Application Process

Who is eligible?

K to 12 classroom teachers from the following schools are eligible for the 2006-07 seminars:

Beeber Middle School Bartram High School Catherine Elementary Communications Tech High School Daroff K-8 Lamberton High School Lea K-8 Middle Years Alternative (MYA) Overbrook Elementary Overbrook High School Parkway West High School

Penn-Alexander K-8 Powel Elementary Randolph Career Academy Roxborough High School Sayre High School Shaw Middle School Shawmont K-8 Turner Middle School University City High School West Philadelphia High School A. Wilson Elementary

Teachers from these schools are eligible if they submit an application with the approval of their principals.

Not eligible:

Teachers who plan to leave the School District by retirement or for other reasons by the following September after the seminar sessions. Teachers must be able to teach their curriculum in SDP schools in the following year.

Applications may be obtained from the Teacher Representatives in their schools; by request from the Institute by mail or telephone; or by downloading an application from this website. Applications for this year’s seminars will be available on or after November 1.

Advice for completing a TIP Application

Teachers should choose a seminar that they feel can be applied to their particular classroom needs. In the application, teachers will have to make a case for their selection-that is, explain what the teacher plans to learn, how the teacher plans to use the material in their classrooms, and why his/her students will benefit from the material.

Teachers must propose a topic related to the seminar subject that they will research and learn with the guidance of the Penn Seminar Leader. The principal’s signature on the application certifies that the proposed topic is in accordance with both the curriculum of the School District and program of the individual school.

It is often helpful to consult with a Teacher Representative, or teacher with Institute experience. Or you may call the Institute at 215-746-3544 with questions. The deadline for each year’s submission of applications is on the form, (usually in early-to-mid December). Or you may check this website and click on the "Schedule" folder for the official deadline after applications are made available.

Incomplete or unsigned applications cannot be accepted.

Applications will be processed and evaluated by a committee of Teacher Representatives and Institute Director. Letters of acceptance will be mailed in the latter part of December.

Starting the Seminars: Orientation/ Reception

The accepted Teacher Fellows will gather for a large group orientation and reception on January 15, 2008. At that session, after initial refreshments, teachers will meet as a group with the University professors who will lead their seminar to discuss the procedures, expectations, and overall direction of the seminar, and receive their reading lists and assigned materials if they not received them earlier.

After a two-week reading period, regular seminars will begin and continue for 13 additional sessions.

Responsibilities of the Teacher Fellows:

Although the benefits of being a fellow of the Teachers Institute of Philadelphia far outweigh the responsibilities, there are some important obligations that Fellows must keep in mind. The Institute can be rigorous and demanding so potential Fellows should be prepared for this intensity. The obligations relate to the seminars themselves, to the writing and implementation of a curriculum or other specified document, and to the completion of an evaluation. The following are some of the responsibilities of the TIP Fellows. Fellows must:

1. Check personal schedules ahead of time to determine if scheduling precludes participation in the TIP this year.
2. Attend and be on time for all seminar sessions.
3. Do all required readings (usually two hours or more each week) and come prepared for each weekly session.
4. Participate in the lively exchange of ideas focused around the required reading.
5. Adhere to the deadlines for submitting materials to the Seminar Leader for review.
6. Schedule private meetings with the seminar leaders (before or after a session) to discuss his/her reaction to the prospectus and each draft of the report.
7. Revise and rewrite as needed to meet the standards set by the Seminar Leader.
8. Complete a detailed written evaluation of the TIP experience.
9. Implement the curriculum or plan developed in the document during the year following the seminar.