St. Louis Teaching Fellows: Program Evaluation
By Courtney Vahle, Ed.D.
The St. Louis Teaching Fellows (STL TF) program at Saint Louis University (SLU) continues to place teachers in St. Louis area public and charter schools by providing a route to teach while simultaneously earning teaching certification and a Master of Arts in Teaching (MAT) degree. The impact has grown to two active cohorts (24 students) and three classes of graduates (36 students).
Key Points:
The program boasts a graduation rate of 78% (36 students) from cohorts 1–3. Cohorts 4 and 5 are active and have a current retention rate of 92% (24 students).
The STL TF program has helped diversify the STL area teaching workforce and certified candidates that better match the demographics of the STL area. The STL TFs are 42% male and 52% non-white. Black females make up the highest percentage (28%) of STL TFs. Black males make up 17% of the STL Teaching Fellow graduates and current students.
The most common certification area choices in the STL Teaching Fellows MAT program are Mathematics (17 students; 28%), Arts (including Art, Theater, and Music) (12 students; 20%), and English Language Arts (11 students; 18%).
The certification exams have proven to create barriers to full certification for many teaching candidates. Of the 46 graduates or current students have attempted the exam, 31 have passed (67%). Mathematics and English Language Arts (ELA) exams have proven toughest for teacher candidates to pass.
Teacher candidates must receive a total of 42 (out of 72 available) points to receive certification. All graduates of the program have passed this requirement. Candidate scores range from 42–72 (a perfect score), and median scores have risen with each cohort.
In cohort 1, 83% are still serving the STL area school where they were teaching during their time in the program, while all graduates (100%) remain in the education field. Overall, 89% of program graduates remain in the education field.
The program’s combination of strong academic support, flexible scheduling, and the pathway to certification makes it an appealing choice for aspiring educators. One participant had previously participated in another teacher preparation program, and switched to the STL TF program due to its more in-person, supportive approach. They enjoyed the cohort experience and felt that SLU’s program was a better fit.
Overall, alumni appreciated the program's emphasis on collaboration, mentorship, small cohort dynamics, and support for new teachers. Enhancements in communication, support during the job search, and mentorship were commonly highlighted as areas for improvement.
The top priority moving forward is to increase enrollment. Strategies for growth include breaking down financial barriers through new funding opportunities and broadening the pool of prospective students through expanding certification and delivery options. Certification exam support remains as another top priority, especially since the provider of the exam has changed.
Please Cite As:
Vahle, C. (2025). St. Louis Teaching Fellows: Program Evaluation. Policy Research in Missouri Education, 7(2). Saint Louis University. www.primecenter.org/education-reports-database/stltf
