also participate in Brother-to-Brother panels and the STEM-focused practicum.
Pre-Service Fellows - Undergraduate students from HBCUs preparing to teach in K-12 settings. They participate in a practicum at Ogden Elementary, where they create and teach 45-minute STEM lessons, receiving coaching and feedback throughout the process.
In-Service Fellows - K-12 teachers who graduated from an HBCU (in their first three years of teaching) or Black male K-12 teachers in their first five years of teaching. They engage in advanced professional development sessions and participate in the Sister-to-Sister and fireside chat panels.
Key Components:
- Strengths-based professional development
- Psycho-educational processing groups
- Culturally responsive teaching strategies
- Trauma-informed and social-emotional learning approaches
- Classroom management techniques
- Standards-based instruction and assessment
- Technology integration across content areas
Program Details:
2024 Summer Institute: July 14th - 23rd, 2024, held in-person
Cohort Statistics:
- 83 total participants with an average GPA of 3.59
- 30% Male (25), 70% Female (58)
- 32 HBCUs represented
2024 Admin Track: July 21 - 23, 2024, held in person
15 TQRP alumni who are new or aspiring administrators in K-12
Ongoing Support:
The program continues throughout the year with:
- Virtual monthly mentoring and 1:1 check ins
- Social Emotional Learning Day Symposium in collaboration with Morgan State University
- TQRP admin track 2024 virtual fall professional development
- Professional development workshops at various partner institutions
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TQRP Partners
