The University of Tennessee, Knoxville, in partnership with Knox County Schools, has announced the launch of the Teach Knox Fellows program, a new initiative aimed at investing in, preparing and supporting the professional development of 30 special education teachers annually at no cost to participants.
The program is spearheaded by UT’s College of Education, Health, and Human Sciences through UT-PLAYS (Personalized Learning At Your Speed), a flexible online education program for initial licensure as well as math and special education endorsements. Teach Knox Fellows offers initial licensure pathways in special education K-8 interventionist, 6-12 interventionist and K-12 comprehensive.
Prospective applicants must hold a bachelor’s degree, be interested in seeking an initial Tennessee teacher license in special education, and demonstrate a strong commitment to student success and inclusive education.
“Teach Knox Teaching Fellows is a workforce partnership designed to address district hiring needs in inclusive education,” said David Cihak, associate dean of professional educator programs and director of UT’s Bailey Graduate School of Education. “The program prepares and supports special education teachers through structured clinical experiences, targeted mentoring and ongoing professional learning. By intentionally developing educators to serve students with disabilities in inclusive settings, this partnership creates a sustainable local pipeline that supports new teachers, teacher retention and well-prepared teachers in every Knox County neighborhood.”
Teach Knox Fellows teach in KCS special education classrooms and earn a wage while pursuing their licensure. Admission decisions, classroom experiences, supervision and mentorship are jointly coordinated by KCS and UT-PLAYS. Participants are admitted and begin the program as a group, building a support system of colleagues as they progress together.
Successful completion of the program can allow for the transfer of up to six credit hours toward a master’s or Educational Specialist degree program at UT. This benefit, combined with tuition reimbursement from KCS and Tennessee, federal loan forgiveness for teachers, or both, can result in a low-cost graduate degree for those who wish to continue their UT education.
Keeping the teaching pipeline full
As school systems across the country grapple with teacher shortages, the Teach Knox Teaching Fellows program is the latest of several educator preparation partnerships that are helping UT to supply Knox County with a steady workforce of well-trained teaching professionals. In addition to UT-PLAYS, KSC benefits from VolsTeach, an undergraduate pathway that offers UT education students a range of field-based experiences, and the registered teacher apprenticeship program that helps teaching assistants work toward becoming licensed professional teachers while keeping their jobs.
“In KCS, we believe everyone should have a clear, accessible, well-supported pathway to teaching,” said Crystal Pratt, a teacher pathway specialist for the school district. “The Teach Knox Teaching Fellows program is the next step in our partnership with UT to ensure Knox County students are taught by excellent educators.”
Applications for Teach Knox Fellowships are now open. Applicants should complete the UT-PLAYS application form (selecting “I am applying for the Teach Knox Fellows Program” under the applicant status prompt) and submit the form by the March 1 priority deadline.
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MEDIA CONTACT:
Stacy Estep (865-974-8304, sestep3@utk.edu)
Doug Edlund (865-255-7444, dedlund@utk.edu)