Type: Gifted Programs

Target audience: Students

Year founded: 1998

Tag words: academic support, leadership training, mentoring, career experience, high school and college application process

SPRING INTENSIVE

Description: The Spring Intensive is a six-week program for newly admitted seventh-grade Fellows designed to set a foundation for skills that will be emphasized throughout their Fellowship. With particular areas of focus in time management, organization, note taking, and reading comprehension, the Spring Intensive includes skill building workshops, Latin and math classes, guest speakers, and a review of TEAK's expectation of community and Fellowship.

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SUMMER INSTITUTE

Description: The goal of the six-week Summer Institute is to prepare students for their entrance into rigorous high school environments. Summer Institute classes provide a strong academic foundation for future success.
Students take core academic classes in Math (Algebra & Geometry), Writing & Literature, Latin, Science, and Current Events. Co-curricular classes such as Drama, Dance, Art, African Drumming, and Chess are also offered. First year Fellows also attend a weekly High School Placement workshop to prepare them for the demanding high school admissions process they face throughout the fall and winter of the eighth grade. Second year Fellows take a High School Issues class focused on preparing the students for their new high schools by addressing issues including time management, leadership & teamwork, peer pressure, and decision-making.

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MENTOR PROGRAM

Description: The Mentor Program provides each TEAK Fellow with a volunteer adult Mentor who serves as a positive role model, listener, advocate, and friend. TEAK aims to level the playing field for these high-achieving, low-income students and give them tools and resources to compete and succeed. Often, TEAK Fellows are the children of immigrants and/or the first generation in their families to be on a college track. It is imperative that these students widen their network of support and be exposed to various adults who can provide perspectives on high school, college, and career paths. Mentors can be a catalyst for life-changing thinking, and an advocate for Fellows who are forging a new course for themselves and their families. In their Mentor, Fellows have a successful model as they themselves develop into leaders who will impact their academic, local, and global communities.

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HIGH SCHOOL PLACEMENT

Description: TEAK provides a comprehensive support system in each Fellow's search for his/her best possible high school match. TEAK does not assign students to schools, nor does TEAK guarantee that Fellows will be accepted at specific schools. TEAK offers each Fellow and his/her family resources and guidance throughout the process, including information on high school options, forming a high school list, school visits, advocacy, and final decision-making. Students come to TEAK on Saturdays (mornings) and Thursdays (after school) from September through December to attend application workshops, practice interview and phone skills, and complete test preparation courses. And in the spring, eighth-grade Fellows attend a writing class through STAT in order to further strengthen and develop their skills.

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CATS

Description: Fellows attend on- and off-Broadway performances to develop their cultural education and have the opportunity to experience the arts that make New York City famous. With the support of Barbara & George Kovacs, Fellows have attended performances such as The Lion King, Inherit the Wind, The Producers, and the Metropolitan Opera's Romeo et Juliet.

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POST-PLACEMENT

Description: TEAK provides four years of comprehensive programs and services to support Fellows in rigorous high school environments and to prepare them for admission to and success at top colleges. In addition to new Post-Placement programs, Fellows continue to participate in the Mentor Program, CATS, and STAT.

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STAT - Curriculum-Based Classes

Description: All eighth-grade Fellows attend Writing STAT January through June. Throughout the course, the instructors work to hone the student's skills pertaining to the writing process, including brainstorming, outlining, researching, drafting, documenting, and revising. Using a variety of short stories the class analyzes literature through discussion, critical written analysis, and creative assignments, all while continuing to develop the student's grammatical skills.

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STAT - Math, Writing, Science, and Foreign Languag

Description: Math, Writing, Science, and Foreign Language STAT are offered to all high school students in the format of individualized tutoring sessions. The format and content of STAT sessions are based on the individual needs of each student, including homework help, project work, and exam preparation.

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OUTDOOR LEADERSHIP CAMPING TRIP

Description: Each summer in late June, the ninth grade class embarks on a three-day outdoor education program through a partnership with Project U.S.E in New Jersey. Fellows challenge themselves in new environments while developing skills and overcoming personal obstacles.

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PUBLIC INTEREST INTERNSHIP

Description: Public service is an essential pillar upon which the Fellows' leadership development is based. PII provides ninth-grade Fellows with an opportunity to explore the issues challenging their communities and to learn firsthand that individuals can make a difference. Fellows work at nonprofit organizations such as the Association to Benefit Children, American Museum of Natural History, The GO Project, and The Carter Burden Center for the Aging. Fellows gain valuable work experience and are able to give back to their communities while receiving a stipend from TEAK.

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Contact person: Ramón Javier, (212) 288-6678 x108

PRIVATE ENTERPRISE INTERNSHIP

Description: Internship experiences are vital to a well-rounded education. Working outside of the classroom allows students to be exposed to different careers, learn from professionals, and develop life-long skills. Attaining a summer internship, however, can be difficult because access to opportunities is often limited. The PEI Program at TEAK was developed to challenge barriers of professional access and offer internship opportunities to Fellows at institutions where they can earn money for the following school year. Fellows are eligible to participate in the summers after their tenth, eleventh, and twelfth grade school years. TEAK matches eligible Fellows with 6-8 week paid summer internships at participating companies varied in size and industry. PEI is an important element in a student's Fellowship and overall development, as it connects academics to potential career paths while fostering a strong work ethic and building networks for future employment. Internships help provide an essential learning experience and professional edge for Fellows, as the move on to competitive work environments during and after college.

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Contact person: Gina Lucas, (212) 288-6678 x103

SUMMER ENRICHMENT

Description: In the summers following tenth, eleventh, and twelfth grades, Fellows have the opportunity to explore the world and experience life outside of New York City. Fellows can apply to live and study abroad through programs such as The Experiment in International Living (EIL). TEAK also offers opportunities to take wilderness and adventure courses through the National Outdoor Leadership School (NOLS) and Outward Bound, or participate in academic-based enrichment programs including National Foundation for Teaching Entrepreneurship (NFTE) and The Rockefeller University Science Outreach program.

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COLLEGE GUIDANCE

Description: TEAK provides comprehensive college counseling for the Fellows and their families to serve as a supplement to the resources offered by individual high schools. During the eleventh and twelfth grades, TEAK offers individual college counseling, SAT preparation classes, overnight and day trips to visit colleges, and workshops for students and parents about the application process, college essays, and financial aid.

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