Careers in Education – Center for Career and Professional Development

Thinking about teaching or working in education? This page brings together resources, advice, and opportunities to help you explore roles in K–12 and beyond as well as how to prepare if you decide to pursue them.

Is Teaching Right for You?

Education can be meaningful, community-focused work. It also asks for patience, resilience, and strong communication. Before committing to a pathway, reflect on your motivations, explore multiple roles, and compare routes to certification.

Questions to Ask Yourself

Why am I drawn to working with students or schools?
Which ages or subjects energize me most?
Do I enjoy planning, explaining, coaching, and adapting on the fly?
What settings appeal to me: public, charter, independent, or community-based programs?

Education Career Paths

Classroom & School-Based Roles

Certified Teacher (Elementary/Secondary): subject/grade-band instruction; licensed.
Special Education, ESL/ELL, Reading Intervention: targeted support roles; licensed.
Paraeducator/Instructional Aide: classroom support; often no license required.
School Counseling, Psychology, Social Work: student services; graduate training/licensure.

Education-Adjacent Paths (No Teaching License Required)

After-School & Youth Development (nonprofits, community centers)
College Access & Success Programs (advising, mentoring)
Ed-Tech & Curriculum Publishing
Policy & Advocacy (districts, state agencies, nonprofits)

Ways to Explore Education

Tutor, mentor, coach, or work as a teaching assistant. Please check out the opportunities the Center for Civic Engagement manages within our local community, such as CAPS, Club Grub, El Sol elementary, KLIP, Swim For Success, and more!
Do a job shadow or have a career conversation with alumni educators via KConnect.
Apply for school/district internships or after-school programs through Handshake.
Attend panels or workshops with local educators.
Consider substitute teaching.

Substitute Teaching & Paraprofessional Roles

Working as a substitute teacher or substitute paraprofessional is one of the best ways to explore K–12 education while you’re still in college or right after graduation. These roles help you gain classroom experience, build professional references, and decide whether you’d like to pursue full teacher certification later.

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Substitute Teaching in Kalamazoo County

Most local school districts use EDUStaff to hire and manage guest (substitute) teachers. You’ll complete the online application, required training modules, and onboarding through EDUStaff.org. Visit KRESA’s Guest Substitute Teaching page to learn more.

Qualifications:

At least 60 college credit hours from an accredited 2- or 4-year college or university (at K, this typically means Junior status)
An official college transcript (copy of the official transcript is acceptable)
OR a valid or expired Michigan teaching certificate (expired certificates qualify for a substitute permit)

Participating Kalamazoo County School Districts:
EDUStaff enrollment is required for all substitute teachers working in:

Climax-Scotts Community Schools
Comstock Public Schools
Galesburg-Augusta Community Schools
Gull Lake Community Schools
Kalamazoo Public Schools
Kalamazoo RESA
Parchment School District
Portage Public Schools
Schoolcraft Community Schools
Vicksburg Community Schools

Tip: Substitute assignments are flexible and can range from day-to-day placements to long-term roles. It’s a paid way to build experience in classrooms and explore different grade levels.

Compensation: typically $110–160/day depending on district and role.

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Substitute Paraprofessional Opportunities

Paraprofessionals (often called “paras” or “teaching assistants”) work alongside teachers to support individual students or small groups.

Qualifications:

High school diploma, GED, or equivalent
Willingness to work with students

Why it’s valuable:

Great preparation for graduate or certification programs in education, counseling, or special education

Provides hands-on experience in classroom management and student support

Routes to Initial Teacher Certification

Do you want to start teaching right away in the state of Michigan? Do you want to pursue teacher certification in other states? How about traditional certification/master’s programs? Here are three common paths K students take:

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Path 1: Post-Bachelor’s Certification or Master’s Programs (State of Michigan)

These are university-based teacher-prep programs that include both coursework and supervised student teaching. They provide a structured pathway for those who want deeper preparation.

Typically takes 12–24 months to complete.
Leads directly to a Standard Teaching Certificate in that state.
Often available as either a post-bachelor’s certificate or a master’s degree + certification.

Examples:

University of Michigan – Master of Arts in Secondary Teacher Certification
Western Michigan University – Teacher Education Pathways and Post-Bac Initial Teacher Certification
Oakland University – Master of Arts in Teaching with Certification

Scholarships / Incentives

WMU Grow Your Own Teacher Education Program: fully-funded bachelor’s or master’s degree from WMU.
MI Future Educator Fellowship: scholarship to lower or eliminate tuition costs while you train to become a teacher.

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Path 2: Alternative Route Programs (Work + Train Model, State of Michigan)

Want to start teaching right away? Alternative route programs let you begin in the classroom while completing certification requirements.

Enroll with an MDE-approved alternate-route provider such as Michigan Teachers of Tomorrow, University of Michigan M-ARC program and others (see full list at MDE)
Pass the relevant MTTC exam(s) and complete preservice training.
Earn an Interim Teaching Certificate (ITC) and begin teaching full time.
While teaching, finish coursework and mentoring through your provider.
After about 3 years of successful teaching, you can move to a Standard Teaching Certificate.

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Path 3: Certification in Other States

Some K graduates pursue certification outside Michigan. Each state has its own process, but most offer alternative routes or post-bac programs for people with a bachelor’s degree.

Expect state-specific exams (Praxis, edTPA, or state-developed tests).
Reciprocity exists between states, but moving usually requires extra steps.
Start by checking the Department of Education website for the state where you want to teach.

Helpful resources: Teach.org, AAEE Job Search Handbook for Educators.

National Service Pathways in Education

Some students choose to explore education through national service programs before (or instead of) pursuing teacher certification. These experiences provide intensive training, professional development, and a chance to make an immediate impact.

Teach For America (TFA)

Two-year commitment as a full-time classroom teacher in an under-resourced school.
Fellows earn a salary and benefits, and receive training plus ongoing coaching.
In many regions, TFA partners with universities so participants can earn state certification or graduate credits while serving.
Highly selective, with an emphasis on leadership development and equity.
Alumni often go on to roles in teaching, education policy, nonprofits, and beyond.

City Year (AmeriCorps)

One year of service in urban schools, supporting students with tutoring, mentoring, and after-school programs.
Members receive a living stipend, education award, and training.
A good fit for those who want school-based experience before deciding on certification.

Other AmeriCorps & Service Year Options

Reading Corps / Math Corps – intensive literacy or math intervention programs.
College access & success programs – advising and mentoring students on postsecondary pathways.
Local AmeriCorps placements – community-based education and youth development.

Teaching Residency Programs

Teaching fellowships are offered across the country, especially in major cities. Most run for a year or more and often include a built-in pathway to teacher certification. Many also partner with universities so you can earn a master’s in education while you teach. Pay is usually comparable to a first-year teacher’s salary.