Fenway Pilot High School/Boston Arts Academy Teacher Training Collaborative

"Fenway is a high school that reinforces the belief that every human being has the capacity to learn and to succeed. We are a place that many call home -- we believe that anything in life is possible, if we just try." - Yelitza, Class of '97

Tufts University's Teacher Preparation Program is committed to preparing teachers to teach effectively in urban high schools. Therefore, we have developed a partnership between Tufts University and the Fenway Pilot and Boston Arts Academy High Schools. Our primary goal is to provide student interns an intense urban high school experience to prepare them to meet the challenges of teaching in urban schools. The model includes:

• a focus on subject areas and interdisciplinary curriculum;
• an analysis of meeting the needs of language minority students;
• an opportunity to teach in diverse classrooms;
• a discussion of issues in creating an effective urban high school experience;
• a stipend paid by Tufts Department of Education for participating students.

The mission of Fenway Pilot High School "is to create a socially committed and morally responsible community of learners which values its students as individuals." The Boston Arts Academy is "committed to rigorous academic and arts education ...and the ways the two support and compliment each other." These high schools encourage academic excellence and develop intellectual habits of mind, self-esteem, and leadership skills among all students. These mission statements and the ideals upon which they are based reflect the goals that the Tufts Teacher Preparation Program has for licensure candidates. Working together, faculty from Fenway, the Boston Arts Academy and Tufts Department of Education seek to create a model in which licensure candidates can become effective urban teachers and educational leaders.

The Tufts-Fenway/Boston Arts Academy Teacher Training Model is designed to ensure that students achieve the seven competencies required for Massachusetts initial teacher licensure. The curriculum includes intensive study and curriculum course work in the academic field for which certification is sought. These courses address what competent teachers should know and be able to teach in the discipline. Students study human development and learning, child and adolescent development, and exceptionalities in learning. Students learn about the social, cultural, and historical foundations of education. This academic instruction is carefully integrated with a yearlong, full-time practicum supervised by experienced urban educators.

Candidates who are interested in this exceptional urban education experience may contact Linda V. Beardsley, Director of Teacher Education at 617-627-5273.