Beyond the Classroom: Careers in and Around Education
Whether you’re drawn to the classroom, to school leadership, or to the broader ecosystem of organizations working to make education more equitable and effective, there are more entry points than most students realize. Here’s a curated look at seven programs and organizations worth knowing — and a note at the end about one of the most direct hiring pipelines of all.
What it is: A national nonprofit that runs intensive summer academic programs for middle school students from underserved communities, staffed by college students and recent graduates serving as teachers and program leaders.
Who it’s for: Current college students and recent graduates, and they do accept OPT/CPT for international students. Dartmouth students apply each year.
Why it’s worth knowing
Breakthrough is a strong first step into education for students who aren’t ready to commit to a full fellowship or teaching role but want real classroom experience. You’re not shadowing — you’re designing curriculum and leading instruction for a summer cohort of middle schoolers, with training and coaching built in. It’s also one of the better resume builders in this space for students who go on to TFA, Uncommon, or graduate school in education. The collaborative model means sites exist across the country, so placement options are geographically flexible. If you’re still figuring out whether education is the right direction, Breakthrough is a low-barrier, high-quality way to find out.
Timing: Applications for a summer start are typically due mid-to-late winter. Check the site for current deadlines by site location.
Learn more about Breakthrough Collaborative and follow them on Handshake.
What it is: A two-year teaching fellowship placing recent graduates and career changers in low-income communities across the U.S.
Who it’s for: Open to all majors; no prior teaching experience required. U.S. citizens and permanent residents. Graduating seniors and alumni within a few years of graduation are the typical applicant pool, though the window is broader.
Why it’s worth knowing
TFA is one of the most recognized entry points into education — but it’s also a genuine leadership pipeline. Corps members earn a salary, receive benefits, and work toward a teaching certification while they serve. MANY Dartmouth alumni have gone through TFA and stayed connected to education policy, school leadership, and social impact work long after their two years ended. If you’re curious about education but not sure teaching is your forever path, TFA is designed for exactly that – and makes you part of its expanding network.
Timing: TFA offers multiple application windows from August through March for the following school year. Apply early — later rounds are more competitive.
Learn more about Teach for America and follow them on Handshake.
What it is: A one-year, graduate-level residency through NYU Steinhardt in which you earn a Master of Arts in Teaching while embedded full-time in a partner school from day one. Some pathways include a two-year post-residency teaching commitment.
Who it’s for: Recent graduates with a bachelor’s degree and approximately 30 credits in a subject area; no prior teaching experience required. Note: international students requiring F or J visa sponsorship are not eligible, as coursework is delivered online.
Why it’s worth knowing
What sets this apart from a traditional certification program is that you’re the teacher of record from the start — not a visitor, but the person responsible for the room, supported by a mentor and a graduate curriculum built around your daily experience. Pathways vary: the NYC Public Schools track has no post-residency commitment but no stipend, while district and charter partner placements offer a salary or wage of $30,000 to $60,000 and carry a two-year commitment. The Empire State Grant pathway provides a $30,000 stipend for Students with Disabilities specialists. If you want to earn your master’s while doing the actual work, this is one of the most integrated programs available.
Timing: Applications are accepted on a rolling basis with multiple deadlines throughout the year. Note that NYU does not allow deferrals. Check their website for current dates.
Learn more about the NYU Teach Residency on Handshake.
What it is: A teacher and administrator placement firm that connects candidates with independent and private schools across the U.S. and internationally.
Who it’s for: Candidates interested in independent school settings — day schools, boarding schools, international schools. Open to all majors; particularly well-suited for those with a subject-matter strength they want to teach. No prior teaching certification typically required for independent schools, and they do accept OPT/CPT for international students.
Why it’s worth knowing
Independent schools hire differently than public schools — there’s no centralized job board, and relationships matter. Carney Sandoe essentially acts as your advocate in that market, connecting you with schools that fit your profile and coaching you through the process at no cost to the candidate. If you’ve ever imagined teaching at a place like Exeter, Andover, or a small international school abroad, this is the most direct path into that world. It’s also worth knowing that independent schools often offer housing, meals, and community in ways that public school positions don’t — particularly at boarding schools.
Timing: Carney Sandoe hires year-round, but the main hiring season runs from January onward. Seniors should begin engaging in the fall to be well-positioned when that window opens.Learn more about Carney Sandoe and follow them on Handshake.
What it is: A nonprofit network of public charter schools across the Northeast, hiring teachers and staff directly into schools that serve students in historically underserved communities.
Who it’s for: Open to all majors; no prior teaching experience required. Positions are based across New York, New Jersey, Massachusetts, and Illinois — candidates should be open to relocating to one of those markets.
Why it’s worth knowing
Uncommon Schools has a strong reputation for teacher development — it’s the kind of place where you’re not just handed a classroom and wished good luck. New teachers go through structured onboarding and ongoing coaching, which makes it a genuinely good first job in education, not just an available one. The mission is explicit: closing the opportunity gap for students who deserve better than the schools they’ve historically been assigned to. If that resonates with you, Uncommon is a community that takes it seriously. Hiring is direct and salaried from day one.
Timing: Recruitment typically ramps up in late winter and early spring for fall placements, with some rolling hiring throughout the year.
Learn more about Uncommon Schools and follow them on Handshake.
What it is: A full-time, 11-month AmeriCorps service year in which corps members serve as student success coaches in under-resourced public schools — supporting students academically, socially, and emotionally alongside classroom teachers.
Who it’s for: U.S. citizens or legal permanent residents between the ages of 17 and 25 who have completed high school or a GED. Open to all majors; no prior education experience required. Currently accepting applications on a rolling basis for the 2026-2027 school year across 29 U.S. sites.
Why it’s worth knowing
City Year sits at the intersection of direct service and professional development — you’re not observing a classroom, you’re in it every day, building real relationships with students and working alongside teachers to make a measurable difference. It’s one of the strongest pipelines into education for students who want meaningful experience before committing to a full teaching role, and the alumni network is substantial. Members receive a bi-weekly living stipend, health insurance, and upon completion, the Segal AmeriCorps Education Award — currently valued at $7,395 — which can be applied to future tuition or existing student loans.
Timing: Applications are reviewed on a rolling basis, with decisions communicated every Thursday. Apply early — positions fill by site.
Learn more about City Year and follow them on Handshake.
What it is: A network of high-performing public charter schools in New York City and Miami, hiring directly into a wide range of roles — from classroom teaching to operations, data, curriculum development, and school administration.
Who it’s for: Open to all majors; no prior teaching experience or certification required for teaching roles. Non-instructional roles welcome candidates with backgrounds in operations, technology, finance, and more. Positions are based in NYC and Miami.
Why it’s worth knowing
Success Academy stands out for both its academic reputation and its breadth of entry points. If you want to be in a classroom, the teaching track is direct and salaried from day one, with daily coaching built in. But if education is the mission and the classroom isn’t your goal, there are meaningful roles in operations, assessment, curriculum, and network support that let you contribute without standing in front of students. It’s a strong proving ground for anyone interested in school leadership or the organizational side of education.
Timing: Hiring is ongoing and direct — no application windows or cohort timelines. Roles are posted continuously at jobs.successacademies.org.
Learn more about Success Academy Charter Schools and follow them on Handshake.
Don’t Overlook Public School Districts
While fellowships and charter networks get most of the visibility, thousands of public school districts across the country hire teachers and staff directly — often on rolling timelines, with competitive salaries, strong benefits, and loan forgiveness programs that private and nonprofit employers can’t match. Many districts are actively recruiting right now.
The challenge is that there’s no single front door. Dartmouth’s Handshake platform is a good starting point — search by location, subject area, or district name. And if you want help thinking through how to approach the public school market, we’re happy to talk it through.
Book a one-on-one appointment with a Career & Life Design Coach!