The Ed Fellows program is a fully-paid, learn on the job teacher training program for future elementary education teachers.

As an Ed. Fellow, you'll get:
 

• A full salary and benefits package, including health coverage and retirement.
• A flexible work schedule
• Up to 12 hours per week, paid, to complete classes and coursework
• Paid fees for all licensing expenses
• Mentorship and coaching from experienced, real-world teachers.
• Hands-on experience in an actual classroom setting.

Your role as an Ed. Fellow

Here’s a sneak peek at the things you’ll be doing as an Ed. Fellow:
 

• Tutor students in small groups or one-on-one, making learning fun and personal.
• Lend a helping hand to the lead teacher, becoming an essential part of the classroom team.
• Team up with your mentor teacher to plan creative and engaging lessons in reading and math.
• Build meaningful relationships with students and staff, becoming a key part of the school community.
• Attend mini-courses that’ll give you valuable strategies for managing a classroom, helping students who need extra support, and teaching in ways that celebrate and use students' culture and language as a powerful tool for learning.

See a detailed job description. (1)  

If you already have a bachelor’s degree and you want to become a teacher, check out TEACH New Mexico’s Alternative Licensure page to learn more.

Yes! You can become an Ed. Fellow at any school in New Mexico that participates in the program. 

Yes! You can apply to become an Ed. Fellow with your current school district. Depending on how your local Ed. Fellow program is set up, you may be placed at a different school or at various grade levels to meet the needs of students. This is a great question to ask during the application process.

Some placement examples are: 

• Work in one classroom for the two-year period. 
• Work with a specified grade level.
• Work with multiple grade levels.

As an Ed. Fellow, you must be employed at a participating school. One of the main goals of the program is to help improve the student-to-adult ratio in schools.

The school where you work will pay your wages and then receive reimbursement from the program. The program is open to more than just paraprofessionals or educational assistants. Anyone can become an Ed. Fellow as long as you meet these requirements:

• You have a high school diploma or GED, but not a bachelor’s degree.
• You want to become a licensed teacher with a bachelor’s degree.
• You are enrolled in a teaching program, or plan to enroll within one semester of being hired as an Ed. Fellow.

When you're hired as an Ed. Fellow, you're not considered a paraprofessional or educational assistant, even if you started in that role. Your position is specifically as an Ed. Fellow.

An Ed. Fellow is an "extra" set of hands, designed to complement, not replace, the school staff. As a part of the team, an educational or instructional assistant plays a key role, while Ed. Fellows truly serve as additional teaching support—making them a valuable bonus to the classroom!

If you’re already working as an educational or instructional assistant and become a Fellow, the school will have a vacancy to fill.

As part of the program, you will receive paid leave from your Ed. Fellows position at the elementary school. This paid leave is specifically for you to focus on your teaching program, such as attending university classes or completing assignments.

You can help your school become an Ed. Fellow school by following these steps:

1. Contact the Ed. Fellows program director to learn more about the program.
2. Reach out to your local school superintendent or tribal leaders and encourage them to get involved. Be sure to share your contact info for follow up!
3. Partner with educational leaders in your community to help engage community members.

The program is designed to support elementary schools that serve high percentages of at-risk populations, including but not limited to:

• Native American-serving schools and districts
• English Language Learner-serving schools and districts
• Special education programs
• Schools in low socioeconomic areas

The Educator Fellows Program will assist schools and districts by providing resources, consultation, and support with outreach, advertising and other related needs.

No. The program is for students who are already working toward a bachelor’s degree (or will be enrolled within one semester of becoming an Ed. Fellow). Your timeline depends on your previous college credits and the number of credits you plan to take per semester.

Yes. You can choose the teaching program that best meets your needs. As long as the program is accredited and you’re pursuing a bachelor’s degree in education, you’ll qualify to be an Educator Fellow.

The Educator Fellows program is meant to support elementary schools that serve high percentages of at-risk populations, including but not limited to:

• Native American-serving schools and districts
• ELL (English Language Learner)-serving schools and districts
• Special education programs
• Schools in low socioeconomic areas

If you’re interested in teaching older students, contact the school district you’re interested in working for. There may be other opportunities available and it never hurts to ask!

Visit the New Mexico Public Education Department’s Educator Fellows program page for more details.