Teaching can be a very rewarding job. It’s a chance to inspire a future generation and immerse yourself in a subject that you love.
To become a teacher, you’ll first need to work out exactly what teaching role you want to pursue. You’ll then need to complete relevant education and training in order to get certified, after which you can start applying for positions at schools.
For those thinking of pursuing a teaching job in Texas, this guide offers a few facts and tips to help you decide a) if a teaching role is right for you and b) how to get qualified.
Types of teaching jobs in Texas
There are a few different teaching jobs that you can look into. These include:
- Elementary school teacher
- Middle school teacher
- High school teacher
- Private tutor
- Special education teacher
- ESL teacher
Elementary school teachers work with kids aged between 5 and 10 and teach a range of subjects. They typically teach the same class of 20 to 30 kids for a year in the same classroom and may have to take on a more parental role due to the age of the kids.
Middle school and high school teachers work with older kids and typically teach a single subject. While they may be tutors to a specific class, they teach a much larger range of kids and may teach in different classrooms.
Private tutors do not work in a school setting and are typically hired by parents or mature students to teach individuals. They typically focus on a specific subject. Private tutors choose their own hours and can work from a variety of locations including remotely. Those looking for remote teaching jobs may want to consider this role.
Special education teachers work with kids who may have disabilities or learning difficulties. While some work in special education schools, many works in regular schools where they provide help to a range of students on a one-on-one basis – often covering a range of subjects.
ESL teachers meanwhile teach students who do not speak English as a first language. They may work within general schools, at specialist schools or privately. ESL teachers are often required to speak at least one foreign language fluently.
Is there a demand for teachers in Texas?
In the 2021 to 2022 school year, Texas employed 370,431 teachers across all its schools. While this may sound like enough teachers, there is actually a major shortage of teachers in Texas – and so plenty of vacancies.
How much money do teachers make in Texas?
Teachers in Texas typically make $19 per hour. Salaries can vary depending on the type of teaching role, position and location. Both elementary and secondary school teachers make roughly the same amount of money per year – however, teachers in Houston earn about $5000 more per year on average than those in Austin. The highest teacher salaries in Texas are typically between $66,000 and $86,600 (typically the head of department roles).
Steps to becoming a teacher
There are a few requirements that you’ll need to pass in order to become a teacher in Texas. These are outlined below.
Get the right education
When pursuing almost any teaching role, you will need to obtain a Bachelor’s Degree first. This must be from an accredited college or university.
Elementary school teachers must obtain a degree in a subject that is teachable at school, however it can be any subject. High school and middle school teachers typically need to obtain a degree that is relevant to the subject they plan to teach (i.e. an English teacher would need to obtain an English degree).
Technically you do not need a degree to become a private tutor, although it can be advantageous to have one. At the very least, you should have a high school degree or a GED. Higher education will increase the likelihood of clients hiring you.
Complete an Educator Preparation Program
Teachers in Texas must complete an Educator Preparation Program after having obtained the relevant education. This program lasts a year and typically involves paid internship work at a school where you will help teach classes under the supervision of a qualified teacher. During this process, you will also receive training in the duties of a teacher and how a school operates.
At the end of this program, you must then pass a teacher certification exam in order to become a certified teacher. Different roles and subjects have different exams that you will have to complete to show that you are capable.
Submit a state application
Once you have passed your teacher certification exam, you will need to submit a state application in order to work as a licensed teacher in Texas.
You can read more about how to do this online at this site.
Complete a national criminal background check
You will need to have your fingerprints taken before getting licensed so that they can be put on your national record. This is compulsory for all teachers working in schools.
When applying to work in a school, the school will also conduct a criminal background check. It is a legal requirement that anyone working around children is background checked. The school will then decide whether to hire you based on the results.
Apply for the right school
There are many online job boards that you can use to look for teaching vacancies. Make sure that the schools you apply for are right for you – consider how far you are willing to travel and research the school to get an idea of the size, specialisms and quality.
When applying for a position, you will usually have to send a CV and possibly answer a survey or complete a test. From here, you will then be invited to visit the school for a tour followed by an interview. Some schools will also ask you to teach a sample lesson. It depends very much on the type of school and the role of how the hiring process will operate.
