How to Hire a Teacher

As of July 2020, teacher jobs in the US are moderately competitive compared to other job markets, with an average of 31 job seekers per teacher job.

Why hire a teacher?

Teachers don’t just teach — they inspire, motivate and encourage students to reach their fullest potential. With their in-depth knowledge of effective teaching methods, classroom management strategies, learning standards/objectives and curriculum planning, a great teacher can make a positive impact on students’ lives.

Contributions of a great teacher:

• Develop lesson plans and provide instruction to students
• Create lessons that prepare students for standardized testing
• Serve as a resource for students and their parents to continue education beyond the classroom
• Create a safe and positive classroom environment conducive to learning
• Effectively manage student behavior to reduce disruptions
• Form personal relationships with students and their families
• Make accommodations for differences in student learning styles
• Conduct ongoing assessments of students through formal and informal testing
• Supervise and plan assignments for teaching assistants and volunteers

Deciding between a full-time vs freelance teacher

Before writing a teacher description or interviewing candidates, decide if you need a full-time or freelance, part-time or contract teacher (and what your budget will allow).

Common types of freelance or part-time teachers include tutors, private teachers and substitute teachers. Other freelance teachers work for one or multiple schools on a per-class or per-hour basis — which means they aren’t formal employees of the school. However, many teachers work on a full-time basis to meet the needs of their students.

What are the types of teachers?

When you need to hire a teacher, it’s important to understand the specific type of teacher you need. Do you need someone to teach math to middle school students? Or are you looking for someone that can teach all kinds of subjects to second graders? Here are some of the most common types of teachers:

• Preschool teacher: Typically cares for children from infant to four years of age, teaching them basic skills through both play and structured learning.
• Elementary school teacher: Teaches their students a wide range of subjects, such as English, art, science, math and social studies. Elementary school students are often assigned one grade level, from kindergarten through sixth grade.
• Middle school teacher: Typically instructs students from sixth through eighth grade. Many middle school teachers specialize in just one or two subjects.
• High school teacher: Teaches students in ninth through 12th grade with the primary goal of preparing them for college or the job market.
• English as a Second Language (ESL) teacher: Teaches students who are not fluent in the English language, which means working with students from a wide range of backgrounds and cultures.
• Special education teacher: Works with students who have learning, mental, emotional or physical disabilities.
• Teaching assistant: Gives students additional attention and instruction under a teacher’s supervision. There are teaching assistants at universities (commonly called TAs) and in grade schools.
• Tutor or private teacher: Helps individual students with specific subjects they may be struggling in, assists them with homework and works to improve their academic performance.

Where to find teachers

To find the right teacher for your school or business, consider trying out a few different recruiting strategies:

• Attend teacher job fairs. Connect with teachers looking for jobs by networking at local teacher job fairs.
• Encourage referrals. Ask your current and former teachers if they know anyone who may be a good fit.
• Reach out to recent graduates. Get involved at your local college to find new teacher graduates who are enthusiastic about finding their first job.
• Post your job online. Try posting your teacher job on Indeed to find and attract qualified teacher candidates.

Skills to look for in a great teacher

Teachers are an essential part of any public or private school. With the ability to creatively solve problems, build positive relationships with students and impart knowledge in a that works for a wide range of students, a great teacher candidate will have training and experience that reflect these top teacher skills and qualifications:

• Current teaching certificate
• Bachelor’s degree in education or teaching field
• Excellent presentation and teaching skills
• Knowledge of state standards
• Familiarly with differentiation strategies to supporting individual student strengths and needs
• Strong communication skills
• First aid and CPR certification
• Nurturing teaching style
• Patient, caring and kind
• Excellent time management skills

Writing a teacher job description

A thoughtful description can help find qualified teacher candidates. A teacher job description includes a compelling summary of the role, detailed list of duties and responsibilities, and the required and preferred skills for the position.

To improve the visibility of your teacher job description, consider including keywords that job seekers are using to search for teacher jobs. Here are some of the most popular search terms leading to clicks on teacher jobs, according to Indeed data:

• Teacher
• Education
• Preschool teacher
• Child care
• Teaching
• Online teacher
• Remote work from home
• Online teaching
• Virtual teacher
• Preschool

Interviewing teacher candidates

After you’ve reviewed the resumes of your top teacher candidates, schedule interviews to learn more about their knowledge, skills and experience.Strong candidates for teacher positions will be confident answering questions about the following topics:

• Developing semester-long lesson plans that cover the required content
• Consulting with parents and administration about student development
• Being up to date with current events relevant to topics being taught
• How they approach discipline in the classroom
• Their passion for education and continuous learning

Need help coming up with interview questions? See our list of teacher interview questions for examples (with sample answers).