Academic Tutors Needed

for

Graduate Students who are SPPS Employees Training to be Teachers

Teacher Quality Enhancement Program

In October 2005, Saint Paul Public Schools received a three-year grant to recruit, prepare and support current Saint Paul Public Schools paraprofessionals and teachers to become licensed English as a Second Language (ESL) or Special Education (Learning Disabilities or Emotional/Behavior Disorders) teachers.  The grant is a collaboration among SPPS, the University of St. Thomas, St. Paul Federation of Teachers (representing teachers and Educational Assistants) and Teamsters Local 320 (representing Teaching Assistants).

Almost 90 SPPS employees were selected as “Fellows” in the TQE program. Forty-seven of the Fellows are paraprofessionals, 35 are teachers and 4 are substitute teachers. Of the 23 Fellows in the ESL Initial License Cohort, 20 of them speak at least two languages These Fellows complete a part-time, graduate level teacher licensure program at a SPPS site through the University of St. Thomas. The teacher licensure program will take 14 to 26 months to complete, depending on the license area. Fellows are required to teach ELL or special education upon completion of the program. The grant covers tuition and books and provides Fellows with a laptop computer and printer for use during the program.  The Fellows have access to numerous support systems including tutoring and mentoring by experienced SPPS teachers. 

Tutor Qualifications/Skills

The TQE program is looking for experienced SPPS teachers with an interest in tutoring and expertise in content and concepts being taught in graduate coursework for ESL or special education (Learning Disabilities or Emotional/Behavior Disorders), or expertise in math, reading and/or writing.  

Type of Tutoring

Tutors will be assigned based upon the needs of the TQE Fellows.  In most cases, tutoring will take place in small groups of up to three students.  Fellows may request tutoring to assist in completing graduate level coursework assignments (e.g., helping with reading comprehension and understanding concepts, writing, etc.) and/or test preparation for the courses, state teacher tests and/or graduate admissions testing.  In most cases, 1-2 tutoring sessions of 2-3 hours is expected to meet the needs of most Fellows. Tutors will be required to keep attendance records and progress notes for tutoring sessions.

When Tutors are Needed

                                                Spring Semester 2006: March - May 18

                                                Summer Session 2006: June 12 - July 21

                                                Fall Semester 2006: September - December

                                                J Term 2007: January

                                                Spring Semester 2007: February - May

                                                Summer Session 2007: June - July

                                                Fall Semester 2007: September - December

                                                Spring Semester 2008: February - May

Location

Tutors and Fellows should determine a mutually convenient place for the tutoring.  Tutoring can take place off-site (e.g., public library, coffee shop, private home, etc.).  In order to use space at a school building, be sure to check with the school administrator about room availability.

Compensation

Tutors will be paid $24.15/hour for each tutoring session. 

Application Information

Complete the application below and click "Finish" to submit.  You will be contacted by a coordinator from the TQE office if your skills and availability match the needs of a Fellow. 

If you have questions regarding the tutoring, please contact Laura Mogelson, ESL Coordinator at 767-8210 or Patty O’Neill, Special Education Coordinator at 767-8211.