How To Apply

Toyota Motor Sales, U.S.A., Inc. and the Institute of International Education are pleased to announce the dates for the 2010 Toyota International Teacher Program to the Galapagos Islands! The program will take place November 20 - December 4, 2010. The application is now available online.

The application deadline has passed for 2010 Programs, so please stay tuned for announcement about 2011 Programs.

The Toyota International Teacher Program values diversity and encourages educators of all subjects and school types to apply for this unique professional development opportunity. If you have any questions about your eligibility or the application process, please feel free to call us at 1-877-832-2457 or email us at toyotateach@iie.org. If you need help troubleshooting issues with your online application, please call or email IIE well in advance of the program deadline. The volume of inquiries tends to increase as the deadline approaches, and we can not guarantee that a staff member will be able to assist you during these busy times.

Eligibility

Applicants must meet the following requirements to be eligible for participation in the program:

Hold U.S. citizenship
Be employed full time as a secondary school classroom teacher or teacher-librarian (grades 6 – 12)
Teach in one of the 50 States or the District of Columbia
Have at least three years of full-time teaching experience (by the program start date)

IIE will not consider applicants that do not meet all the eligibility requirements.

Please note that TITP alumni must wait five years after the completion of their first program before applying again.

Online Application

Please carefully review the application instructions before you begin the online application. Also, please consider the following:

The online application and letters of recommendation must be received by IIE no later than 11:59 PM EDT on May 26, 2010.
We highly recommend that you use a personal email address to register for the online application system rather than your school email address. School email systems tend to have very strict SPAM filters that may prevent you from receiving important communications from the online application system.
Similarly, we highly recommend if possible that you provide personal email addresses for your references as well.
Please add toyotateach@iie.org and iieteacherprograms@iie.org to your email system’s contact list to ensure that important application-related emails are not sent to your SPAM filter. This is important because you will be notified of the status of your application from these email addresses during the application and selection process.
As you fill out the online application, we encourage you to frequently save your progress. For security reasons, the system will time-out after twenty minutes of inactivity. If this happens, you may lose any changes to the application that have not been saved.
We suggest that you first compose your essay answers in Microsoft Word or another word processing program and then copy and paste your text into the application system. This will avoid losing any text in the event that the system freezes or your allowable time period has expired.
Check with your references after submitting their contact information to ensure they have received the reference notification email. If a reference does not receive this email, please have him or her contact IIE at toyotateach@iie.org to request the logon and password information he/she will need to complete the letter of recommendation online.

Before your application is considered complete, IIE must receive:

A complete online application
Two letters of recommendation, one of which must be completed by your principal or school head. Your references must submit their recommendation online through the application system by 11:59 PM EDT on May 26, 2010.

Application Instructions

How to start a new Application

In order to start an application, you must first register in the system. To register, go to the application system and click on "Click here to start a new application." You will be asked a series of questions to determine your eligibility for the Toyota International Teacher Program. Because this is a competitive award, IIE can not accept applications that do not meet all the eligibility requirements.

If you are eligible for the program, you will then be asked to submit your personal contact information. We recommend that you use a personal email address that you check frequently, as we will use this address to send you updates on the status of your application. Please also note that you will not be able to change your email address once you submit your registration. If you must change your email address, you will be required to re-register using the new email address. Please also use a password that you will remember. If you forget your password, please contact IIE at toyotateach@iie.org or 1-877-832-2457.

Once you have completed the registration (including your personal contact information), you will need to use your email address as your Email ID, and the password you provided to login to the system.

APPLICATION CONTENT

All fields with a red asterisk are required. You must fill out all required information in order to be considered for an award.

1. Bio-Data

Please carefully review your contact information, home address, and personal email address. You can edit any of that information except your email address. If you need to change your email address, you will need to re-register using the preferred email address.

2. Employment History

Please note that the Principal (or School Head or Superintendent) you list in this section must also write one of your letters of recommendation.

3. Education

4. Survey Data

5. Professional Background

6. Program Information

This section is comprised of two self-assessment questions and four short essay questions. We highly encourage you to first compose and save your responses in Microsoft Word or another word processing program, and then copy and paste your answers into the application. Please note that the application is text-only, so any pictures, bullet points, or special fonts will not show up in your answers. Please also note that there is a 2,500 character limit on each essay question. The character count includes spaces.

SELF ASSESSMENT QUESTIONS

Spanish Language Self-Assessment

You should answer this question honestly after considering your own experience and comfort-level understanding and communicating in Spanish.

NOTE: Spanish language ability is not a requirement to participate in the program, and applicants with little or no ability will not be at a disadvantage in the selection process.

Technology/Social Media Self-Assessment

You should answer this question honestly after considering your own experience and comfort-level using technology and social media.

NOTE: Technology/Social Media ability is not a requirement to participate in the program. However, it is highly recommended that participants consider these tools as a means to connect with their students, teachers, and community throughout the program.

ESSAY QUESTIONS:

The purpose of this section is to understand your interest in the program, how it will benefit you as an educator, and how your experience will impact your students, colleagues, and members of your community. We recommend that you first compose and save your response in a separate document and then copy and paste into the online application. This will prevent you from losing any data should the application system time out. Please also note that each essay has a limit of 2,500 characters including spaces.

Personal Statement

Why should you be selected for the Toyota International Teacher Program to the Galapagos Islands and how will your participation help further your personal and professional goals?

Questions to consider when writing your personal statement:

Why do you want to participate in this program?
How do your goals relate to program objectives and what steps have you taken to achieve them?
What would make you a good candidate for this kind of international, environmentally-focused program?

School Impact Plan

If you were selected for the Toyota International Teacher Program to the Galapagos Islands, how would you use the experience to advance global connectedness and environmental stewardship in your classroom and broader school community? Please be specific about any lesson plans, projects, or activities you would implement before during, and after the program. Please also explain why travel to the Galapagos specifically is necessary to implement your impact plan.

Questions to consider when writing your school impact plan:

How will you make use of this experience to enrich your work as an educator?
Is your plan detailed, feasible, and related to program objectives? Have you demonstrated your ability to implement these plans in your application?
How will you use technology, social media, or other innovative tools to help realize your goals?
How will you foster increased collaboration and the teaching of environmental themes across disciplines?
If applicable, explain how participation in this program will build on previous experience in the Galapagos Islands.

Community Impact Plan

If you were selected for the Toyota International Teacher Program to the Galapagos Islands, how would you use the experience to raise awareness about global and local environmental issues in your community at large? Please be as specific and creative as possible.

Questions to consider when writing your community impact plan:

How will you share your experience with your community to foster increased awareness of environmental issues?

Applicant Essay

In your experience as a teacher, which classroom or school activity are you most proud of and why? What was the impact on your students and/or school community?

7. Reference Submission

For your application to be considered complete, one letter of recommendation must be submitted by your Principal or School Head, and a second letter of recommendation must be submitted by another professional reference.

In this section, you must provide the names, titles, and email addresses of your two references. An automatic email will be sent to each reference once you click the "Save" button. After you click "Save" you will not be able to change any of your references. Each reference must submit his or her letter of recommendation online, so please provide an email address that you know he or she will check. It is your responsibility to follow-up with your references to make sure that all recommendations are received by IIE by 11:59 PM EDT on May 26, 2010.

8. Review and Submission

Once you have completed all sections of the online application, please click on the "Preview and Submit" button located on the left scroll bar.

Step 1 Click the "Check Application" button located at the top of the page. This will automatically scan your application for any omissions or errors that will prevent the successful submission of your application. If any items need attention, please follow the links provided to update your answers.

Step 2 Next, you may preview your application. The application will appear as a pop-up in a PDF format. You must have Adobe Acrobat Reader installed to view your application. You can download this program for free at www.adobe.com.

You will not be able to see the preview if you have a pop-up blocker activated. Please change your security settings on your Internet browser to allow pop-up windows before viewing the preview or final versions of your application.

Please note: The PDF file size may be large, so please allow a few minutes for it to download.

If you would like to make any changes to your application, you can edit it at this time. Close the PDF and click on the section you would like to edit.

Step 3 Once you are content with your application, read the disclaimer text carefully and click the "Submit Online Application" button. Please be sure that you are satisfied with your application before you submit it online. Once you have submitted your application, you will not be able to make any more changes.

If your application has been successfully submitted, you will receive an email confirming receipt of your application.

9. Printing your Application

You can print your application from the PDF document generated by folloing the directions above. Once you submit your application, you can also log back into the system at any time to print your application. Simply click on "Print Submitted Application."

Participant Expectations

The Toyota International Teacher Program is first and foremost a professional development opportunity. Educators selected to travel on the program will be expected to be proactive and engaged in all pre-departure, in-country, and post-program activities. Below are the most important expectations for participation:

Data Completion - Participants must complete and submit on time all the required pre-departure data forms and materials (medical form, passport photocopies, etc.)
Pre-Departure Preparation – Participants should carefully review all pre-departure materials sent by IIE and are expected to actively participate in an online forum prior to program travel.
Sharing Your Experience – Participants are expected to explore creative ways to connect or otherwise share their experience with their students, colleagues, and community members while in Ecuador and the Galapagos Islands.
In-Country - Participants are expected to actively participate in group activities.
Post-Program –Participants will be required to develop and submit to IIE a lesson plan/curricula to be published and shared with other teachers, and to keep IIE updated on progress with impact plans.

Notification Process

Receipt of Application by IIE - Due to the high volume of applications, IIE cannot confirm that your application is complete. Applicants are encouraged, but not required, to submit their applications well before the deadline.

Award Status Notification - All applicants that submit an online application will be notified of their status in regards to program selection. Top-ranked candidates will be notified by mail of their selection as either a primary or alternate candidate. Please expect notifications to come about 6-8 weeks after the application is due. Non-selected applicants will receive notice by email. Please add toyotateach@iie.org to your email contacts in order to ensure that you receive notification.

Selection Process

Program participants will be selected through a competitive, merit-based process. Applications will be reviewed internally by IIE to assess completeness, general quality and the satisfaction of all eligibility requirements. IIE will appoint a Selection Panel, comprised of distinguished secondary-level teachers, administrators, and at-large members of the education community, to select applicants to participate in the program.

Frequently Asked Questions

The following are questions and responses about the program that may be helpful as you consider applying for the Toyota International Teacher Program to the Galapagos Islands.

If I do not teach in the classroom full-time, am I still eligible for the program?

No. Eligible applicants are full-time classroom teachers only. If you are an administrator and teach classes only for part of the day, you are not eligible for the program. School nurses and counselors are also not eligible.

May I apply even though I am not a teacher of Spanish language or environmental science?

Yes. The program is of general interest to secondary school teachers of all disciplines - including, but not limited to, art, foreign languages, physical education, social studies, mathematics, science, music, English and vocational education. Previous knowledge of Latin America or environmental subjects is not a selection criterion. Instead, the program seeks teachers who are interested in learning about Ecuador and the Galapagos Islands, its people, and the ecosystem of the region, and who will draw on their program experiences to enrich their teaching and professional activities.

I am planning to retire and/or leave the field of education in the near future. Should I apply?

The principal objectives of this program are accomplished through classroom impact activities of educators who have returned to their U.S. classrooms. For this reason, preference will be given to applicants who plan to remain in the field of education as a classroom teacher.

What will be expected of me as a program participant?

Educators selected to travel on the program will be expected to be proactive and engaged in all pre-departure, in-country and post-program activities. Below are the most important expectations of participation:

Data Completion - Participants must complete and submit on time all the required pre-departure data forms and materials (medical form, passport photocopies, etc.)
Pre-Departure Preparation – Participants should carefully review all pre-departure materials sent by IIE and are expected to actively participate in an online forum prior to program travel.
Sharing Your Experience – Participants are expected to explore creative ways to connect or otherwise share their experience with their students, colleagues, and community members while in Ecuador and the Galapagos Islands.
In-Country - Participants are expected to actively participate in group activities and to present informally to educators, administrators and community members.
Post-Program –Participants will be required to develop and submit to IIE a lesson plan/curricula to be published and shared with other teachers, and to keep IIE updated on progress with impact plans.

Do you have to speak Spanish to participate?

No. Most program activities will be conducted in English; however, participants are encouraged to make a concerted effort to gain a basic understanding of the Spanish language before departure in order to take full advantage of all program activities.

May I apply if I have traveled to Latin America or Ecuador and the Galapagos Islands before?

Yes. If you have prior experience in Latin America or Ecuador and the Galapagos Islands, you should consider carefully, and explain in detail, how traveling on this Program would build on your previous experience.

May I bring family members or friends with me on the program?

No. The program will not accommodate family members or friends. Participants will travel as a group throughout the program and are expected to attend all program activities. Each participant's time will be fully occupied with site visits and related discussions.

Are there any special health requirements for participation?

There are no special health requirements for participants; however, participation will require extensive travel and a rigorous program schedule. Before applying applicants are asked to consider the physical demands of this program (including strenuous walking, extensive stair climbing, hiking, swimming, etc.). If accepted as a participant, you will need to have a medical examination and provide a completed medical form with your doctor's certification of your fitness for travel.

Will I need a passport to travel on this program?

Yes. You must have a passport valid until at least May 2011. If you do not have a passport, contact a passport agency and allow 4 to 6 weeks to receive a new or renewed passport.

This program is "fully funded." What does this mean, specifically?

This means that expenses specific to the program will be covered by Toyota Motor Sales, USA, Inc. This includes costs of program materials, transportation, meals, and lodging.

Toyota Motor Sales, USA, Inc. will also issue each participant’s school a $500.00 stipend to help defray the costs of participation during the school year.

Applicants should note that they also may need to consider other costs, such as those associated with being away from their jobs during the program and pre-departure expenses such as passports, travel supplies, etc. These costs are not funded by the program. Schools should regard their educator's participation in this program as a valuable investment for their students and communities. As such, they are encouraged to explore with participants avenues for sharing any costs not covered by the program sponsor.

My school will be in session at the time of the program. What should I do? Are substitute costs covered?

All applicants must obtain supervisor clearance or make other necessary arrangements to be absent from school to participate in the program before submitting their applications. To help defray the costs for a participant's absence, Toyota is pleased to award the school of each selected participant $500.00. These funds may be used at the discretion of the school principal or superintendent to help pay the costs for a substitute teacher or to purchase materials for the implementation of the selected participant's impact plan.