The R.E.A.L. Program

The purpose of Project REAL is to recruit highly qualified individuals who are mid-career professionals, recent college graduates, or degreed paraprofessionals into the teaching profession. We are particularly interested in recruiting new teachers from traditionally underserved populations.  

A primary goal of Project REAL is to provide an opportunity for participants to complete certification courses in one semester, preparing them to teach in the high-need subject areas of English, mathematics, science, social studies, and/or foreign languages in a high needs secondary school. 

Project REAL is designed for people who have already completed a Bachelor’s degree, have the required units in their major and/or minor that would allow them to teach in a high need content area, and who want to teach in high need schools. 

Project REAL students complete the 5 education classes needed for certification within 1 semester. The classes are held at Lubbock High School and Estacado High School Monday-Thursday. (Monday, Wednesday, Thursday - 9Am-12, Tuesday 9-3pm). Courses are taught by university professors with approximately half of the class time spent with the professor and the half spent in the classroom with a mentor teacher in your content area. With the mentor teacher participants receive hands-on experience within the classroom setting. 

After completion of the 5 education courses within 1 semester perspective teachers are required to either student teach or seek an internship. Student teaching is a semester long unpaid practicum for prospective teachers. During the student teaching prospective teachers work closely with an experienced full time teacher who facilitates the transition from university coursework to a teaching position. Participants who elect to student teach are required to enroll in 12 hours of course work through the College of Education at Texas Tech University, will receive support from a university provided supervisor, and will complete a teaching portfolio.  Alternatively, participants may choose to secure an internship. The internship experience requires that prospective teachers apply for and are hired by a school that is willing to facilitate the field-based portion of the certification requirements for the prospective teacher. During an internship experience the prospective teacher is the teacher of record in the classroom, is responsible for all aspects of classroom life, and receives a salary from the school.  Additionally, to become certified, teacher-interns must enroll in 6 hours of coursework (3 hours each semester) through the College of Education at Texas Tech University fro the duration of the internship. Teacher interns receive supervision from TTU personnel and are assisted in the completion of their teaching portfolio. During either the student teaching or internship experience, participants are issued a probationary teaching certification.   

While enrolled in the Project REAL courses, participants will be able to take the state content area certification exam and the Pedagogy and Professional Development exam (PPR), which are paid for by Project REAL. Participants will not receive a State of Texas Teaching Certificate until they have successfully completed all 5 of the Project REAL courses, obtained passing scores on content and PPR state certification exams, and have completed an Internship or Student Teaching experience. 

The program costs are based on the regular graduate tuition rate for Texas Tech University for the required number of course hours. (15 hours for the one semester of teacher education courses – appx. $3825.75; 12 hours for the student teaching (appx. $3144.00) or internship component Project REAL compensates participants in the program for course work materials( e.g. books), certification exams, exam preparation manuals,  and because course are taught at the High Schools participants will not need to pay parking expenses.  Please visit the student financial aid office (www.financialaid.ttu.edu) for information regarding student loans and scholarships. 

If you are interested in applying to Project REAL there are a number of steps to be completed:

Step One:  Meet with the College of Education’s secondary school academic advisor, Earnestine Frazier.  Ms. Frazier will review your transcripts with you to determine your eligibility to seek certification in the content area you have requested.  You may reach Ms. Frazier by email at Earnestine.Frazier@ttu.edu or (806) 742-1998 Ext: 439. She will be happy to set an appointment time for you to visit and review your transcripts.

If, based upon your meeting with Ms. Frazier, you meet the minimum requirements needed to participant in Project REAL. Please move to step two.

Step Two:  Complete the Project REAL application. The Project REAL application requires applicants to:

• Fill out the application form

• Send copies of their university level transcripts (unofficial are acceptable)

• Provide a personal statement explaining “Why I want to be a Teacher”

• A list of three references and contact information

Applicants should send their materials to:

Project REAL

College of Education

Box 41071

Lubbock, TX  79409-1071

(806)742-1998 ext: 513

projectreal.educ@ttu.edu

Step Three:  Upon review of your application materials and potential participants will be invited by the Project REAL team to come to campus for an interview.

Step Four:  Applicants will be notified regarding their acceptance into the program shortly after the interview.

Please let us know if we can be of further assistance to you.