RAOP
Recruitment & Selection
RAOP recruits in-service teachers from high-need Local Education Agencies (LEAs) and pre-service teachers who are on a teacher-certification pathway. Our primary recruitment area is the DC Metro Area (Washington, DC; Maryland; and Virginia). Selection is designed to ensure participants can fully engage in the simulation-to-hardware research experience and produce a classroom-ready robotics and automation curriculum package that can be adopted and sustained in high-need LEAs.
Applications missing required components cannot be processed. Applications submitted by the Feb 15 priority deadline receive priority review. If seats remain, applications may continue to be accepted and reviewed on a rolling basis through Mar 15 (or until the cohort is filled). The application portal (/apply/raop) is the source of record for the current cycle’s deadlines and required uploads.
If you have questions about eligibility, required documents, or the application portal, please use the Contact page. Optional applicant office hours (if offered for a given cycle) will be announced on the portal and posted on the website.
Eligibility requirements
- Provide a copy of your teaching certificate.
- Provide verification of current employment in a high-need district (e.g., Title I documentation or a school/district verification letter).
- Demonstrate intent to translate robotics/automation learning into classroom instruction.
- Provide a current transcript.
- Provide a brief letter from an academic advisor confirming you are on track for teacher certification.
- Demonstrate readiness to engage in guided inquiry-based robotics/autonomy learning and classroom translation.
What you will submit
- Professional CV/Resume (required).
- Proof of eligibility (required) — requirements differ for in-service vs. pre-service applicants.
- Statement of Purpose (required, ~500 words): a challenge in teaching STEM to students with limited access to advanced STEM learning opportunities and how robotics/automation research can help address it.
- Integration Plan (required, short answer): how you will implement knowledge from RAOP modules and training into your curriculum next fall.
- Letter of Recommendation (required): in-service—principal/administrator; pre-service—faculty mentor/advisor (include recommender name and email).
- Accepted file types: PDF, DOC/DOCX, PNG/JPG.
- Recommended file size: ≤ 10 MB per file.
Application Process and Annual Timeline
RAOP runs once per year. The program website and application portal are refreshed each cycle with updated dates and materials, while the overall workflow follows the schedule below.
| Window | Activity | Expected outputs |
|---|---|---|
| Jan 1 – Feb 15 | Marketing and outreach |
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| Jan 15 | Application portal opens |
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| Feb 15 | Priority deadline (soft deadline) |
|
| Feb 16 – Feb 28 | Initial screening and rubric scoring |
|
| Mar 1 – Mar 10 | Virtual interviews (shortlisted applicants) |
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| By Mar 15 | Selection decisions communicated (rolling offers as needed) |
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| Mar 30 | Acceptance deadline and waitlist activation |
|
| Apr 1 – May 31 | Logistics coordination |
|
| Jun 1 – Jun 30 | Technical onboarding |
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| July (first Monday after July 4) | Program delivery begins |
|
Selection process (how decisions are made)
- Eligibility & completeness screening: verify all required components and eligibility documentation.
- Rubric scoring: evaluate alignment, feasibility, and implementation readiness using the criteria below.
- Shortlisted interviews: confirm fit, availability for the July schedule, and classroom adoption plans.
- Offers & waitlist: issue offers on a rolling basis as candidates confirm; establish a waitlist if needed.
- Acceptance & onboarding: complete logistics and technical onboarding by the posted deadlines.
Applications submitted by the priority deadline receive priority review. If seats remain, applications may be reviewed on a rolling basis through Mar 15 (or until the cohort is filled). Final notifications are targeted by Mar 15 for the priority cycle, followed by acceptance confirmation.
Selection criteria (what reviewers look for)
- All required documents and fields are submitted.
- Eligibility documentation is consistent with the applicant category (in-service or pre-service).
- Recommendation letter and recommender details are included.
- A realistic plan to implement RAOP learning in the next academic term.
- Clear understanding of classroom constraints (time, technology access, student readiness).
- A plausible strategy for adapting robotics/autonomy concepts into K–12 learning activities.
- Strong match to RAOP’s guided inquiry, simulation-to-hardware workflow.
- Motivation to build evidence-based reasoning and experimental design skills through robotics/automation contexts.
- Commitment to producing classroom-ready deliverables (lesson plan + student materials + assessment rubric).
- A cohort composition that supports peer learning across grade bands and subject areas.
- Priority for educators serving high-need LEAs and students with limited access to advanced STEM learning opportunities.
- Practical coverage across implementation contexts (e.g., course types, available time, technology constraints) to increase classroom adoption.
Reviewers use a consistent rubric to score applications based on: (1) implementation readiness, (2) alignment with RAOP’s guided inquiry, simulation-to-hardware workflow, (3) feasibility within the applicant’s classroom constraints, and (4) completeness and strength of supporting documentation. The rubric is used to support consistent decisions across applicants and cycles.
How to Apply
- Review eligibility and program expectations on the RAOP program pages.
- Prepare required documents (CV/Resume, Proof of Eligibility, Statement of Purpose, Integration Plan, and Recommendation Letter).
- Submit your application through the RAOP application portal: /apply/raop.
- If shortlisted, participate in a virtual interview during the posted interview window.
- If selected, complete onboarding and logistics forms by the stated deadlines.
Follow RAOP
Updates, announcements, and participant highlights.
Official RAOP social channels. Additional platforms will be added as they launch.