FIRST in Class to graduate with new teaching certificate 

For career-changers preparing to enter the teaching profession, life has always included weekly treks to a university campus to attend classes, with student teaching following the completion of the required graduate courses. Rider University’s School of Education is turning this model on-end, with an innovative immersive residency program. Called TEACH First Class, this initiative immerses Rider prospective teachers in an elementary school immediately where they complete graduate coursework in concert with learning how to operate, and co-operate, in the real world of K-12 education. Funded by a $50,000 grant from Carnegie Corporation of New York, this program recognizes participants who successfully complete an intensive, nine-month program with a Certificate of Eligibility with Advanced Standing (CEAS) for K-5 as well as graduate credits that can be applied toward a Master of Arts in Teaching degree. 

In most teaching programs, the classroom part of the experience lasts for only one semester. In this program, the teachers-to-be start with the students in the fall, observing and participating with children in kindergarten through fifth grade at Antheil Elementary School in Ewing School District. In the spring, they began teaching their own classes, having already bonded with the students, having a greater understanding of the culture of the school and a strong relationship with the teachers. At the same time, the school benefits from having a dedicated cohort of teachers who are also benefitting from their own pedagogical training at Rider.   

For Linda Hoffman, a former research analyst, being part of the program allowed her to assimilate into the culture at a reasonable pace. “TEACH First Class provided me with the opportunity to be a part of a school community and experience first-hand the ideas and lessons discussed in class. As a teaching student, I was not only learning about content and teaching methods, I was also able to witness first-hand what exactly the children were learning about in class.” 

Professor Judith Fraivillig was instrumental in getting this program underway. “It was a difficult process, but the rewards and the promise of the program were well worth the effort.  I love being able to work with the experienced teachers at Antheil and the prospective teachers.  We’re all in this together” she says.  

The program’s success has not gone unnoticed. Recently, TEACH First Class appeared on a “short list” of innovative programs to watch sent to the White House.   

Anshu Trikha, an entrepreneur interested in teaching, found the experience to be just the right balance between instruction and learning. “Spending quality time in a classroom from day one and absorbing the environment hands-on made all the difference,” she says. “We all came from various backgrounds and were placed in a setting beyond our norm. Now, we are determined to move forward to become successful teachers.” 

Another participant and soon-to-be-graduate of the program, Kellie Jones (a former Broadway actress), feels that the program helped prepare her to be a successful and effective elementary teacher. “It gave me the opportunity to gain hands-on experience in an actual classroom setting while also working under experienced teachers, thus allowing me to observe and learn valuable educational practices,” she says. “It also enabled me to become a part of the teaching community where I was encouraged to participate, brainstorm and work with various teachers.” 

On April 20, the first 12 graduates will celebrate the completion of this intensive nine-month program. The celebration was also Fraivillig's doing. She has invited all of the participating elementary school teachers and administrators, as well member of the Ewing Board of Education, the New Jersey Department of Education and eight other superintendents. “We want to showcase this new model, get the word out and share the positive results,” she says. “The goal is to replicate this model in other districts to leverage the expertise of experienced teachers all over our region.” 

She sees the positive impact the certification program as participants are poised to begin a new phase in their professional lives. “They are ready to hit the ground running,” she says. “Having that additional three months in the fall, along with the full-time teaching in the spring, gives them an edge when they start applying for jobs. This is really the only program in New Jersey that allows students the opportunity for pre-immersion in the classroom environment coupled with embedded coursework. That kind of experience plus theory is invaluable." 

To learn more about TEACH First Class' innovative approach, contact Professor Fraivillig at [email protected] or 609-895-5496.