Make an impact on students and schools by seeking a teaching job in South Texas’ culturally diverse Rio Grande Valley.
Searching for the right teaching position in Rio Grande Valley for the school year?
Teach For America (TFA) could be a great option for you. Whether you’ve taught for several years, are making a career change to education, or are just graduating from college, joining TFA will allow you to make an impact on the lives of students in the Rio Grande Valley.
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, 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 nonprofit organizations and businesses around Rio Grande Valley, 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 on for more details 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. Read more about the characteristics of strong corps members.
Redefine Your Career
Learn more about teaching in Rio Grande Valley, and apply to teach as part of the Teach For America corps today.
Working in Rio Grande Valley
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.
Corps members are paid the same as other beginning teachers working for the same employer. Salaries for new teachers in Rio Grande Valley start at $44,000, 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. Find out more about salary and benefits.
You may also be eligible for additional financial incentives geared toward TFA corps members. Learn more about financial aid, including transitional funding packages.
Master’s Degree Option
Many Rio Grande Valley corps members begin a graduate program in their second year of teaching. Popular programs include the local University of Texas-Rio Grande Valley or the Johns Hopkins University online program for Teach For America.
To finance tuition, corps members typically use their AmeriCorps Education Awards and partial tuition reimbursement benefits from their district. Learn more about certification and training in the Rio Grande Valley.
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 Rio Grande Valley support staff. Learn more about life after the corps.
65
Corps members
182
Alumni
Our Placement Process
TFA corps members teach in 50 regions. Once you apply and interview at TFA, you will be asked to rank the regions where you prefer to teach.
Our goal is to assign you to the region where you’re most interested in being placed. 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 Rio Grande Valley
For more than 25 years, Teach For America Rio Grande Valley has worked to build a formidable leadership pipeline.
The Rio Grande Valley is vast—stretching across 43,000 square miles—so Teach For America prioritizes placing corps members together in groups.
Corps members teach in the state’s three southernmost counties in eight different districts and over 40 different schools. TFA Rio Grande Valley places corps members in both traditional public schools and public school charter networks. As a corps member, you’ll use your background and leadership skills to drive students to academic success and transform lives.
Watch our Rio Grande Valley video to learn about the specific impact TFA corps members are having in South Texas, 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.