Commit to kids this year

In the back of a classroom, we see a full room of high school students, all seated in chairs facing the teacher. There's a sharp focus on the backs of the heads of the three boys in the back row, with the teacher very blurry at the front of the room

A better future for everyone starts with caring adults in classrooms today. Here are four ways to get a job in education this fall. Let’s fill those classrooms with care.

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Even in the best of times, teaching is hard work. Teachers develop engaging lessons, prep materials, manage full classrooms, adjust for the needs of individual students, assess learning and communicate regularly with families.

A huge part of this work is keeping students engaged in the joy of learning. Over the past three years, teachers have done this work in some very tough circumstances, from pandemic shutdowns and remote learning, to political strife over curricula and threats to school safety.

Even in these circumstances, teachers remain dedicated to their students, and those students need caring teachers now more than ever. If you’ve been looking around and wondering how best to “be the change you want to see in the world”—there’s a school that needs your help to shape the future. And they need you now.

Here are four ways you can get a job in education starting this fall.

Path 1: If you have a degree, apply for teaching job today

If you already have a degree, you may be able to start teaching right away and earn your teaching license or certificate while you go. This process is usually called “alternative certification” or “alternative licensure,” depending on where you teach. Basically, it’s a faster track for people who are ready to enter the classroom.

How does it work? We’ve got a full explainer for that!

Download the Guide to Alternative Certification

Path 2: Earning a degree, or ready to start? Apply to a teaching program

If you’re in college, you can use your degree for good in the classroom. Whether you want to teach for a few years or forever, teaching is a fantastic way to serve your community and grow your skills in leadership, management, and public speaking, all while earning a paycheck.

And there’s a bonus for you and the students you teach. As a teacher-in-training, you’ll get plenty of practice and mentorship before taking over a classroom, so you’ll get to try out teaching and get expert advice and feedback as you learn.

Your students? They benefit from every caring and enthusiastic adult in their lives. So you’ll be showing up for kids from your very first day as a student teacher.

Apply to your school’s teaching program and apply for a TEACH scholarship to help pay for school.

Path 3: Not ready to teach full time? Consider a school support role

You don’t have to become a teacher right away in order to support schools and kids. Most schools need full-time and part-time substitute teachers and teaching assistants.

As a substitute, you can dip your toe in the classroom environment, work at a variety of schools, or help out in different subject areas. You can typically pick the number of days you’re available for maximum flexibility, but you will need to commit to a full day at a time.

In a school support role, you’d have several options, including work as a teaching assistant or in an after-school program. Either way, you’ll provide critical support to schools, collaborating with teachers to support students in and out of the classroom.

If you decide you want to earn a teaching license or certificate later, many schools offer special scholarships and mentorship to current substitutes and assistants, so you’ll be able to keep your position while you complete a degree and teaching program.

Path 4: Keep your current job while you tutor, mentor, or volunteer with students

Not everyone can commit full days to work in a local school. You can still get involved and work with students. You’ll find both paid and volunteer roles like tutoring, mentoring or assisting teachers with classroom tasks.

So, if you have a full-time job or you’re a student or work-at-home parent, there’s a role for you, too. And when you’re ready to jump in full time, you’ll already have the connections you need to land a job at the school!

Not sure which path is right for you? Ask a TEACH coach.

There’s a school that needs you this fall—and many pathways to get there. No matter where you’re starting, with or without a degree, full- or part-time, the journey starts with a single step (actually, it can be a single phone call or email).

You don’t have to figure this out on your own. TEACH coaches are experts who can understand your unique path and point you in the direction that works best for you.