Teacher for Hire: Tips for Finding Summer Employment

One of the nice things about being a teacher is that you get summers off. One of the not so nice things about being a teacher is that you get summers off. What I mean is that even though I am not teaching I still have to provide for my family. Most school districts will spread the pay through the summer months, but I have had several hard summers in districts that did not. Either way, the pay during the year is so low that I can't really afford to take two months off not working. So I, like many teachers, am looking for summer employment, once again.

Here are some things that I have picked up along the way that help me find summer employment that is better than washing windows, cleaning carpets, or working at a thrift store (all of which I have done as a teacher to keep my family solvent).

1. Update your resume. While we might consider our education skills as transferable to many areas, others will not unless we communicate in language that they use:

• Classroom discipline = management experience
• Handling angry parents = customer service
• Lesson planning = project management
• Assessment = quality control
• Teaching = training
• Excellent test scores = excellent motivator

2. Some educational institutions are year-round. For example, here are some positions you might consider that use your education skills:

• If you have a master's degree and at least 18 hours of credits in the subject you want to teach: Colleges, universities, career colleges and more and more online colleges are looking for adjunct faculty. I taught for the University of Phoenix for eight years and several junior colleges and even a career college
• Many parents are looking for tutoring help for their children during the summer. There are a number of tutoring organizations you might look into or you could just hang out your own shingle as a tutor
• Testing companies like the College Board, ACT, Pearson, and ETS are always looking for subject matter experts to write questions or grade responses
• Textbook and software companies are actively seeking teachers to create, evaluate, and sell their products
• Colleges and universities have summer programs that require people with experience in handling students (i.e. teachers)
• Museums and art galleries like hiring teachers to be docents
• Amusement parks usually have education departments that need help during the summer months
• Magazines, newspapers, and online periodicals are always looking for educational articles to publish

3. Network. Spread the word that you are looking for part-time work. I have found several jobs doing just that on Linkedin, for example.

4. Finally, there is always summer school.

While it would be nice not having to find extra work, it is reassuring to know that there are jobs out there that can use a good, hardworking teacher. I just have to find them. So, I guess it's time to rework that resume again. If you know of any jobs for teachers looking for part time summer work, or have any other tips for landing one, please share in the comments section below.