In addition to classes, Junction runs a number of fun activities and projects for students. Thus, periodically the program may need teachers’ help in running these activities. We estimate that this will accumulate to approximately ten hours over the course of the summer.

For example, core teachers should be available to help with first-day registration, student parties, and possibly chaperoning field trips.

The core teacher selection process consists of three parts: *

Intent to Apply: If you are applying, please fill out the [Intent to Apply](http://www.formstack.com/forms/mitesp-junction2013ctapp_i) form **as soon as possible**. It helps us to know in advance of the deadline that we should expect your application, and to target our recruitment for subject areas in which we expect fewer applicants.

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Application, including a detailed course proposal. The application was due on **January 21** and is now closed. Click [here](http://www.formstack.com/forms/mitesp-junction2013ctapp) to view the application.

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Interview: After applications are submitted, the best applicants will be offered an interview in late January or early February. The interview includes discussion of your application, especially the course proposal, and a 15-minute teaching sample from your core course which you should prepare to teach for the interviewers as if they were your students. Read on for more details about the interview.

**Important Dates and Deadlines** * Deadline to submit application: **January 21** * Last interview offers sent **February 1** * Last job offers sent **February 10** * Deadline to accept job offers: **February 17** * First core teacher worksession: **February 23, 7:00 PM** **Interview Details** If you are offered an interview, you can expect: * To be asked specific questions about your application, especially the course proposal. * To give a realistic, 15-minute teaching sample, in which the interviewers will pretend to be your students. You should approach the teaching sample as if you were teaching a 15-minute segment of your actual class, and as if we really were your students. You are welcome to send us “homework” ahead of time to help us participate: for example, a short story to read if your sample involves a literature discussion. We are interested in a sample from the main subject matter of your course, as opposed to your first-day introduction or review; a topic from weeks 2-5 of your course should work well. While we love seeing hands-on activities included in your syllabus, the small sample for your interview should be at least partially lecture-based. The interview is informal. While we are serious about professionally running an awesome summer program, we’re also a bunch of undergrads. Feel free to show up in jeans and a t-shirt, or whatever you're most comfortable in (if you show up in a Jedi costume or an Oscar Meyer Wiener suit, we might give you a few funny looks... but really, we'll take you just as seriously without the slacks and tie.) **Returning Teachers** Typically, all of our core teachers for Junction get excellent reviews from their students. If you reapply to teach for Junction, we will be most interested in hearing what you learned last time, what you hope to change, and how you think you would benefit from teaching for us again. While we would love to be able to welcome every one of you back to the program should you apply to teach again, we are limited by the number of spots we have available and the need to keep a balance between new and returning staff. If we are unable to offer you a spot this year, we'll be sure to keep in touch about other opportunities to stay involved. **Co-Teaching** Two teachers may co-teach a single Junction course and each core teacher will still be expected to fulfill the same duties as described above. Each will be paid $1100 at the end of the program. Co-teachers should submit separate applications and respond separately to the free response questions, but they should prepare their course proposal together before applying and submit the same syllabus and description.

A: As an academic summer program, Junction seeks to offer local students a special experience that will instill an interest in a new subject and a renewed enthusiasm for learning.

We look for both the “right kind” of core course and core teacher to make this possible. We look for teachers who are lively, passionate, out-of-the-box thinkers, and who make a strong effort to engage students. Similarly, we look for core courses that either cover subjects that are not usually offered for high school students or that cover a common subject to greater depth/in a new way.

It is also important to note that we do not look for perfection in the application, interview or teaching sample. It isn't our priority to hire a set of already-fantastic teachers, but rather a set who have the mind-set and drive to become fantastic teachers through working with us and with each other.

A: No, we do not expect core teacher applicants to have had previous teaching experience and we will not reject anyone for this reason alone. In previous years, we have hired core teachers who had no experience whatsoever, but who showed great promise for improvement in their teaching sample and materials. We look for teachers who will grow with the rest of our team over the course of the spring and summer. Typically, we end up hiring a mix of very experienced and less experienced teachers, and the veterans provide an awesome resource for the rookies to turn to.

That said, teachers who have no prior experience find it incredibly valuable to get a little bit of practice leading a classroom before Junction. If this describes you, please consider teaching an hour or two for Spark or, if you have more time, Spring HSSP.

A: Junction’s hiring process involves both a first-round application and a second-round interview. Unfortunately, due to the volume of applications we receive, we cannot offer interviews to all of our applicants.

The interview includes discussion of the submitted application and some Q&A. Additionally and most importantly, the applicant must prepare a teaching sample from their potential core course and practice teaching in front of the interviewers as if they were Junction students.

A: Core teachers review student applications and help select which students to admit into their classes, so you will have some idea of what to expect from your students. We will work with you to help you admit the kind of students you will be most excited to teach. For example, if you'll need your students to come in with a solid understanding of Newton's laws, or an open mind, or strong critical reading ability, we'll help you design an application question to screen for those qualities.

Almost all Junction students share a high level of motivation and enthusiasm about the classes they apply for. However, beyond this they are an incredibly diverse group; some are very outgoing, some are very quiet. They may come from public schools, private schools, or homeschooling. Some come from schools which offer academic enrichment activities, plenty of honors classes, or a strong AP/IB program; others come from schools where there are few to no such opportunities available. Yet others have only recently moved to Boston from abroad. Thus, you should anticipate a group of students with a wide variety of personalities and backgrounds.

A: Due to factors beyond our control, we have had to change the way we pay our teachers this year. We are still working out the details, but it is possible that we'll be putting you in the MIT payroll system and paying you hourly via timesheets. We'll let you know before you have to decide whether to accept our offer. In any event, the total amount paid (pre-tax) for the summer will be $1650.

Non-US citizens should pay close attention to regulations involving their employment/payments and are advised to speak with the appropriate MIT offices. Historically, most teachers who are international have been issued payments in the way described though with additional paperwork.