Teachers 2000 Partnership

Secondary Special Education and Transition Services | Early Childhood Special Education

The George Washington University, Montgomery County Public Schools, & Paul D. Coverdell Peace Corps Fellows

The Teachers 2000 Partnership is a cooperative effort between The George Washington University (GW), the Peace Corps, and Montgomery County Public Schools (MCPS), Maryland. Four programs fall under the umbrella of the partnership: the Millennium Teaching Fellows, Paraeducator Teaching Fellows, Paul D. Coverdell Teaching Fellows and Early Childhood Teaching Fellows. Three of these program options prepare individuals for teaching secondary special education while the fourth prepares individuals to teach pre-kindergarten through third grades in special education.  Tuition support is provided for all courses required for licensure and Fellows are eligible to earn short-term teaching salaries during their first year of the program and full-time teaching salaries upon completion of the program and licensure.

Millennium Teaching Fellows (MTF)

Highly qualified liberal arts and science graduates are recruited to the special education teaching profession as Millennium Teaching Fellows (MTFs). MTFs begin coursework during the summer (May) and make a full-time commitment to the program in August. This involves both a day and evening time commitment. During the day, Fellows are assigned full-time to MCPS middle and high schools and they attend GW classes one or two evenings a week.

Fellows are assigned to a MCPS school during the first year of the program. During this assignment, they observe, assist in classrooms, serve as a substitute teacher, and complete a formal internship. Fellows are assigned to a MCPS secondary school for the entire school year and they have opportunities to substitute teach across MCPS. They complete a formal internship requirement of ten weeks at their assigned school. Clinical supervision is provided during this pre-service phase of the program. MTFs are eligible for full-time employment as Teaching Fellows in the fall and continue to receive University support through weekly coaching, bi-weekly observations, and seminars. Once Fellows complete all coursework and are fully certified to teach, they are considered highly qualified and are eligible to receive priority consideration for a teaching contract with MCPS.

Read more about Millennium Teaching Fellows

See the course sequence

Paraeducator Teaching Fellows (PTF)

Highly experienced candidates interested in teaching special education are recruited to the teaching profession as Paraeducator Teaching Fellows (PTFs).   PTFs are Special Education Paraeducators who are currently employed in MCPS. Upon acceptance to the program, they receive tuition benefits for all courses required for licensure, and begin taking classes in May. A full-time commitment begins in August and involves day and evening activities. During the day, Fellows work as paraeducators in a MCPS middle or high school. They attend GW classes one or two evenings a week. PTFs follow the same sequence of courses as the Millennium Teaching Fellows. During the preservice phase of the program, PTFs are assigned full-time to a MCPS Special Education department. During this assignment, Fellows continue in their role as classroom assistants and complete a formal eight-week internship with clinical supervision in their base school. PTFs are then employed as full-time Teaching Fellows in the fall and continue to receive University support through weekly coaching, bi-weekly observations, and seminars. Once Fellows complete all coursework and are fully certified to teach, they are considered highly qualified and are eligible to receive priority consideration for a teaching contract with MCPS.

Read more about Paraeducator Teaching Fellows

See the course sequence

Paul D. Coverdell Peace Corps Fellows (PCF)

The Peace Corps Fellows (PCF) program is a unique opportunity for enthusiastic returned Peace Corps volunteers to hone their teaching skills and earn Maryland state licensure.  The PCFs begin a full-time commitment to the program in mid- January (early childhood special education - see Early Childhood Teaching Fellows) or in May (secondary special education with content - see Millennium Teaching Fellows).  

Read more about Millennium Teaching Fellows

Read more about Early Childhood Teaching Fellows

Early Childhood Teaching Fellows (ECTF)

A fourth option for candidates interested in teaching at the elementary level is the Early Childhood Teaching Fellows Program (ECTF).  The ECTF option is a rigorous program designed for motivated individuals who wish to teach special education in pre-kindergarten through third grade settings within Montgomery County, MD and who have served in AmeriCorps, Teach for America, or who have two or more years of teaching experience.  This program option begins in January. Tuition assistance, the opportunity to earn a short-term substitute teaching salary, and a paraeducator salary with benefits are available. Once Fellows complete all coursework and are fully certified to teach, they are considered highly qualified and are eligible to receive priority consideration for a teaching contract with MCPS.

Read more about Early Childhood Teaching Fellows

See the course sequence