Want to Teach? A Public-School Classroom Isn’t Your Only Option

When people think about becoming a teacher, they usually picture a full-time teacher in a public elementary, middle or high school.

But even my own teaching career didn’t look like just one thing. I taught high school math in traditional public schools and charter schools. I taught third and fourth grade science in a private school. And I taught middle and high school students in an online public school.

They were all teaching but not in the same environment.

So if you’re considering teaching, don’t assume the version you’re picturing is the only one available to you.

Private school teacher — Usually full-time
A traditional classroom, but certification requirements, curriculum, pay and working conditions can differ from public schools.

Charter school teacher — Usually full-time
Publicly funded but independently operated. Depending on where you live, hiring requirements and the teaching environment may differ from a traditional district.

Online teacher — Full-time or part-time
Public and private virtual schools hire teachers to work with students remotely. You’re still planning, teaching, grading and working with families just without the physical classroom.

Homeschool co-op or microschool teacher — Often part-time
Teach a subject or group of students without necessarily taking on a traditional five-day school schedule.

CTE instructor — Full-time or part-time
Career and Technical Education programs teach fields like healthcare, engineering, computer science, automotive technology and culinary arts. Your industry experience may be particularly useful here.

Dual-credit instructor — Full-time or individual courses
Teach courses where high-school students can also earn college credit, often through a partnership with a college.

Community college or adjunct instructor — Often part-time
Teach one or more college courses, sometimes in the evenings or online, potentially while keeping your current career.

Trade or technical school instructor — Full-time or part-time
Teach the profession or technical skills you’ve spent your career doing.

Adult education or GED instructor — Full-time or part-time
Work with adults building literacy, math, English-language or high-school-equivalency skills.

Hospital or homebound teacher — Varies
Teach students who can’t attend school because of medical needs, sometimes in hospitals, homes or remotely.

Juvenile justice or correctional education — Full-time or part-time
Teach academic, GED or vocational programs within juvenile or adult correctional settings.

There are different options to explore.

You may discover that you don’t want to leave your career to become a full-time K–12 teacher but you really want to teach or explore different ways to teach.

Keep in mind that some of these options are more competitive than others, and the pay, benefits and requirements can vary quite a bit. You’ll need to research what’s available where you live and what the specific program requires.