The short answer essay questions offer an opportunity for you to tell us about yourself and explain why you are applying to the NYC Teaching Fellows program as your pathway into teaching. The answers to these questions are considered a critical part of your application. Along with the content, the structure and mechanics of your answers are important. We encourage you to visit our NYCTF website and consider how your answers reflect the components of our mission that resonate most strongly with you.
We suggest preparing your answers to these questions in advance in a word processing application so that you can copy and paste your answers in and complete the online application in one sitting.
In the short answer responses, we are looking for you to:
- Highlight why you feel you would be an effective teacher in a high-need public school in New York City
- Use your own voice to share your passion for education.
- Be concise and adhere to the word count guidelines provided for each question.
- Cite your experiences both inside and outside of classrooms.
- Use specific examples from your own experiences and how they have prepared you for the classroom and working with students.
Please be aware that AI detection software will be used when assessing essay responses. If language in the essay responses is flagged, the assessment score will be reduced. You may still move forward in the selection process but you will be required to complete a phone interview and a Selection Day interview.
Preview of Application Questions
Question 1
Given the mission of NYC Teaching Fellows, why do you want to join the program and teach in underserved schools in New York City?
(Please answer this question in 200 words or less.)
Question 2
Teachers in a city as diverse as New York educate students from a variety of backgrounds and abilities. How do you think students' socio-economic status, family background, and previous experience with schooling impact their potential for academic success?
(Please answer this question in 200 words or less.)
Question 3
Do you believe you will be successful in ensuring high academic achievement for all students you will teach? Why or why not?
Describe any experiences (including experience working with low income or special needs populations) and/or skills that will help you improve student outcomes.
(Please answer this question in 200 words or less.)
Question 4A– Scenario Responses
Two weeks into summer school, you notice that one of your seventh-grade students is consistently disengaged during lessons. He rarely answers questions, and when you call on him, he typically shrugs his shoulders and says, "I don't know." Even when other students are engaged, you often find him listening to music, engaging in off-topic conversation, or putting his head down on his desk.
What are some likely causes of the student's behavior and what action steps would you take to determine these causes?
(Please answer this question in 150 words or less.)
Question 4B– Scenario Responses
What are two ways you would address the student's behavior? To what extent do you believe these strategies will be successful?
(Please answer this question in 150 words or less.)
Once you have completed your essays, you can choose to click on the green MARK AS COMPLETE button or the gray SAVE & CONTINUE EDITING button. Saving your information will allow you to return to the application at a later time to complete this task. Before you choose MARK AS COMPLETE please review your responses to ensure they are accurate.