Make an impact on students and schools by seeking a teaching job in Greater Philadelphia, a city full of urban parks, walkable neighborhoods, and historic charm.
Are you searching for a teaching position in Philadelphia for the school year?
Consider Teach For America (TFA). Through TFA, you can make an impact in students’ lives and serve the community in Greater Philadelphia. 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.” These corps members commit to teaching for two years, in the districts and schools most impacted by educational inequity. Corps members are full, salaried employees of local public schools, confronting both the challenges and joys of expanding opportunities for kids. Many opt to continue teaching after their two-year TFA commitment ends.
During their time with TFA, corps members develop into strong classroom leaders who go beyond traditional expectations to advance students’ academic and personal growth, while helping to strengthen schools.
In partnership with local universities such as University of Pennsylvania Graduate School of Education and the Relay Graduate School of Education, nonprofit organizations, and businesses around Greater Philadelphia, corps members receive initial training, ongoing professional development, and access to an unparalleled resource and support network.
Teach For America 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.
Who Is Eligible?
You are not required to have a background in education to apply for a position with Teach For America. To apply to become a corps member, however, 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.
In addition to these eligibility requirements, TFA seeks candidates with 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. Read more about the characteristics of strong corps members.
Redefine Your Career
Learn more about teaching in Greater Philadelphia, and apply to teach as part of the Teach For America corps today.
Working in Greater Philadelphia
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 range from $45,000 to $48,000 for new teachers in Philadelphia.
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. Read more on salary and benefits as a corps member, plus take a look at details on the cost of living in Greater Philadelphia.
You may also be eligible for additional financial incentives exclusively available to TFA corps members. Learn more about financial aid, including transitional funding packages.
Master’s Degree Option
If you wish to pursue a master’s degree, Teach For America Greater Philadelphia works with two partner universities: Relay Graduate School of Education and the University of Pennsylvania.
Typically, corps members use their AmeriCorps Education Awards and partial tuition reimbursement benefits from their district. Learn more about certification and training in Greater Philadelphia.
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 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 Greater Philadelphia support staff. Learn more about life after the corps.
102
Corps members
1341
Alumni in Philadelphia
400+
Corps members and alumni teachers
90
Alumni in school leadership positions
Teach For America’s 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 Greater Philadelphia
Teach For America has been in Philadelphia since 2003, bringing more than 1,600 new teachers to the region. Since TFA has been in the region, corps members and alums have taught more than 200,000 students.
As a corps member, you’ll join this powerful network of changemakers. As part of TFA Greater Philadelphia, you’ll work to meaningfully expand opportunities for students, using your background and leadership skills to drive students to academic success and transform lives.
Find out more about what it’s like to be a part of this movement in Greater Philadelphia, 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.