The Steps to Becoming a Teacher in NYC
- 1). Go to college and study hard, because your G.P.A. will be a factor in getting certified as a teacher.Take classes in the subject you want to teach. Math, for example. Or English. Also take "pedagogical classes," which will instruct you in teaching skills. These classes have such titles as "Curriculum, Instruction and Assessment" or "Teaching Literacy Skills." Get student teaching experience.
- 2). Get certified. All New York City school teachers must be certified by the New York State Education Department. An Initial Certificate, valid for five years, is granted to students who've taken a teacher preparatory class or its equivalent. If you're applying and have not yet graduated from school, you'll need a letter saying you're on track to get a certificate.
- 3). Write a resume. You're going to need it for the application process.
- 4). Attend an information session. The NYC Department of Education runs both on-line and in-person sessions. Ask questions, get information and make sure you're right for the job.
- 5). Research schools. New York City has five boroughs, each with a distinctive personality. Within those boroughs there are many neighborhoods, each with a distinctive personality. Go through the list of schools and find ones that suit you. Look at location, quality reviews, progress reports.
- 6). Fill out the application, which is available from the NYC Department of Education. Materials required will be a resume, certification, three professional references and two essays. The essays will be rated based on both how well you write and what you have to say. Within two weeks you'll find out if you've been accepted into the New Teacher Finder system, which then allows you to look for specific jobs in the New York City system.
- 7). Find a job opening. Once you're part of the New Teacher Finder system, you can begin looking for specific jobs. Contact schools directly. Or you can attend principal panels and go on Teach Tours. You can go to teacher recruitment fairs. Schools will also be looking through the new teacher data base and may contact you.
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