Living & Expenses 2011

Salary

Salary
$40,000

Cost of Living

Housing Costs (single)
$700
Housing Costs (shared)
$500
Health Insurance
$170
Utilities
$150
Daycare
$580 / month
Monthly Transit Pass
N/A
Car Required
Yes
Car Insurance
$180

Start-Up
Costs

Testing Costs
 $375
Up Front Certification Costs
How Do You Pay Start-Up Costs
Out of Pocket

Ongoing Costs Through the Two-Year Commitment

Ongoing Certification Costs
$0.00
Use Americorps award for testing/certification
No
How is teaching certification structured in this state/region?
2 years through Teach For America professional development
Is it possible to complete a master's degree at the end of the two years?
Yes
Is a master's degree required?
No
Partner Universities
Christian Brothers University

Teacher Certification Information

Last year, the Tennessee Department of Education chose to recognize Teach For America as the first non-higher education institution to be granted the right to certify its own teachers. Our corps members are now able to renew their teaching license based solely on their Teach For America professional development experience, and are no longer required to take courses at a university in order to continue teaching. Upon completion of their corps commitment, our teachers are awarded a professional license, which requires no further training and may be transferable to another state.

We partner with Christian Brothers University to provide an option to pursue a master’s in education. Corps members are able to use their Teach For America experience towards course credits, making it possible to receive a master’s degree in only one year of study. Christian Brothers also offers corps members a 25 percent discount on tuition.

Notes and Clarifications

  • Beginning teacher salary: If you have a master's degree in education, are placed in a bilingual classroom, or in a math/science classroom you may receive additional compensation.
  • Avg. health insurance: In some placement districts, health insurance premiums are pre-tax deductions.
  • Total tax rate: Federal + state + city. Only applies to starting salaries.
  • Up-front certification: Expenses that must be paid before your first day of teaching.
  • Paying start-up costs: Can you pay for testing and up-front certification costs with transitional grants and loans or do you have to pay out-of-pocket?
  • Ongoing certification: Total certification costs over two-year teaching commitment.
  • AmeriCorps award for certification: Can you use your AmeriCorps award to pay testing/certification costs?
  • Master's in two years: Is it possible to complete a master's degree at the end of two years?
  • Master's required: Is the completion of a master's degree required as part of the two-year commitment?
  • Extra master's degree costs: Additional total cost to obtain a master's degree (on top of ongoing certification costs); does not include AmeriCorps award.
  • Partner university(ies): These universities partner with Teach For America for ongoing certification requirements, and in some cases, the fulfillment of a master's degree in education.

 

 

Teach For America thanks our National Partners for their generous support.

Teach For America was named one of Fortune magazine's top 100 employers to work for.

Teach For America was named one of America's top 100 Ideal Employers in Universum's 2011 American Student Survey.