Education
The field of education includes teaching, administrative, and coaching positions in public schools and charter schools, independent schools, higher education, summer camps, and adult education. It can also include educational policy, research and consulting; educational non-profits and organizations often related to access and social justice; and educational publishing and technology, as well as a myriad of careers such as museum education, health education, environmental education, and training in businesses and organizations.
The Big Picture
Middlebury alums are college professors, elementary school teachers, high school counselors and speech pathologists, deans, admissions counselors, directors and program coordinators at educational non-profits, educational consultants, editors at university presses, teachers at gap-year and semester programs, environmental educators, nutritionists, museum educators, international educators and more.
And Middlebury students have taken part in thousands of different types of educational internships from Breakthrough Collaborative, to the Department of Education, to Grass Roots Soccer.
What You Can Expect
You could be drawn to work in education if any of the following are true:
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You want to make a difference in people’s lives…
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You love to share information with others…
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You have a passion for a particular subject area…
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You want to influence the next generation…
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You love kids…
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You love researching, writing, and creating knowledge…
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You believe deeply that everyone has a right to be successful…
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You want to influence educational policy…
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You love sports…
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You want to connect people to their environment…
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You are good at mentoring others…
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You want to teach in another country…
Areas of Focus
Education Administration
Graduates can pursue roles in education administration at various levels, such as becoming a school principal, assistant principal, or district superintendent. These positions involve overseeing school operations, curriculum development, staff management, and student services.
Education Policy
Graduates can work in education policy organizations, government agencies, or advocacy groups, where they can contribute to shaping education policies, conducting research, and advocating for educational reforms at the local, state, or national level.
Curriculum Development
Graduates can join educational publishing companies, educational technology firms, or school districts as curriculum developers. They work on designing, evaluating, and implementing instructional materials, programs, and assessments to enhance student learning.
Educational Technology
With the increasing integration of technology in education, graduates can pursue careers in educational technology (sometimes called edtech), including instructional design, e-learning development, educational software development, or educational technology consulting. They can contribute to creating and implementing innovative technological solutions in classrooms and educational settings.
School Counseling
Graduates can become school counselors, providing academic, career, and personal counseling to students. They assist with academic planning, college applications, and social-emotional development, supporting students in their personal and educational growth.
Higher Education
Graduates can explore careers in higher education institutions, working as admissions officers, academic advisors, student affairs professionals, or faculty members. These roles involve supporting students in their academic journey, coordinating programs, and conducting research.
Education Consulting
Graduates can work as education consultants, providing expertise and guidance to schools, districts, or educational organizations. They may focus on areas such as curriculum design, assessment strategies, school improvement initiatives, or educational technology integration.
Adult Education
Graduates can pursue careers in adult education programs, community colleges, or vocational training centers. They can teach adult learners, design training programs, or coordinate workforce development initiatives.
Nonprofit and NGO Work
Graduates can join nonprofit organizations or non-governmental organizations (NGOs) that focus on educational initiatives. These organizations may work in areas such as education access, literacy, education for underprivileged communities, or international education development.
Educational Research
Graduates interested in research can pursue careers in educational research institutions, think tanks, or academic institutions. They can conduct research on various educational topics, contribute to policy discussions, and publish findings to advance the field of education.
Top Resources
Public School Teaching & Administration
Teaching or working at a public school allows you to live anywhere in the U.S. and it helps you be part of the community while giving back and making a difference in children’s lives. Although all 50 states and the District of Columbia require teacher licensure, their rules vary by state. Teaching at a public school right after college may require provisional certification. Here are some resources to get you started.
Summer Teaching Experiences
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Breakthrough Collaborative
The premier pre-professional teacher residency program.
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Generation Teach
They recruit talented and diverse college and college-bound students.
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Upward Bound
Provides fundamental support to participants in their preparation for college entrance.
Public Education Resources
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SchoolSpring
The premier online employment source for educators.
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Nemnet Minority Recruitment
Committed to assisting schools and organizations in the recruitment and retention of diverse teachers, administrators & coaches.
Selected Public School Teacher Preparation/Fellowships and Residencies
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MATCH Corps
Designed to close the Achievement Gap between minority and non-minority students, and economically disadvantaged students.
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Teach Kentucky
Attracting well-qualified college graduates to Louisville, KY, through an Innovative and supportive Teacher Recruitment Program.
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Mississippi Teacher Corps
Provide liberal arts graduates with a structured entry into the teaching profession.
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Teach for America
Trains nearly 2,000 individuals, provides them training during summer institutes, places them as full-time, paid teachers.
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Math for America MfA
A 5-year MfA Fellowship which includes a full tuition scholarship for a master’s degree program and 4-years of teaching in NYC.
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Miami Teaching Fellows
Providing Miami-Dade County with a new group of teachers who will work to increase student achievement.
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NYC Teaching Fellows
A subsidized Master’s degree program
Private School Teaching & Administration
Private schools, also known as independent schools, include both day and boarding schools. Because private schools do not receive tax dollars, removing state requirements, they often have more flexibility in the courses they offer and the curriculum standards they use, and teachers sometimes have more autonomy in the classroom. Teachers and administrators are also often asked to take on additional responsibilities in the lives of their students and school, such as coaching, academic advising, student organization advising, residential life, and more. Here are some resources to get you started.
Independent Schools Summer Teaching Internships (these schools and many others are also great places to work)
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Choate Rosemary Hall
Typically, 30-35 interns are needed (junior status-rising senior)
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Northfield Mount Hermon School Summer Teaching Intern Program
Summer academic program for 7-12 including college prep and ESL
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Groton School Teacher-Intern Program
A coeducational, primarily residential school of 175 boys and 175 girls in grades eight through twelve.
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St. Paul School Summer Teaching Internship
2 internship programs for juniors, seniors and Teaching Fellows program for recent grads.
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Taft Summer School
Summer Teaching Fellows assist in Science, English, and Math courses, but have also been assigned to ESL and Art.
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Woodberry Forest School
The Kenan-Lewis Fellowship Program gives recent college graduates a 2-year appointment to the school's faculty.
Independent School Resources
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Carney, Sandoe and Associates
Provides placement in independent and like schools all over the country and all over the world.
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Educator's Ally
Represent and recruit for boarding and days schools in the Northeast with emphasis on placements in NJ, CT and NYC.
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NEMNET
Committed to assisting schools and organizations in the recruitment and retention of diverse teachers, administrators & coaches.
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Southern Teachers Agency
Placement in PK-12 in US Southern States. Job fairs are also scheduled in Orlando and Charlottesville.
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Cal/West Educators Placement
Placement in independent, private, and charter schools throughout CA and other western states.
Higher Education
Higher Education in the U.S. refers to a variety of both public and private institutions of post-secondary education. Positions in higher education fall into the larger general categories of faculty (teaching/research), and administration, which can be anything from deans, admissions counselors, human resource officers, etc. Most faculty positions require a Doctoral degree and include teaching, research and advising responsibilities. Some positions, such as adjunct or positions at community colleges may only require a master’s degree. Here are some resources to get you started.
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Higher Education Jobs
Database with jobs in higher education.
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The Chronicle of Higher Education
Weekly news and job-information source for college and university faculty members, administrators, and students.
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Inside Higher Ed
The leading digital media company serving Higher Education Careers.
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NASPA
The leading association for the advancement, health, and sustainability of the student affairs profession.
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The Placement Exchange
The definitive resource for the Student Affairs job placement process.
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Higher Education Recruitment Consortium (HERC)
A non-profit consortium of over 700 colleges, universities, hospitals, research labs, and government agencies.
Education Nonprofits
Working at an educational non-profit or NGO may be a good way to combine your interest in education with wanting to do something good for the world. Non-profits are tax-exempt organizations that are typically mission-driven to serve the public interest. Those focused on education are often involved in educational access and social justice issues. Here are some examples to get you started.
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826 Valencia
Dedicated to supporting under-resourced students ages 6-18 with their creative and expository writing skills.
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Practice
A New York City-based B-Corp that partners with principals, teachers and parents to close the opportunity gap in urban schools.
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City Year
An AmeriCorps national service program 10-months of service focusing on civic leadership, team building and mobililization.
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Girls Who Code
Girls Who Code was founded with a single mission: to close the gender gap in technology.
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Girls on the Run
Inspires girls to be joyful, healthy and confident using a fun, experience-based curriculum which creatively integrates running.
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The Dream Project
Committed to improving educational opportunities for children in rural areas and small communities in the Dominican Republic.
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Broadway for All
Our mission is to transform the American stage and screen to reflect the diversity of America.
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Great Books
A nonprofit educational organization that creates reading and discussion programs for students and adults.
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Center for Talent Development
Ensures gifted students receive the education, encouragement and support they need to feel confident and accomplished.
Education Research/Policy
Jobs in educational research or policy might have you working at a think tank, government agency, NGO, consulting firm, law office, publishing house, library, etc.
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Rural Education Action Project
An impact evaluation organization that aims to inform sound education, health and nutrition policy in China.
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Institute for Educational Leadership
IEL serves as a catalyst that helps policymakers, administrators, and practitioners at all levels to bridge bureaucratic silos.
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The Education Trust
A nonprofit that works to close opportunity gaps that affect students of color and students from low-income families.
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The New Teacher Project
Provide excellent teachers to the students who need them most and by advancing practices that ensure effective teaching.
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Yale Center for Emotional Intelligence
The Center conducts research and teaches people of all ages how to develop their emotional intelligence.
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Center for Collaborative Education
CCE’s mission is to transform schools to ensure that all students succeed.
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U.S. Department of Education
Offers internships for students seeking work experience in government and federal education policy and administration.
International Education
Teaching oversees is an opportunity to combine your interest in teaching with living in another country. Many opportunities do not require a teaching certificate, especially those involving teaching English. Other opportunities may require teacher certification and previous teaching experience. NGOs might provide another way to seek non-teaching educational positions oversees. Here are some resources to get you started.
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Teach Abroad
Opportunities around the globe: teaching, internships, volunteer, Eco/adventure, US universities abroad.
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Peace Corps
Education is the Peace Corps’ largest program area. You can earn your Teaching English as a Foreign Language (TEFL) certificate.
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NALCAP: North American Language and Culture Assistants Program in Spain
A 9-month educational outreach program sponsored by the Ministry of Education of Spain through the Embassy of Spain in the U.S.
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Search Associates
Places over 1000 teachers, administrators and interns in international schools throughout the world.
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Transitions Abroad
THE Web portal for Work Abroad, Study Abroad, Cultural Travel Overseas, and International Living.
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International School Services
The world’s leader in providing a comprehensive range of educational services for schools, educators, families and corporations.
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Footprints Recruiting
The world’s largest ESL employment agency focused on placing great teachers in great teaching opportunities.
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TEFL
TEFL vigorously supports and promote the development of English Language Teaching as a global enterprise.
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TESOL
Represents teachers, administrators, researchers, and other English language teaching professionals worldwide.
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United World College
Schools and colleges in 16 countries and consists of more than 60,000 alumni and other members in virtually every country.
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Bosnia Initiative for Local Development
Includes education and community service projects focused on helping young people succeed and helping families and communities.
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EPIK-English Program in Korea
A unique teaching opportunity sponsored by the Korean Ministry of Education. Teach English to Korean students and teachers.
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Japan Exchange and Teaching Program
Help enhance internationalization in Japan by promoting mutual understanding between Japan and other nations.
Outdoor/Experiential Education
Educators who want to teach outside of the walls of a classroom might be interested in environmental education or other experiential education which might include travel education, camps, and gap-year or semester programs. Here are some examples to get you started.
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Overland Travel
Summer travel adventures with high school students in the U.S. and internationally led by college-aged students.
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EXPLO
Exploration Summer Programs held on the campuses of Yale, Wellesley, and Wheaton.
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Where There Be Dragons
Dedicated to cross-cultural education, offering summer, gap-year, and semester programs.
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Chewonki Semester School
A Maine Coast Semester that challenges students to break through classroom walls and not just learn, but do.
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Road Scholar - formerly known as Elderhostel
Dedicated to lifelong learning, meeting new people, touching history where it happened, and delving deep into the cultures.
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Shelburne Farms
They use their food and farming practices to educate others about sustainable agriculture and shared connections to the soil.
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Hurricane Island Outward Bound School
Based on an island in Maine, this Outward Bound program engages college students looking for wilderness adventure.
Stories from the Field
To learn more about potential career roles, see the following resources in which alums share their career experiences.
futureforward
futureforward features several alumni and parents who are leaders in a variety of career fields, discussing their industry’s current environment, their perspective on the future outlook for that career field, and action steps students can take now to position themselves for entry into those career fields.
MIDDVantage
MIDDVantage is a virtual career exploration program that offers Middlebury students and alumni—through the perspective of Middlebury alumni and guests—exposure to fields of interest.
Live from DC
Live From D.C. is a live webinar designed to engage guest speakers in a number of career fields in discussions about topics of interest driven by current events, frequently having policy implications and an array of career opportunity dynamics.