Newark
Overview
As one of Teach For America’s longest standing regions, Newark, New Jersey is poised on the brink of significant social, economic, and educational change. While it still faces significant educational and economic challenges, there exists a palpable sense of optimism and a determination to improve the lives of all citizens in this community. With a large presence in schools throughout Newark, Teach For America corps members and alumni work side-by-side to contribute to an educational renaissance movement in one of the country’s most vibrant urban centers.
Life
One of the country's best-kept secrets, the greater Newark area offers an eclectic blend of social and cultural opportunities that underscore its urban and rural character. With easy access to New York City (15-20 minutes by train), there are appealing options for those attracted to both big-city life and the advantages of less densely populated areas. For instance:
-
Food-lovers flock to Newark and its plethora of ethnic cuisine.
-
Sports enthusiasts here are surrounded by 10 professional sports teams and sparkling new stadiums and arenas including the Prudential Center in downtown Newark, home to the NJ Devils.
-
Music aficionados find that concert options are as varied as they are numerous, taking full advantage of the New Jersey Performing Arts Center in Newark.
Beyond the city limits, almost two-thirds of New Jersey is comprised of farms and woodland areas, and about half of the state is on a coastal plain along the Atlantic Ocean, offering outdoor explorers ample opportunities to hike, bike, boat, and just "get away."
Northern New Jersey offers all of the excitement and convenience of urban living yet remains relatively affordable. Most corps members choose to live in Newark, Jersey City, Montclair, Bloomfield, or Hoboken. These areas resemble many neighborhoods in New York City in their youthfulness and variety, but at far lower costs.
Corps Culture
The relatively small size of the Newark corps creates a strong sense of commitment and community among its members. Corps members receive ongoing support from program directors and participate in monthly content-specific learning teams to address their particular needs. Many corps members teach in the same school as other corps members or alumni, allowing them to share best practices and support each other on school-specific issues. Furthermore, corps members are invited to participate in social and community events throughout their two years in the corps such as:
-
Make a Difference Day
-
MLK Day of Service
-
Youth Service Day
All events are organized by Newark’s Brick Committee (a group of current corps members seeking to establish connections between corps members and community partners). Not only do corps members live together, share lesson plans, and meet for dinner or coffee, many even take day or weekend trips to the various exciting places that New Jersey has to offer.
Teaching
Newark, and nearby Passaic, face many of the same economic and social challenges as other major urban areas in America.
-
One in four families lives in poverty
-
46 percent of adults have a high school diploma
-
One in ten Newark residents possesses a bachelor's degree or higher
Student test scores continue to lag behind those of higher-income areas. In math, only 35 percent of eighth graders and 40 percent of high school students passed state standardized assessments in 2007. While the overall trend of rising test scores in Newark is promising, student achievement levels continue to fall below the state average.
Newark is making progress, however, in its efforts to improve its schools as both district and charter schools work in collaboration to improve the quality of education in this city. The recent surge of charter schools in the city – many of which are founded and run by Teach For America alumni – has done much to raise the bar of educational excellence in this community. Corps members have had a profound impact on Newark schools as they represent nearly five percent of the entire instructional staff in the Newark Public Schools, and have a documented history of raising student achievement. Alumni such as Julie Jackson (’94 Newark Corps) and Ryan Hill (’99 NYC Corps) are leading high-performing charter schools and consistently rely on corps members and alumni to maintain the highest standard of educational excellence within their schools.
View a map of our placement areas.
Certification and Testing
In order for Newark corps to begin teaching, corps members must take exams called The PRAXIS Series: Professional Assessments for Beginning Teachers. Applicants assigned to Newark will receive further information about required tests and certification once they are accepted. Corps members who do not possess a NJ Standard Teaching Certificate or have not completed a traditional teacher preparation program are required to take additional coursework throughout their first year to earn their standard certification. We have partnered with Seton Hall University to develop an Alternate Route program that is tailored to the needs of our corps members. By the end of the corps member’s first year, he or she will exit the program certified to teach in the state of New Jersey.
Corps members who teach Special Education earn their credential at the end of their second year as a result of additional coursework requirements. Upon completing the alternate certification program, corps members are permanently certified to teach anywhere in the state.
The Newark region also partners with Montclair State University to provide additional coursework opportunities for Math and Science corps members. Eligible corps members, who apply and are admitted, participate in a Master of Education in Teacher Leadership program. This is an intensive, two-year program, designed to empower teachers to lead efforts and build grassroots capacity to directly impact the quality of teaching and learning.
Placements
| Elementary |
37% |
| Secondary |
63% |
| Teach at a school with another corps member or alumnus |
80% |
Living and Education Expenses
Salary and Taxes
| Salary |
$45,000 - $50,000 |
| Taxes |
22.75% |
Cost of Living
| Housing Single |
$6,500 - $1,200 |
| Housing Shared |
$600 - $1,000 |
| Health Insurance |
$70 - $100 |
| Utilities |
$60 |
| Daycare |
$600 - $1,000 / month |
| Monthly Tranist Pass |
$50 - $75 |
| Car Insurance |
$108 |
| Car Required |
Access to car is essential |
Start-up Costs
| Testing Costs |
$130 - $140 |
| Up-front Certification Costs |
$195 - $400 |
| How do you pay start-up costs? |
Out-of-pocket |
Ongoing Costs through the Two-year Commitment
| Ongoing Certification Costs |
$1,500 - $2,300 |
| Use AmeriCorps award for testing/certification costs? |
No |
| How is teaching certification structured in this state/region? |
1 year - Through university |
| Is it possible to complete a master's degree at the end of two years? |
Yes |
| Is the completion of a master's degree required as part of the two-year commitment? |
No |
| Extra Master's Degree Costs |
N/A |
| Partner Universities |
Seton Hall University, Montclair State University |
Notes and Clarifications
- Beginning teacher salary: If you have a master's degree in education, are placed in a bilingual classroom, or in a math/science classroom you may receive additional compensation.
- Avg. health insurance: In some placement districts, health insurance premiums are pre-tax deductions.
- Total tax rate: Federal + state + city. Only applies to starting salaries.
- Up-front certification: Expenses that must be paid before your first day of teaching.
- Paying start-up costs: Can you pay for testing and up-front certification costs with transitional grants and loans or do you have to pay out-of-pocket?
- Ongoing certification: Total certification costs over two-year teaching commitment.
- AmeriCorps award for certification: Can you use your AmeriCorps award to pay testing/certification costs?
- Master's in two years: Is it possible to complete a master's degree at the end of two years?
- Master's required: Is the completion of a master's degree required as part of the two-year commitment?
- Extra master's degree costs: Additional total cost to obtain a master's degree (on top of ongoing certification costs); does not include AmeriCorps award.
- Partner university(ies): These universities partner with Teach For America for ongoing certification requirements, and in some cases, the fulfillment of a master's degree in education.