UPenn Independent School Teaching Residency Program

Overview

Thayer Academy is a member of a small consortium of day schools in the University of Pennsylvania’s Independent School Teaching Residency Program (ISTR).  We seek dynamic candidates to fill two Teaching Fellowship positions(Middle School and High School)  starting in June 2025.

UPenn Fellows commit to teach and participate fully in all phases of school life for two years while working toward a master’s degree from the University of Pennsylvania Graduate School of Education. Fellows work closely with a mentor teacher in their academic discipline to develop and revise the curriculum. Fellows also engage in the Thayer community through coaching, advising, and various campus events. This program provides an innovative curriculum taught by a combination of Penn’s Graduate School of Education faculty and senior administrators from cohort schools and is designed to attract and train some of the most promising aspiring teachers Students in the Independent School Teaching Residency (ISTR) program belong to a collaborative cohort of teaching fellows from partner schools, attending several on-site sessions each year either at UPenn or other consortium schools. Applicants must meet the GPA requirements specified by the Penn GSE program to receive an offer and gain admission into the ISTR program. 

Degree Offered

Thayer Academy ISTR teaching fellows pursue a two-year Master of Science in Education (M.S.Ed.) at Penn during their tenure.  

Program Information 

Thayer Academy hires ISTR fellows for a two-year position in a range of academic disciplines in our Middle and Upper Schools. At Thayer, ISTR fellows: 

• Enjoy the professional support of both academic and administrative mentors. Mentors offer periodic observation, regular meetings, and professional development opportunities in a collaborative setting.

• Direct classroom teaching experience; teach a modified teaching schedule (typically teaching two sections in year 1 and three sections in year 2).

• Engage in many aspects of campus life, including coaching, advising, and supporting student activities, clubs, or organizations.

• Join other new faculty in regular programming and training for all new faculty and staff on campus as well.

•  Participate in the graduate education component of the program (please visit the Penn site for more information) which includes: (1) online work with the cohort of Penn ISTR fellows; (2) one week of an on-site program at Penn each summer; and (3) three weekends of programming throughout the academic year at one of the consortium schools with faculty from Penn and partner schools.  

• Receive a salary, rent-free campus (or near-campus) housing, and majority tuition contribution by Thayer. 

Application Information

Thayer encourages applications from Teaching Fellow candidates from all academic disciplines who are committed to building their capacity as reflective and innovative teaching practitioners and to supporting the Academy’s commitment to creating a diverse and inclusive work environment.

• Please click here to complete an application and upload your resume, cover letter, and the names and contact information for three to five references, including two present or past supervisors.

• Equal Opportunity Act: Thayer Academy is an equal opportunity employer. The Academy complies with and adheres to all state and federal anti-discrimination laws with respect to its employment practices. Thayer Academy does not discriminate against any employee or applicant for employment on the basis of race, color, religion, gender, sexual orientation, gender identity and expression, national origin or ancestry, age, or disability, or any other category protected under state or federal law. This policy extends to recruiting, hiring, compensation, benefits, assignment, working conditions, promotions, transfers, termination, re-employment, education, tuition assistance, employee treatment, and all other terms, conditions, and privileges of employment. All employment-related decisions are made on a nondiscriminatory basis so as to further the principle of equal employment opportunity.

• Americans with Disabilities Act: Thayer Academy complies with all aspects of the Americans with Disabilities Act (ADA) and state disability laws. This means that we will not discriminate against qualified individuals with a disability in any phase of the employment relationship including application for employment, hiring, promotions and/or advancement opportunities, termination, compensation, training, and any other conditions or privileges of employment.