Teaching in Milwaukee
We are no longer accepting applications for the 2012 cohort. To learn more about Milwaukee Teaching Fellows, click here.
Milwaukee needs talented and dedicated individuals like you to help ensure that all students are prepared to succeed in school and in life. Research shows that the single most-important factor in raising student achievement is the teacher in front the classroom. This is your chance to make a difference where your talents, knowledge, and commitment are needed most.
Our Schools & Students
The largest district in Wisconsin, Milwaukee Public Schools (MPS) serves close to 82,450 students - a diverse community of children who are 57% African American, 23% Hispanic,12% Caucasian, and 4% Asian. Milwaukee has the fourth-highest poverty rate in the nation: 41% of children in Milwaukee live in poverty (triple the state rate) and nearly 80% of MPS students are eligible for free or reduced-price lunch. Approximately 18% of MPS students require
special education services and and 9% are English language learners.Working with such a diverse and high-need population brings rewards and challenges, but Milwaukee Teaching Fellows are dedicated to ensuring that all children in our community get the outstanding education they deserve.
Working Together so Students Achieve
In recent years, Milwaukee Public Schools has embraced the most important challenge facing the city -- ensuring that all students receive an excellent education that prepares them for success in school, college, and future careers. Meeting this goal will not be easy. Today, fewer than 60% of fourth graders are performing at the proficient or advanced level in math (compared to an 80% average for the rest of the state). By tenth grade, 7 out of 10 students are failing math and and 6 out of 10 are failing reading. And by the end of high school, a third of students fail to graduate on schedule. Fortunately, MPS has fully embraced the belief that, “the classroom is the most important place in the district” -- going so far as to adopt this as the District slogan.
Already, MPS has taken bold steps to set and meet high expectations for all students, and critical reform efforts are underway across the district. The Milwaukee Public Schools’ strategic plan, which received unanimous support from the School Board, has set ambitious goals for improving student achievement in reading and math by the year 2012, and for reducing the achievement gap that exists among ethnic groups in the district. Change at this scale cannot happen without highly capable teachers in every MPS classroom, so in 2008 the District launched Milwaukee Teaching Fellows, with the goal of recruiting talented teachers who are especially committed to overcoming the challenges facing our highest-need students. If you have what it takes to transform lives and opportunities for students in your classroom, apply today.
Living in Milwaukee
Milwaukee is the largest city in Wisconsin and is located on the shore of beautiful Lake Michigan where the Menomonee, Kinnickinnic, and Milwaukee rivers converge. With a diverse population, low cost of living, and growing job market, Milwaukee appeals to experienced professionals and families, as well as recent college graduates. The region enjoys the beauty of all four seasons, and Forbes magazine recently listed Milwaukee among its “Top 10 Cities for Young Professionals."
MPS is committed to building a teaching force that is deeply connected to the community and has a strict requirement that all district teachers must live within the city limits. For that reason, you should be aware that Milwaukee Teaching Fellows will need to become full-time residents of the city of Milwaukee within one year of beginning employment with the District. By making a long-term commitment to teach in this thriving city, you Fellows will influence students’ lives in their classroom every day while making a positive contribution to the larger community for years to come.
To learn more about local activities, news, issues, and events, please visit the following websites: