Program Overview
The Teaching Excellence and Achievement Program (TEA) is an intensive non-credit, non-degree, six-week professional development program at a U.S. university (January – March 2024 or September – October 2024), for secondary school teachers of English as a Foreign Language, Math, Science, Social Studies, and Special Education teachers from these subjects. The program is sponsored by the U.S. Department of State, Bureau of Educational and Cultural Affairs, and includes educator training, field experience in U.S. schools, exchange of best practices in teaching, and civic and cultural activities.
Program Components
Teachers who are selected to participate in the TEA Program will:
- Take part in tailored graduate-level seminars at a U.S. host university.
- Observe classes, co-teach, and share their expertise with U.S. colleagues in U.S. secondary schools.
- Engage in an online professional learning community with other participants to share best practices and other elements of the U.S. and Uruguay educational systems.
- Take part in other educational and cultural activities while on program in the United States.
Upon returning home, teachers will be required to share the knowledge and experience gained on the program with teachers and students in their home schools and communities.
University Coursework:
Weekly Seminars: Teachers will participate in weekly seminars at their host university featuring presentations and discussions led by university staff, faculty members, and invited educational experts. The academic seminars will focus on new teaching methodologies, student-centered learning, content-based instruction, lesson planning, and instructional technology training for teachers.
U.S. School Placements: The program includes a practicum of at least 40 hours with a U.S. partner teacher in a secondary school near the host university to actively engage participants in the U.S. classroom environment. Cultural enrichment, mentoring, and support will be provided throughout the program.
Online Professional Learning Community: Each participant will participate in a virtual community with other international educators to collaborate and share best practices about education and leadership in the participating countries.
How to Apply:
Download, fill these forms below.
Send completed forms via email to serramm@state.gov
Application deadline: Sunday, March 26, 2023
For more information contact: Marcela Serra.
Program Dates
- Spring 2024 – Late January – Mid March 2024
OR - Fall 2024 – September – Late October 2024
What the program covers / Logistical Information
The TEA program provides:
- J-1 visa support
- A Pre-Departure Orientation in Montevideo
- Round-trip airfare to and within the U.S.
- A Welcome Orientation and End-of-Program Workshop
- Academic program fees
- Housing and meals
- Accident and sickness medical coverage
- Transportation to local schools (as needed)
- A daily allowance for incidentals during the university academic program
- Travel allowance
- Opportunity to engage in alumni activities
Travel: The program covers the cost of the international airline ticket. Teachers will also be reimbursed (when they arrive in the U.S.) for round-trip travel expenses between their home city and Carrasco Airport (only if they are from the interior), and will be given a travel allowance to cover the cost of incidental expenses (except of the passport cost).
Housing: Participants will live on or near the host university campus in housing in rooms arranged for them by the university. Dependents are not permitted to accompany the teachers on the program.
Maintenance Allowances: Each teacher will receive a maintenance allowance during the program to cover expenses such as supplies for classes, household items, personal items, and cultural and other activities. Also included in this total is a daily stipend to purchase groceries, meals at local restaurants, or food from on-campus dining services.
Eligibility
Eligible applicants must meet the following requirements:
- Be a citizen of Uruguay and teach in Uruguay
- Have earned a Bachelor’s degree or equivalent
- Demonstrate oral and written English language proficiency
- Earn a minimum score of 450 on the TOEFL examination in April 2023. If you are pre-selected, the cost of the exam will be covered by the program
- Be current, full-time, secondary school teachers of English as a Foreign Language (EFL), Mathematics, Science, or Social Studies, including Special Education teachers in those subjects, at a Uruguayan public high school, charter-type school, UTU or Access program
- If teachers are teaching additional grade levels, they must teach middle or high school students more than 50% of their work time
- Have completed at least three years of full-time teaching experience by the start of the program; preference will be given to those who have completed five years of full-time teaching experience or more
- Demonstrate a commitment to continue teaching after completion of the program
Please note that program can be subject to change, given travel restrictions in the U.S. and internationally due to COVID-19. Applicants who have had few or no opportunities to travel to the U.S. will be given priority.
TEA Program Information
For more information, contact the U.S. Embassy in Montevideo: Marcela Serra
