The Teaching and Learning Institute (TLI) at East High School is a four-year magnet program designed to attract students who are interested in careers in education and leadership. It is an intensive effort by the Rochester City School District to grow and recruit teachers from our student population. Its aim is to diversify the district’s faculty by adding proactive leadership from our communi- ty. TLI accomplishes this goal by preparing students for success in college, giving them work experience in high school, and offering students a rigorous curriculum relevant to their lives.
Each year, approximately 80 students are enrolled in the pro- gram, grades 9 through 12. Students must complete an application process as eighth graders and are admitted only if they meet high standards for both academics and citizenship. During their four years in the program, students must maintain a minimum 2.5 GPA, as well as exhibit good citizenship. Consistently, TLI students can be found on the honor roll and high honor roll and typically more than half of the TLI senior class is ranked in the top 10% of their gradu- ating class. All TLI students are encouraged to take at least one AP course before graduating in order to better prepare them for the rigors of college.
Each year, TLI students take a special seminar that deals with a variety of educational issues, both practical and theoretical. The topics range from lesson planning and classroom management to how race, class, and gender effect education. Students complete field observations in elementary schools each year, progressively getting more involved in the classrooms they visit. TLI students’ field ex- periences culminate in their senior year with an 80 hour paid intern- ship as teachers’ assistants. Students who complete the program and earn their teaching certification are encouraged to apply for teaching jobs in the Rochester City School District.
Each year, TLI students take a special seminar that deals with a variety of educational issues, both practical and theoretical. The topics range from lesson planning and classroom management to how race, class, and gender effect education. Students complete field observations in elementary schools each year, progressively getting more involved in the classrooms they visit. TLI students’ field ex- periences culminate in their senior year with an 80 hour paid intern- ship as teachers’ assistants. Students who complete the program and earn their teaching certification are encouraged to apply for teaching jobs in the Rochester City School District.