Friends School is an independent, non-profit school in Boulder, Colo. that serves preschool, elementary and middle school students. We are committed to educating the whole child—head, hand and heart—and to training exceptional teachers for tomorrow’s classrooms. We provide a strong academic foundation while developing creative expression and nurturing a passion for learning. Our students gain a deep understanding of themselves and are inspired to act with compassion and integrity. Friends School is home to a renowned Teacher Preparation Program (TPP). The Friends TPP is an alternative teacher licensure program, designated through the Colorado Department of Education (CDE) to prepare teachers for licensure in Elementary Education or Early Childhood Education. We partner with more than 12 regional schools—public, charter and independent—to offer a wide variety of teaching placement options for aspiring teachers. In addition, Friends TPP partners with the University of Colorado Denver to offer an optional Master’s Degree in Learning, Developmental and Family Sciences in conjunction with the teacher preparation program.
Through the Friends Teacher Preparation Program, you are able to get a true sense of life as a classroom teacher. The format of the program naturally invites connection between your Monday-Thursday life in the classroom with best practices and pedagogy taught in Friday seminars, enriching your learning, as well as that of your students.
Maybe you have always wanted to be a teacher, or perhaps you have recently unearthed a passion for teaching and learning. Friends Teacher Preparation Program (TPP) draws a variety of candidates, including (but not limited to): career-changers, those who have pursued other degree paths, and others who may have been teaching for some time, whether in a lead or supporting role, and are now seeking professional training, licensure, and perhaps pursuing the optional Master’s degree while they are at it! Combining a full year of mentor-guided teaching experience (More than 1,000 hours!) with relevant, rigorous, and directly-applicable coursework and instruction (over 225 hours!), the Friends TPP prepares aspiring candidates for a sustainable teaching career. Graduates earn a Colorado Elementary or Early Childhood Initial Teacher license, as well as an optional Master’s degree through the University of Colorado Denver. Teacher Candidates (TCs) in our residency model are placed in one of our 12-plus regional partner schools where they work Tuesday through Friday in partnership with a mentor teacher. TCs in the employee model work in the role they were hired (i.e. teacher of record, para, assistant teacher) during the week. On Saturdays, TCs come together for “Seminar”. We bring in a variety of instructors to teach required coursework for teacher licensure. This instruction is directly applicable, so candidates can immediately try out new methods and strategies in their classrooms all year long. Our goal is to give aspiring teachers the tools, teachings, and support systems to be successful, impactful educators and life-long, life-wide, and life-deep learners.
Students at Friends School have reduced the cost of their program using these methods. Check with Friends School to see if you can, too!
Amount
Description
$4,475 - $8,950
Grants, Stipends, Scholarships
The Carol Kitzinger Scholarship is awarded to teaching candidates who show exceptional potential as teachers and who have unmet financial need. To be eligible, applicants must apply for the scholarship by following the instructions on the Friends TPP webiste.
Work Study, Working While Still Enrolled
If a candidate is placed with one of our select independent school partners, they could be eligible to have a portion or the entirety of the Friends TPP costs covered! Because of this added benefit, these spots are highly competitive and do require some additional interview components as the school sees fit. If interested in this option, we encourage candidates to apply by the Priority Deadline and let the program staff know of your interest.
Applicants also have the option to pursue and secure their own paid placement/position for the program year as long as it is approved by the Friends TPP and your host school administrator.
Licensure Areas
Early Childhood Education Early Childhood Education (Birth-3) Elementary Education Elementary Education (K-6)
Program Semesters/Steps Overview
The program starts in late summer, well before school begins. This is an essential time for building community, covering program expectations, and exploring foundational concepts to set candidates up for the year ahead. Following orientation week, candidates begin with their host school, working with their mentor teacher to prepare for the arrival of students later in the month. This involves setting up the classroom environment, preparing materials, and attending school and district trainings.
Monday through Thursday, teacher candidates are working a full-time schedule in their host classroom co-teaching alongside their mentor teacher. Each Friday, the cohort comes together for what is called “Friday Seminar”. A typical Friday consists of three presentations or lessons to cover various aspects of teaching and learning. These sessions are facilitated by Friends TPP program staff and a wide variety of teaching professionals including university professors, specialists, school administrators, teachers, retired teachers, and other experts in the field. These weekly presentations in conjunction with 4 licensure core courses make up the required coursework for teacher licensure.
During the first semester, TCs will focus on foundational understandings of development and learning, teaching methods and skills, such as classroom management and planning. TCs will have three major assignments to complete: the Child Study assignment, Developmentally Appropriate Curriculum paper, and ongoing written reflections that continue on into the second semester as a part of the Teaching as Profession course.
In addition to Friday seminars, the second semester consists of two major assignments: continued reflections and development of an “Educational Philosophy Statement” as part of the Teaching as a Profession course and the Thematic Unit project. The Thematic Unit involves designing and teaching at least 10 lessons around a theme. Beginning in as early as January, the TPP begins to provide support and resources around the job search. We hold “mock interviews” and support teacher candidates in developing resumes, cover letters, and other supplemental materials. Teacher Candidates graduate from the program around mid-May and finish out the last week or two with their host school. At that time, they are eligible to apply for their initial Colorado Initial Teaching License.
Program Hallmarks
We believe that all students have the right to high quality education that meets their needs and honors their potential. Friends TPP prepares teachers to work effectively with students of all abilities and cultural, linguistic, racial, and economic backgrounds. Through our program, teacher candidates learn how to engage in best practices for supporting various populations of students, including specific work around CLD and SPED practices, such as:
Participating in several seminar sessions dedicated to best practices when working with emerging bilingual students.
Working with diverse populations at their host schools. (With a variety of school placements ranging from a Title I school serving primarily students from lower income households to an independent school serving a much more affluent community, teacher candidates gain perspective from these varied educational settings!)
Receiving instruction in several sessions on addressing the unique needs of students in poverty.
Examining their own personal biases and having ongoing conversations in seminars about the roles of prejudice, racism and classism in the classroom.
Participating in ongoing seminar sessions focused on supporting students with special needs.
Below are the modifications to the 2 sections of the profile that I indicated in the first PDF. Let me know if you have any questions about any of this!Preparation for Diverse PopulationsWe believe that all students have the right to high quality education that meets their needs and honors their potential. Friends TPP prepares teachers to work effectively with students of all abilities and cultural, linguistic, racial, and economic backgrounds. Through our program, teacher candidates learn how to engage in best practices for supporting various populations of students, including specific work around CLD and SPED practices, such as:
Participating in several seminar sessions dedicated to best practices when working with emerging bilingual students.
Working with diverse populations at their host schools. (With a variety of school placements ranging from a Title I school serving primarily students from lower income households to an independent school serving a much more affluent community, teacher candidates gain perspective from these varied educational settings!)
Receiving instruction in several sessions on addressing the unique needs of students in poverty.
Examining their own personal biases and have ongoing conversations in seminar about the roles of prejudice, racism and classism in the classroom.
Participating in ongoing seminar sessions focused on supporting students with special needs.
The Friends TPP provides teacher candidates with many layers of support throughout the program year, and even before you begin!
Mentor Match Process: Our in-depth, personalized placement process allows you to meet with multiple mentor teachers before a decision is ever made about your teaching placement for the year. We have more than 12 different partner schools and a large pool of qualified mentor teachers. Your input and preferences are considered in this process as well so that you have a hand in this important decision. We believe that the match with a mentor teacher is critical to the success of the teacher candidate, mentor teacher, and, most importantly, the students they serve. This is why we put a great deal of intention toward this aspect of our admissions process!
Mentor teachers receive initial training and ongoing systematic support through the program.
An advisor is assigned to each teacher candidate to provide regular feedback, coaching, and support on all aspects of the teaching profession.
Teacher Candidates are observed and given formal feedback and coaching by their advisor at least 10 times over the course of the year. They engage in goal-setting and growth conversations with their mentor teacher, advisor, and program staff regularly.
We work to develop a strong and cohesive TPP community of learners and consider the camaraderie and collegiality of our group to be a beneficial support system as well!
The Friends TPP is committed to continuous program improvement and excellence in teacher education and preparation. To ensure that our teacher candidates have the best experience possible, we ask for feedback throughout the year. We elicit feedback not only from teacher candidates, but also from various other stakeholders such as: mentor teachers, advisors, alumni, school administrators, and program instructors through surveys, analyses of teacher candidate evaluations, consultation with our advisory council, and more. We work closely with our local partners and with the Colorado Department of Education (CDE) and the University of Colorado Denver to remain current and focused on continuous program improvement in response to changes in education, policy, and society at large.
Stats
Gender
Male
Female
29%
71%
Ethnicity
American Indian or Alaskan Native
Asian
Black
Hispanic/Latino
Native Hawaiian/Other Pacific Islander
White
Two or more races
0%
19%
4%
0%
0%
77%
0%
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