Teacher Opportunity Corp. (TOC) Program
Program Operating Period: Fall 2016-Spring 2021
The Teacher Opportunity Corp. program uses a culturally responsive and social justice framework in its curriculum and pedagogy. In our monthly seminars, we engage in pre-service and in-service training through critical discussions on issues of race, ethnicity, culture, and other social identifiers.
The goal of the TOC seminar is to use various modes of inquiry such as research and practice to facilitate TOC students and student teachers to have a better intercultural understanding of our diverse classrooms, schools, and society.
Office Information
School of Education
Queens College, CUNY
Powdermaker Hall, Room 100
65-30 Kissena Blvd.
Flushing, NY 11367
(718) 997-5220
TOC Program Eligibility
Applications are not open for Fall 2021 at this time. Continuation of TOC program Fall 2021-Summer2025 is pending NYSED approval. Updates will be posted to this page early during Fall 2021.
The mission of the TOC program is to:
- Develop highly effective and caring teachers, who are culturally responsive in creating a social justice curriculum and teaching practices in K-12 schools that addresses the needs of our diverse school communities in Southeastern Queens. In particular, the Division of Education at Queens College is emphasizing the need for additional support for boys and youth of color in our K-12 public schools.
- Provide mentoring to participants by Department of Education master teachers, in a 10-months internship. The duration of the internship is equivalent to 200 hours for 2 semesters or at minimum, students commit to 5 hours per week interning at a school site.
- Create stability and continuity for future teachers by enhancing the proportion of historically underrepresented and under-served educators in the field of teaching in high need K-12 public schools in New York City.
- Facilitate a job placement and new hire mentoring support system for first time teachers.
TOC is a teacher preparation initiative with priority for diverse students. It provides enrichment in the form of an internship where students and future teachers gain formative teaching experience working in public schools. Partner schools are located in Southeastern Queens in Districts 27, 28, and 29 (e.g. schools in Jamaica, Ozone Park, Howard Beach, Cambria Heights, and etc).
The weekly TOC internship prepares candidates for the future when they student teach as part of a regular teacher education program at Queens College.
All academically qualified undergraduate and graduate students who attend Queens College, or who are accepted on a track or into a Queens College teacher preparation program leading to initial certification are invited to apply. In addition to internship work, TOC students engage in professional development workshops, provided by the New York City Department of Education’s Queens South Field Support Center. Participants also receive tuition stipend for their participation. Upon successful completion and certification of the TOC program, participants will receive job placement support to teach in a culturally diverse and high need New York City public school.
Students participating in the TOC program will receive financial support during the academic year based on a student’s financial need only. Students who qualify for financial aid would receive approximately $1,600 per semester only for tuition and fees support or for Queens College billed items such as certification exams, Queens College meal plans, or Queens College dormitory fees. All TOC students will receive a book and travel stipend for their full participation in the Teacher Opportunity Corp. program.
Finally, TOC students will receive supplemental advisement to prepare them for certification requirements and teacher certification examinations in order to assist all TOC students to become successful graduates and certified teachers from Queens College.