As a classroom teacher, you will be responsible for many details that help build structure for your students. Like many aspects of this profession, managing those details is an art that takes time to develop. The preliminary tasks you will complete during enrollment can feel overwhelming at first, but we have found that they can serve as a precursor to the kind of organizational management you will master in your career. Below are a few "Pro Tips" our fellows have learned along the way. Don't hesitate to reach out if you have any questions - we want to make this process as smooth as possible for you!
Quick Links
As educators, professionals, parents, caregivers, humans - we understand that life happens. It can be a lot to navigate the requirements of enrollment on top of normal day-to-day responsibilities. So, when things come up - let us know! It will be important to provide as much lead time as possible so that we can plan to set you up well.
CONTACT US
You will likely receive a minimum of 3 emails per week either from ITF, Marian University, or TNTP. Because of this, some of our emails get recognized as "Spam" or "Promotions" and hide out there 😎. A couple of recommendations to keep communication organized:
Add ITF and our affiliates as "Safe Senders" in your email account.
Using your settings, include us as safe senders (click this link for step-by-step instructions). This way, your emails will show in your inbox rather than Spam. A few key email addresses are listed below. (Keep in mind that any email address ending in marian.edu or tntp.org will need to be added as a safe sender.)
Create an "ITF 2025" Email Folder.
This will ensure that any correspondence regarding the program is kept in a place that is easy to access.
The process of enrollment will look different for everyone, and each ITF candidate must prioritize tasks in a way that works best for their needs. That being said, it will be crucial to stay connected to the enrollment checklist, cohort website, and your email. We've provided a few additional tools for you to use:
ITF Personal Priority Tracker
This tracker is an optional tool to use for prioritizing and completing your enrollment checklist tasks. many of the items have pre-work or sub-tasks that need to be completed before they can be marked off the list.
2025 Cohort Calendar
Stay up-to-date on enrollment deadlines, events, and open office hours by adding this Google Calendar. Keep it handy so you can check regularly for updates!
Each week, you will receive an auto-generated email titled "Weekly Checklist Prioritization". This is what the ITF team will see as you progress through the Enrollment Checklist. Once all of the items on your checklist are marked complete, you will stop receiving the weekly email. Below are steps for marking your checklist items.
Weekly Checklist Email: How It Works
The "Weekly Checklist Prioritization" email* will contain a list of checklist items. These items are all linked to a form where you are able to track your status on each task (see images below). Be sure to "Submit" the form each time you mark a task as "in progress" or "complete". This information is sent to our ITF team so that we are also able to monitor your progress.
*Note: This email will auto-generate from candace.jones@tntp.org, so please make sure Candace is marked as a safe sender.
If you haven't already, please schedule a 45-minute Zoom meeting with Candace, our recruitment and cultivation manager. She will be available to answer questions you have about the program or any steps along the way. Any time an enrollment task is "under review" from our staff, Candace is more than likely taking a look at it! Click below to learn more.
A Note From Candace
Feel free to get some time with me at any point during enrollment. To schedule, visit my Calendly. From there, you can choose what kind of meeting* you need. Check-ins and Office Hours can be conducted via Zoom or phone. I have set aside Mondays and Wednesdays as time for fellows, but send me an email if you need an additional time that is not listed.
I'm looking forward to meeting you!
-cj
**Please Note: "Welcome Calls" are conducted exclusively via Zoom and should be scheduled within 5 days of your ITF enrollment.**
With over 600 cohort members since 2007, Indianapolis Teaching Fellows has a wide reach in the city. Our fellows have become classroom veterans, school leaders, and education influencers in Center Township and beyond! We hope that you will take advantage of the strong network you are now part of. Click the tiles below to learn more.
As a primarily remote organization, our ITF team spends about 80% of our time connecting virtually. But that hasn't stopped our cohort members from making truly meaningful connections with one another! We highly encourage you to engage with your fellow educators during enrollment. You might find some lifelong friends!
A few ways to connect are listed below.
Attend a "Meet and Greet" Welcome Webinar
Held via Zoom, the "meet and greet" is an expanded Program Overview that includes the opportunity to meet some of your fellow cohort members. You won't want to miss it!
Wednesday, January 22, 2025 (6-7pm)
Thursday, February 24, 2025 (6-7pm)
Thursday, March 27, 2025 (6-7pm)
Thursday, April 16, 2025 (6-7pm)
Complete the Info Survey
We want to give our team a chance to get to know you prior to starting Pre-Service training in the summer. Make sure you fill out the Information Survey and share your favorite headshot!
2022 Fellows connecting at Pre-Service Training.
Just as we hope you will connect with your fellow cohort members, you also have the opportunity to get to know some of the fellows who have gone before you. There are several ITF alumni all over the city of Indianapolis, as well as TNTP teaching fellows all over the country!
Below are some ways to find them:
Watch an Alumni Panel
Watch the recorded TNTP roundtable discussion, "The Power of Your Why" from February 16, 2022.
Ask Around
One great way to get connected to ITF alumni is during the hiring process. As you research and meet with schools, you might ask if there are fellows who currently (or previously) serve there. Reaching out to ITF alumni can go a long way in building your professional network and support system.
There will be quite a few virtual components of enrollment and Pre-Service Training. If technology isn't your thing right now, don't worry! You will quickly find a sweet spot of comfortability with the tools and platforms we use. Browse the tiles below to learn more. (Super Pro Tip - When in doubt, using a computer - preferably a laptop - is a huge help!)
Zoom
If you haven't already, please create an account with Zoom using an email address that you normally access as well as a password that will be easy for you to remember. You can also use the Zoom Support Page for answers to any questions you may have about using the platform. We've included an express Zoom tutorial for your reference.
Flip
Flip is a video-based platform that allows you to practice techniques and skills throughout your training. It's also a social networking tool we will use to get to know each other during site visits, etc. We'll share more about this as enrollment progresses. In the meantime, feel free to create a Flip account and browse the website.
Google Workspace
Google is the primary platform we use to connect all you do in the ITF program. We will use everything from Google Docs to Google Classroom, so it is important that you are generally familiar with it. It's also helpful to have a Google account for easy access to everything. (Super Pro Tip: Create a separate Google account specifically for Indianapolis Teaching Fellows!). Please reach out if you have questions.
You are going to learn a LOT during enrollment and PST, and you'll find that personal reflection is a high value of ours. We encourage you to purchase a notebook or journal to record your thoughts, questions and insights throughout the program. You can also create a "digital" journal using an app or the Notes feature on your device. However you choose to do it, we highly recommend this "pro tip"!