Looking to lead in the classroom? Learn more about teaching jobs in Detroit, a resilient city that faces big challenges with a lot of heart.
Searching for the right teaching position in Detroit for the school year?
Join Teach For America for a one-of-a-kind opportunity to make an impact in students’ lives and serve the Detroit Community. Teach For America (TFA) welcomes candidates who have taught previously, as well as people making a career change or just graduating college.
Teach For America’s Approach
TFA recruits outstanding leaders from all backgrounds and career sectors to become TFA “corps members.” Corps members commit to teaching for two years, where they are full, salaried employees of local public schools and confront both the challenges and joys of expanding opportunities for kids. Many choose to continue teaching after their two-year TFA commitment ends.
Corps members develop into strong classroom leaders who go beyond traditional expectations to advance students’ academic and personal growth, while helping to strengthen schools. They work in the districts and schools most impacted by educational inequity.
In partnership with local universities such as the University of Michigan, nonprofit organizations, and businesses around Detroit, corps members receive initial training, ongoing professional development, and access to an unparalleled resource and support network.
TFA has 6,200 corps members in 50 regions, reaching more than 400,000 students in 2,500 schools.
While specific regional placement is not guaranteed, 80 percent of TFA's applicants are assigned to their most preferred location. We know that your personal location preferences are important. Read more below about our placement process.
Corps Member Eligibility
In order to be considered for a position with TFA, you must have a bachelor’s degree with a minimum cumulative GPA of 2.50 and U.S. citizenship, national/legal resident status, or be a DACA recipient. You are not required to have a background in education.
In addition to these eligibility requirements, we seek people have a deep belief in the potential of every child, a strong record of achievement, and perseverance in the face of challenges, among other key values and experiences. Discover the characteristics of strong corps members.
Redefine Your Career
Learn more about teaching in Detroit, and apply to teach as part of the Teach For America corps today.
Downtown Detroit is a wonderful mixture of skyscrapers and historical and architecturally beautiful residential and commercial buildings. Make sure to check out the Renaissance Center, Greektown, Campus Martius, Hart Plaza and the Riverfront. The Downtown area also plays host to the Detroit Lions, Tigers, and Red Wings.
Palmer Park is a public park created in 1895. The park includes a historic log cabin, a large pond named Lake Frances, trails for hiking and biking, and the Palmer Park golf course. The park neighbors Palmer Woods, a beautiful neighborhood that is listed on the National Register of Historic Places.
Southwest Detroit is a thriving neighborhood that is home to a number of corps members. Known for its Hispanic population, the food and festivals in this area represent the rich culture of the students and families who live there. Nearby Corktown is Detroit's oldest neighborhood and is home to Slows BBQ and Astro Coffee, two local businesses that have been buzzed about from coast to coast.
Working in Detroit
As a corps member, you will be required to complete steps to become highly qualified in the subject(s) you’ll teach and work toward full teaching certification during your two-year commitment. Learn more about earning your teaching license and getting hired at a school.
Salary and Benefits
You’ll receive a salary and benefits from the school district, charter school, or pre-K center where you work.
You’ll be paid the same as other beginning teachers working for the same employer. Salaries for new teachers in Detroit start at $36,000, but vary depending on the grade and subject level you teach. As a full-time TFA teacher, you are entitled to medical benefits through your school or district. Plans and costs vary, depending on where you teach.
You may also be eligible for additional financial incentives available exclusively to TFA corps members. Learn more about financial aid, including transitional funding packages.
Master’s Degree Option
Teach For America Detroit partners with University of Michigan and Walden University (for early childhood educators) to offer our corps members a master’s degree in the field of education. To finance tuition, corps members typically use their AmeriCorps Education Awards and partial tuition reimbursement benefits from their district. Find out more information on Detroit’s certification and training.
After Two Years
After your two-year commitment with TFA, you may choose to stay in the classroom for additional years of teaching. Some TFA alumni go on to work in school leadership, and many others go on to impact educational equity from another other sector.
We are dedicated to making sure you have the resources and support you need to lead and continue to work towards change, with a dedicated TFA Detroit support staff. Learn more about life after the corps.
45
Corps members
785
Alumni in the region
Our Placement Process
TFA corps members teach in 50 regions. After applying and interviewing for TFA, you’ll have the opportunity to rank the regions where you prefer to teach.
Our placement process is designed to assign you to the region(s) you’re most interested in as best as possible, since we know that landing in a region that matches your priorities is important. A majority of applicants are placed in one of their top regional choices.
After applying, you must select and rank 10 TFA regions where you want to teach, one of which must be a region we’ve designated as “high priority.” Read more about our placement process.
Make an Impact in Detroit
More than 800 corps members and alumni in Detroit are partnering with the city’s high-need schools to make an excellent education a reality for all of the city’s kids.
As a TFA Detroit teacher, you’ll work to meaningfully expand opportunities for students. You’ll use your background and leadership skills to drive students to academic success and transform lives.
Find out more about teaching in Detroit, and start your application to join the work today.
Apply Today
Make an impact on students. Apply to be a corps member with Teach For America today.