THE APPLICATION PROCESS
1. How does the application process work?
All candidates, including those finding jobs directly through principals, must complete and submit the online application in order to become employed by the New York City Department of Education. Generally, our application becomes available in February and remains up through August, with candidates evaluated on a rolling basis.
Although candidates may apply throughout the summer, we strongly recommend submitting your online application as early as possible to ensure priority consideration for recruitment events and personalized recruiter assistance. Keep an eye on our website for priority application deadlines; our career fairs, which typically begin in May, are only open to a select group of candidates who have submitted complete applications.
Timing can vary, particularly during the peak of the hiring season (May-July), but you should expect to hear the outcome of your application within two weeks of submission. If you have not received any communication from us in the two weeks since you completed your application, you may contact our office at teachnyc@schools.nyc.gov or at (718) 935-4060.
2. What is included in the application?
Before sitting down to complete the application, all candidates should be prepared to provide:
- A resume (either as an attachment or pasted text)
- Proof of certification (your scanned license, or for graduating students, a scanned letter from your universtiy or current transcript)
- Name and contact information (both phone numbers and addresses) for three professional references
- Two essay responses (max. 500 words each): a critical part of your application, your essays are read carefully and evaluated for both content and writing quality.
3. Are there any application deadlines?
Yes. You should check the “Recruitment Event” box on our landing page for upcoming application deadlines.
4. Who can I contact about my application if I am having technical difficulties?
Email is the preferred method of contact: nycsupport@teachersupportnetwork.com, but you may also call 1-877-Do-Teach (1-877-368-3224).
5. What are the possible positive outcomes of my application review?
There are two possible positive outcomes of your application review:
- Eligible for job search support. Candidates who are eligible to teach in New York City and also show strong qualifications in other areas of their application may be eligible to receive special support in their job search process. These candidates will receive invitations to all relevant recruitment events (including career fairs) and are eligible for inclusion in the New Teacher Finder, a tool that allows principals and teacher candidates to connect online.
- Eligible for central commitment interview. Highly qualified candidates who meet certain certification requirements, typically in shortage subject areas, may be invited to interview with the Office of Teacher Recruitment & Quality for a central commitment. The central commitment is a guarantee of employment within the NYC public school system with certain terms and conditions; in addition to being eligible for recruitment events and the New Teacher Finder, applicants accepting central commitments receive personalized recruiter assistance during the job search process.
6. What are the possible negative outcomes of my application review?
In some cases, candidates will be notified that the DOE will not be able to assist them in their job search based on the submitted application.
- Ineligible to teach in New York City. All applicants must pass a background and fingerprinting check. Additionally, candidates currently working as teachers for the NYC Department of Education are not eligible to apply through TeachNYC. If you are a current teacher, please refer to the Open Market Hiring System for more information.
- Uncertified. In order to work in New York City public schools, all teachers must have valid certification from the New York State Education Department. This certification requirement may be met in multiple ways, including through alternative certification routes and reciprocity for certified teachers from out-of-state. With the exception of day-to-day substitutes, we cannot employ teachers who are not certified.
- Failed the Quality Pre-Screen. All applicants are reviewed for quality of content, especially your written essay responses. Failing this review means that the Office of Teacher Recruitment and Quality will not be able to provide assistance finding a school position. It does not, however, prevent applicants from conducting an independent job search and teaching in New York City.
The NYC Department of Education cannot provide individual feedback to applicants regarding the review of their applications.
7. I received an email stating that I need to submit a copy of my out-of-state certification.
Instructions on how to upload the necessary documents should have been included in the email that you received. Please upload the requested documentation on the certification and licensure section of your application. You can also fax these documents to 718-935-3532, attention: Pending Documents.
8. Do I need to wait until graduation to submit my application if I am currently enrolled in an education program
No. If you are a currently enrolled education student and your university will be recommending you for certification, you must upload a letter from your university stating that you are in good standing, have completed all the requirements, and will be recommended for certification. Or, in place of this letter, you may upload (or fax to 718-935-3532) a copy of your transcripts.
9. I accepted a central commitment from a recruiter and have questions about my paperwork.
You can call the recruitment office directly at 718-935-4080.
TEACHER QUALIFICATIONS
1. What type of teaches are you looking for?
We are committed to hiring only the most highly qualified and dedicated teachers to work with our students. We look for candidates who are strong communicators, use data to make informed decisions, have deep subject matter expertise, and are deeply committed to student achievement.
2. How competitive is the application process?
Finding a teaching position in the New York City public schools is highly competitive; in 2006-07, there were six applicants for every available slot. At the same time, with thousands of vacancies opening up system-wide every year across all subject areas, there is always space for strong, motivated candidates - especially if they stay open-minded to borough and grade level.
3. Are there specific shortage subject areas?
Yes. While we seek high-quality teachers in all subject areas, we especially encourage teachers who are certified in a designated critical shortage area to apply. These subject areas include: Math, Science, Special Education, Spanish, ESL, Bilingual Subjects, and Speech Improvement. We also offer incentive and scholarship programs for critical shortage area teachers.
4. How do I find out which schools are ‘high-need’ schools? We strongly encourage you to consider working in a high-need school. Our Teachers of Tomorrow program is an opportunity for our newly hired teachers to earn a non-taxable grant while working in one of our high-need schools.
FINDING A JOB
1. How should I begin the job search process?
Due to the size and complexity of our school system, it is not possible to provide candidates with a list of anticipated vacancies. However, the Office of Teacher Recruitment and Quality helps to facilitate matches between teachers and principals through mechanisms that include:
- The New Teacher Finder. This online tool allows principals to post requests for resumes from candidates, as well as to search for candidates by criteria such as subject area and borough preference. If your application outcome includes placement in the New Teacher Finder, you will be notified; please follow the instructions in your email to make sure your information is accurate and up to date and to learn more about how to search for resume requests. If a principal contacts you through the New Teacher Finder, please follow up promptly with him or her even if you are not interested in the position.
- Career fairs and networking events. The Office of Teacher Recruitment & Quality coordinates a number of events from May through August to facilitate in-person interactions between school hiring representatives and candidates. These events are only open to invited candidates with complete applications. We encourage you to attend any events to which you are invited. Although events earlier in the hiring season may not result in immediate placement, the connections and introductions made at career fairs or networking events can often lead to positions later, as principals get a firmer sense of their hiring needs.
You are also free to contact schools and principals directly. All candidates, including those who have accepted central commitments, are responsible for finding their own jobs within our schools. We believe that allowing each teacher - and in turn, principal - to make his or her own hiring decision is best for the teacher, the principal, and most important, the student.
We encourage you to research schools thoroughly and be as targeted as possible in your job search efforts. Information on each one of our schools is available on schools.nyc.gov. In addition, we have put together a set of maps to help candidates identify schools by location.
2. Can I request an invitation to attend the career fairs?
No. Attendance at career fairs is by invitation only. You must first submit a completed application for review and a decision will be made as to your eligibility for attendance.
3. Is there a standard procedure for arranging a visit with a specific school?
If you would like to schedule a visit with a school, you should contact the school directly. Most schools will be happy to accommodate an in-person visit.
4. How can I make sure that my information is entered in the New Teacher Finder?
Not every application is selected for inclusion in the New Teacher Finder. If you have already submitted a completed application, our office will contact you to let you know your status.
5. Are schools mandated to post their vacancies in the New Teacher Finder?
No. Since principals have control over their hiring, they may choose to post vacancies in the New Teacher Finder, but they may also decide to hire through a career fair or through word of mouth. We encourage you to check the site frequently for new postings.
6. When does the hiring process occur?
The majority of our hiring occurs in July and August. However, since principals are able to make their own decisions about who and when to hire, we encourage you to complete your application as soon as possible.
COMPENSATION AND BENEFITS
1. What is the starting salary for NYC teachers?
For teachers with a Bachelor's degree and no prior teaching experience, the current starting salary is $45,530. Teachers with a Master’s degree and no prior teaching experience start at $51,425. Salary is scaled according to education and teaching experience. Click here for a complete description of the salary schedule.
2. What employment benefits do I receive?
New York City teachers receive comprehensive medical coverage, including prescription drug, dental, and vision coverage. NYC teachers also become members of the Teachers’ Retirement System (pension) as of their appointment date. This pension system provides a monthly allowance in retirement based on your years of service and participation. Generally, members attain vested status (become eligible to receive a retirement allowance at age 55) after completion of five years of active service. In addition to the pension plan, the tax deferred annuity is a voluntary savings plan for teachers. This plan provides an opportunity to save funds for retirement on a tax-deferred basis.