Pathways: Working at Independent Schools

Many kinds of independent schools educate kids outside the public school system:

• elite boarding schools
• free schools
• international schools
• schools that focus on the needs of a particular kind of student (e.g., children with learning difficulties, girls)
• faith-based or philosophy-based schools

Most independent or private schools in the U.S. and abroad do not require teacher certification. Although independent schools generally pay less than public schools, they generally have smaller class sizes and may allow teachers more freedom to innovate and develop their own curricula.

Many independent schools offer internship or teaching fellow positions that provide support and guidance for new teachers. Often these positions require teaching fewer classes and involve mentoring or other guidance from more experienced faculty. Sometimes the positions are also associated with specific roles at the school, such as coordinating a community service program. A few of these programs also involve graduate school coursework.

Many American-style independent schools abroad that provide private education for American families in the foreign service, foreign corporate offices or local families interested in Western style education. These schools are often less likely to hire new teachers.