Finding Employment

We are happy to report that over 90% of NC TEACHers successfully find employment during or after completion of the program.  Remember that patience and flexibility are key when searching for any job.  The following may be helpful to review while thinking about steps to take in securing employment as a teacher in North Carolina. 

When should I start looking for a teaching position?
You should begin your search for a teaching position in a North Carolina public school (including charter schools) as soon as possible. Each school district has its own hiring timelines and protocols so it is always wise to contact them directly to learn more about their guidelines.  NC TEACH is available to guide and assist participants in their search for employment; however, participants must assume primary responsibility for obtaining a teaching position. 

Where should I begin to look for a teaching position?
It is always wise to contact school districts directly (in person or by phone) as websites may not have all of the most current information regarding new openings at a given school district.

Also, always remember that personal connections are very helpful when searching for employment.  Make sure you check with school administrators or the systems human resource department about guidelines for contacting principals directly. 

The NC Department of Public Instruction has information on job listings and provides links to school district websites. 

Where can I find a list of NC School Districts and their contact information?
Please go to the NC Department of Public Instruction website for a list of all of the public schools and a directory of contacts for all of the public schools in North Carolina.

Where can I find information about job fairs for NC schools?
School districts often have job fairs at specific times during the year and can be contacted directly to learn more about when these are held. They are usually scheduled in the spring after they have been able to determine projected staff needs for the next year. These projections may be made based upon numbers of teachers moving, retiring, numbers of students leaving or moving into the district, or a combination of these factors. 

Information about local job fairs is also posted on the NC Department of Public Instruction website.

What will my starting salary be?
Salaries will vary from school district to school district because a local supplement may be added to the base state salary.  Please refer to the NC Public School Salary Schedule for specific information regarding starting base salaries and local supplements for teachers in North Carolina. You may also contact specific school districts to learn about the local supplement percentage which is added to the base salary. 

Years of experience in a previous career may be considered when determining your salary and you are encouraged to find out about this by contacting the licensure representative at your school district once you have been offered a position.  Forms and instructions needed to apply for obtaining credit for your non-teaching experience are available through the personnel office of your employing school district.  You are strongly encouraged to pursue this process via your school district’s licensure officer.  He or she will know best how to proceed.  The NC Department of Public Instruction makes the decision as to whether your non-teaching experience will apply toward teaching experience.

Do some licensure areas get hired before others?
Yes, this is often true. Placement of teachers that are licensed in the high need areas of mathematics, science, and exceptional children (special education) are placed more easily than social studies and English teachers, due to supply and demand issues in North Carolina (and the nation).  NC TEACHers are employed in over 150 schools in 85 school districts in North Carolina.

Tips
Look for a school that best fits you and your skill set. Consider the following when deciding if a school is a good fit for you:

Employment Resources

NC Department of Public Instruction Employment & Licensure

North Carolina Center for Recruitment & Retention

Troops-to-Teachers

Information for NC TEACHers Seeking Positions

Our website will soon include a feature for NC TEACHers seeking employment that will connect you with NC School Districts (LEAs) seeking teachers.  The information you will share on the form will go into a database for LEAs to search when looking for applicants to apply for open positions.This feature will be available very soon.