Application Tips

Volunteer, Work Experiences, and Activities (this section is very important in determining your next steps in the application process)

• List all volunteer and/or work experience with children and youth - either in a one-on-one or group setting. Please note whether that experience was in an under-resourced community.

• List all other work experiences that did not involve working with children, especially long-term commitments.

• Include the month(s)/year(s)/approximate hours of involvement with children.

Essay Requirements

The essay is an important portion of your application process. It will be reviewed by Urban Teachers and the Johns Hopkins University School of Education to determine eligibility. Follow the instructions regarding word count (350 minimum/650 maximum). Other non-related writing samples will not be accepted as a substitute for the short response. You will not be able to move forward in the Urban Teachers selection process unless your essay meets the minimum standard for content and grammar/punctuation accuracy. Analysis of your writing and communication skills is an important part of the application review. A poorly written essay is one of the main reasons an application is rejected.

 

Essay Question 

"Urban Teachers strives to improve educational and life outcomes of children in urban schools by preparing culturally competent, effective career teachers who accelerate student achievement and disrupt systems of racial and socioeconomic inequity. We seek applicants who are motivated to become effective teachers and are interested in serving at least 4 years to a rigorous residency, masters program in DC, Baltimore or Dallas."

Describe (1) your motivation(s) to becoming an effective career teacher and (2) your commitment to disrupting systems of inequality. Please share previous experiences and passion in your response."

 

A resume provides a broader picture of an applicant as we review for eligibility. Ensure that your resume has the following:

• Current phone number(s) and email address (preferably the same one you submitted in your application).

• Ensure resume is free of any misspelled words or grammatical errors.

• List volunteer and/or work experience(s) with children, youth and communities - either in a one-on-one or group setting(s). Please note whether that experience was in an under-served community.

• List all other work experience(s) that did not involve working with children, especially long-term commitments.

• Include the month(s)/year(s)/approximate hours of involvement with children.

• If you are bilingual or multilingual, be sure to indicate that on your resume.

• Explain any breaks in your education and/or work experience.

Resume Tips

A resume is an important part of the initial Urban Teachers application; it can be quite helpful in learning more about your background. If you successfully move through the application process and receive a "letter of intent" (offer), your resume will be shared with our higher education and school partners.

Tips for crafting a good and informative resume:

1.  Pay attention to format. What you want is a balance -- a smooth, clear look that has just enough panache to stand out; a clean sleek font provides a more tightened-up presentation. 

2.  Make your resume count. Make yours an attention grabber!  List your contact information (address, email, and phone/cell numbers) and make sure they are the same as what you listed in your application. We want to be able to easily contact you should we have questions.

3.  Highlight your talents, experience and relevant skills. You want to showcase what you can do as a resident/fellow in the Urban Teachers program and as an urban teacher to our students. A qualification summary should take up the most valuable real estate on your resume in order to highlight what you want us to know about you! It’s a high-level overview of your candidacy.

4.  Quality over quantity. Keep your resume to no more than two pages, unless your background and experience is highly relevant to teaching.