The leadership development organization Teach for America, will visit Puerto Rico on February 19 and 20 to interview and inform prospective teachers about joining the Teach For America corps in Connecticut, where Puerto Ricans make up 8% of the population — that's over 300,000 residents.
Teach for America is dedicated to recruiting university graduates to serve as teachers for at least two years in public schools with limited resources, all with the purpose of expanding excellent educational opportunities to all children.
The program welcomes candidates with a bachelor’s degree in any discipline, including those set to graduate this May.
Over the course of two years, corps members are employed by school partners across the state, which provide them with a salary and benefits, and complete their master's degree.
Through Teach For America Connecticut, participants may be placed in New Haven Public Schools, Hartford Public Schools, Achievement First, Elevate, or Capital Prep Harbor. Corps members are placed based on their interest and meeting the requirements necessary to obtain a durational shortage area permit or resident educator certificate in the state of Connecticut; the primary requirement being 12 credits in the content area.
New Haven Public Schools (NHPS), one of Teach For America Connecticut's partners, are led by Puerto Rican superintendent Madeline Negrón, who was born in San Lorenzo, Puerto Rico. NHPS includes 41 schools serving a diverse student population of 19,000.
About 50.5% of the students are Hispanic or Latino, primarily of Puerto Rican descent, 31.4% are Black, and the remaining students are White, Asian, or Native American. Moreover, 8.7% of teachers come from nonwhite ethnic backgrounds.
Teach For America representatives shared that the areas with the greatest demand are Special Education, Mathematics, and Science.
In Connecticut, the average starting salary for new teachers and those working toward certification is $56,000 a year, while the average educator salary is $86,511, one of the highest in the United States.
This is largely because Connecticut is among the states with the highest cost of living in the nation. Depending on the teacher's education or experience, the annual salary could reach up to $102,000.
Separately, Hartford Public Schools are also recruiting specialized teachers, offering a $5,000 incentive and a 3% base salary increase for those who relocate to the city.
Participants also receive a health plan, life insurance, mentorship from the staff at their assigned school, portable equipment, and "a good pension," along with other benefits.
Ready to apply?
Both in-person orientation and recruitment sessions will take place at two University of Puerto Rico (UPR) campuses:
Job Fair at UPR Bayamón
- Date: Thursday, February 19
- Time: 9:00 a.m. to 12:00 p.m.
- Location: Student Center Multipurpose Room
Spring Job Fair at UPR Mayagüez
- Date: Friday, February 20
- Time: 8:30 a.m. to 3:00 p.m.
- Location: Rafael A. Mangual Coliseum
- Registration
Consultant Daniel Díaz Rivera encourages interested candidates to register in advance by calling 1 (203) 787-2783 or emailing dhiramdiaz@gmail.com.
Díaz Rivera also shared that the New Haven school district will attend the Annual Job Fair at UPR Río Piedras on March 25 to recruit teachers. Additionally, NHPS is working on an agreement with UPR Mayagüez to expand professional opportunities for educators across both territories.
