There’s no one way to be a great teacher. To decide if teaching is right for you, it’s important to do your research, reflect and talk to as many people as you can.
Start with some basic questions:
With these questions in mind, you can try out teaching and learn about the career.
Want to try teaching before you commit? There are tons of ways to get a feel for the career and explore subjects and age groups you might want to teach. Here are a few ideas:
Plus, if you decide teaching is right for you, relevant experience on your resume will help you stand out!
Over the past nine years as a public educator one thing I have found is that teaching is never boring. Each day brings exciting opportunities and challenges. Each class brings new students with different education, language, and home experiences. And each year allows for a chance to try a new learning strategy, classroom design, or parent communication idea.
Some questions you’ve thought of, some you probably haven’t. That’s why it’s so helpful to hear what others are asking.
Take a peek at our FAQs, a comprehensive collection of common questions people have as they explore a teaching career.
Want to talk to a real teacher about their experience? TEACH.org offers free career advising with expert teachers in each of our regions.
Learn more, or find out how to connect with teachers in your state.
Want to stay in the know about upcoming webinars, financial incentives, and teaching news? Get on the list!
Think teaching might be right for you? Get an overview of what to expect.
As a teacher, no two days are the same. You’ll work alongside passionate colleagues, build powerful relationships with your students and immerse yourself in subject matter you love.
You’ll also build skills that will serve you for the rest of your life — like leadership, creative problem-solving and stellar communication.
Educator Pay Data. National Education Association. April 24, 2023. nea.org/resource-library/educator-pay-and-student-spending-how-does-your-state-rank
Education, Training and Library Occupations, Occupational Outlook Handbook. U.S. Bureau of Labor Statistics. bls.gov/ooh/education-training-and-library/home.htm