Looking to lead in the classroom? Learn more about teaching jobs in Tulsa, named one of America’s most liveable cities.
Searching for the right teaching position in Tulsa for the school year?
Consider Teach For America (TFA) as an option. At Teach For America, we welcome candidates who have taught previously, are making a career change into education, or are just graduating college. TFA offers a one-of-kind opportunity to make an impact in students’ lives and serve the Tulsa community.
Teach For America’s Approach
Teach For America recruits outstanding leaders from all backgrounds and career sectors to become “corps members.” Corps members commit to teaching for two years. During that time, they are full, salaried employees of local public schools, confronting 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 University of Oklahoma-Tulsa, University of Tulsa, and Oklahoma State University—nonprofit organizations, and businesses around Tulsa, 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. Read on for more information on 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 Tulsa, and apply to teach as part of the Teach For America corps today.
Tulsa offers ample opportunities for outdoor recreation with 140 parks spread throughout the city. Tulsa is home to one of the top five urban spaces in America, the Guthrie Green, which hosts Movies on the Green, live music, yoga, a farmers' market, Food Truck Wednesday, and a variety of festivals and community events. Tulsa’s Riverside trails offer a beautiful space to run, bike, or row, and Turkey Mountain, an urban wilderness preserve, serves as a nearby escape for hiking, trail running, and mountain biking. The Gathering Place, opening in 2017, will transform nearly 100 acres of Tulsa’s waterfront into a dynamic space expected to attract one million visitors annually.
photo by: Wikimedia Commons
The arts are alive and well in Tulsa. Tulsa is the smallest city in the country with its own ballet, opera, and symphony. It is home to world-class museums like the Philbrook and Gilcrease Museums, as well as smaller art studios that open to the public during the popular First Friday Art Crawl that boasts a monthly attendance of 10,000 people in Tulsa’s Brady Arts District. Tulsa was voted one of the top 10 best live music cities in the nation. Cain’s Ballroom and the Brady Theater provide opportunities to see a wide variety of musicians up close and personal, while the BOK Center attracts big name national performers in an arena setting. Tulsa also houses The Woody Guthrie Center and is the soon-to-be permanent home of the Bob Dylan archives. Musicians Garth Brooks, Hanson, and David Cook (just to name a few!) are all from Tulsa or started their musical careers here.
photo by: Cynthia Jasso
If you like festivals, Tulsa has great ones! Oktoberfest (ranked as one of the best festivals in the world), HopJam (The Hanson Brothers’ annual beer and music festival), Festival Americas (celebrating the rich culture of the Americas), Rock N Rib Festival (showcasing championship BBQ from across the country and live music), and the Blue Whale Comedy Festival (voted one of the top five North American comedy fests) are just a few of the festivals and celebrations that energize and connect our city.
photo by: Maggie Cooper
Working in Greater Tulsa
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 Tulsa range between $37,000 to $40,000, and may 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 Greater Tulsa partners with several universities to offer corps members a master’s degree in the field of education:
- University of Oklahoma-Tulsa
- University of Tulsa
- Oklahoma State University
- Northeastern State University
- Columbia University
- Lehigh University
- John Hopkins University
To finance tuition, corps members typically use their AmeriCorps Education Awards and partial tuition reimbursement benefits from their district.
Get more information about certification and training in Tulsa.
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 Greater Tulsa support staff. Learn more about life after the corps.
155
Corps members
270
Alumni living in the area
11
School leaders
260
People on the teacher force (alumni and corps members)
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 Greater Tulsa
Since 2009, Teach For America has worked alongside partners in Greater Tulsa to create opportunities for the city’s children. Since then, TFA has built a leadership pipeline of over 420 changemakers in the region. Alumni have founded new schools in the area, and are all united in improving the region’s educational landscape.
Corps members will be able to take advantage of access to city and state leaders who can help make change in our community. As a teacher in Greater Tulsa, you’ll lead a classroom, working to meaningfully expand opportunities for students. You’ll use your background and leadership skills to drive students to academic success and transform lives.
Learn more about being a corps member in Greater Tulsa, 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.