Becoming a high school English teacher is a rewarding career path that allows you to share your passion for language, literature, and education with the next generation. As an English teacher, you’ll play a critical role in developing your students’ reading, writing, and critical thinking skills– essential abilities that will serve them well throughout their academic and professional lives.
To become a high school English teacher, you must earn a bachelor’s degree in English or a related field, complete a teacher preparation program, obtain a teaching license, and gain classroom experience through student teaching.
In addition to strong content knowledge, you need diverse skills to help you create an inclusive classroom environment. You also need to be passionate about working with adolescents and dedicated to helping them grow as readers, writers, and critical thinkers.
This comprehensive guide will walk you through the key steps and requirements for becoming a high school English teacher, from choosing a degree program to landing your first teaching position.
Reasons To Consider Becoming a High School English Teacher
Teaching English in high school is a great career choice that allows you to shape students’ critical thinking and communication skills, essential for their future success.
The profession offers job stability, benefits, and the chance to make a meaningful impact on the next generation.
Let’s look at some reasons to become a high school English teacher:
1. Job security
Do you want a career that guarantees a long-term contract? Teaching English would be a great fit.
Education is a basic service, and English is a core subject, meaning there’s a consistent demand for English teachers. Even during economic hard times, teaching is hardly ever affected, and school districts strive to maintain staffing levels.
Beyond classroom teaching, you can also explore roles in curriculum development, educational administration, and tutoring to further diversify your career opportunities.
2. Career progression
As a high school English teacher, you have several avenues for advancement. Here are some potential career regression paths:
- Curriculum developer: If you have a passion for creating learning experiences and you enjoy working with subject matter experts, this role might be for you. You’ll design, create, and implement educational programs and learning objectives, select instructional materials, develop assessments, and ensure alignment with educational standards.
- Instructional coach: If you enjoy working with teachers, this role allows you to directly impact student learning by improving teacher performance. You’ll support teachers by improving their instructional practices and offering professional development.
- Department chair: This role provides an opportunity to influence departmental direction and contribute to school improvement by overseeing curriculum development, teacher evaluation, scheduling, and budget management.
- School administrator: As a school administrator, you’ll be responsible for the overall management and operation of a school. This includes student discipline, staff supervision, budget management, and community relations.
To advance in your career, you can consider additional qualifications and professional development courses such as Educational Leadership and Management, Curriculum Design and Development, Instructional Technology, and Special Education.
You can also consider taking a master’s degree program such as Master of Arts in Teaching (MAT), Master of Education (MEd) in English Education, or Master’s in Curriculum and Instruction.
Your career progression as a high school English teacher also depends on your interests, skills, and career goals.
3. Lifelong learning
Education is a dynamic and evolving profession. To remain effective and relevant, continuous learning is essential. This helps you stay updated on the latest pedagogical approaches, educational trends, and student needs.
As an English teacher, you’ll participate in workshops, conferences, and online courses, or evenpursue advanced degrees. You’ll also engage in self-directed learning through reading, research, and collaboration with colleagues.
Besides improving student outcomes, lifelong learning enriches your professional and personal life by giving you a deeper understanding of the world.
4. In-demand profession
Teaching English in high school is a highly sought-after profession because:
- English is a core subject: English is a fundamental subject that lays the groundwork for students’ academic success in other disciplines.
- College preparation: English language skills are crucial for success on standardized tests like the SAT and ACT, which are often required for college admission.
- A broad range of opportunities: English teachers can pursue careers in education, writing, editing, publishing, law, and many other fields.
- Transferable skills: The skills developed as an English teacher, such as communication, critical thinking, and organization, are valuable in various professional settings.
5. Making a difference
As a teacher of English, you can positively impact the lives of your students and the broader community in several ways. For example, you can advocate for increased funding for education to ensure that all students have access to quality education.
You also foster a love of learning by creating engaging and inspiring lessons that encourage students to develop a passion for reading, writing, and language.
You can promote cultural understanding by incorporating diverse literature and perspectives into your curriculum to help students develop empathy and appreciation for different cultures.
English teachers also build critical thinking skills by teaching students to analyze information, evaluate arguments, and express their ideas effectively.
6. Creativity
You can design innovative and engaging lessons that captivate students’ interest. You can explore diverse literary works, experiment with various teaching methods, and incorporate creative writing projects, all of which make your classroom interesting and dynamic .
This creativity enhances student engagement and keeps your teaching experience fresh and fulfilling.
7. Salary benefits
Teaching English offers competitive salary benefits, making it an attractive career choice for many. You can enjoy generous paid time off benefits, including vacation, sick leave, and professional development days.
Also, most public schools and school districts offer health insurance benefits as part of their compensation package, with the school district or state covering some or all of the premium costs. However, the health insurance coverage and how much you’ll pay out-of-pocket will vary from state to state.
8. Flexible schedule
Becoming a high school English teacher offers a flexible schedule, particularly with time off during holidays and summers, allowing for personal pursuits, professional development, or rest.
While the school day is structured, you’ll often have control over how you plan lessons and manage your time outside of class, offering a degree of flexibility and a great work-life balance.
High School English Teacher Job Definition
Put simply, a high school English teacher instructs students in grades 9-12 on language arts, including literature, writing, grammar, and critical thinking, to develop their communication skills and analytical abilities.
As a high school English teacher, you should be able to teach creative composition, which consists of prose, poetry, short stories, and narratives.
You may also be required to teach more technical lessons, such as writing news articles, reports, journals, and essays. You should also challenge students to think critically, as well as advance their problem-solving skills.
English teachers in K-12 public or private schools are also responsible for making lesson plans that fit into the approved curriculum set by the school. They should pay attention to their student’s performance and offer support when needed to fit the state standards.
High School English Teacher Skills
As a high school English teacher, you need a diverse skill set to effectively guide students in understanding, analyzing, and appreciating literature, language, and composition.
These skills are essential for encouraging your students to appreciate critical thinking, clear communication, and a lifelong love of learning in your students.
As we’ve seen, teachers embrace lifelong learning by attending workshops, conferences, and online courses, etc, all of which can help you develop these skills.
Let’s look at the skills you need as an English high school teacher:
- Organizational skills: You’ll need to organize a weekly schedule to ensure that all topics are covered and prevent the class from getting off track.
- Communication skills: Communication skills help you build strong relationships with students, foster a positive learning environment, and provide clear explanations and feedback
- Presentation skills: This skill is crucial to deliver dynamic and informative lessons that capture student’s attention and make learning enjoyable.
- Empathy: You’ll be able to identify and address students’ styles, challenges, and emotional needs.
- Writing skills: You need to craft clear, compelling lesson plans, create engaging instructional materials, and provide constructive feedback on student work. Strong writing abilities also model effective communication for your students, helping them develop their own writing skills and express their ideas coherently and persuasively.
- Leadership: This skill helps you manage disruptive behavior and create a conducive classroom
School English Teacher Responsibilities
High school English teachers play multiple roles that extend beyond the classroom. Their responsibilities include lesson planning, student assessment, curriculum development, etc.
Let’s look at the main responsibilities you’ll be expected to handle as a high school English teacher:
- Organize classroom lectures and coursework: You’ll make sure lectures and coursework are aligned with standards set by the district and school.
- Prepare materials and activities: You create and organize instructional resources, such as lesson plans, worksheets, and engaging exercises, to better your students’ learning experiences and support their understanding of literature and language.
- Assign homework and interesting exercises: This involves giving students tasks that reinforce classroom learning, stimulate their critical thinking, and engage their interest in literature and language outside of class.
- Identify students with special requirements and create individualized plans: Not all students learn the same. For those who may have special requirements, work with them to come up with study plans so they don’t fall behind or feel discouraged.
- Determine exam and assignment grades: You must set a standard for the classroom and a grading rubric that takes different criteria into account. You should be able to grade assignments and exams on an equal basis for students.
- Provide feedback based on workload and classroom behavior: This entails evaluating students’ assignments and participation to offer constructive comments that help them improve academically and maintain positive conduct.
- Keep a record of students’ attendance and grades: You track and document each student’s presence and academic performance to monitor progress and ensure accurate reporting.
- Research new language teaching methods: As a teacher, you should constantly be pushing yourself to evolve your ways of educating. Discover new language teaching methods and consider implementing them in the classroom.
- Manage classroom crises and resolve conflict: This involves addressing and de-escalating disruptions or disagreements among students to maintain a productive and respectful learning environment.
- Inform parents about their children’s performance: You will regularly update parents on their child’s academic progress, strengths, and areas for improvement to encourage collaboration and support.
- Collaborate with teaching staff and administrators to foster a good student experience: It’s important for students to feel like they are part of a united community. One way you can contribute to this is by collaborating with other colleagues. This is a great way to network, learn from one another, and make friends.
Steps to Becoming a High School English Teacher
To become a high school English teacher, you must take several key steps to ensure you are well-prepared to educate and inspire students.
From obtaining the necessary qualifications to gaining practical experience, here is the pathway you need to follow:
1. Earn a bachelor’s degree in English
In order to teach at the secondary level, you’ll need to complete a bachelor’s degree program in English or other related fields like education or literature.
As part of your bachelor’s program, you’ll complete coursework on teaching methods, classroom management, curriculum development, and other educational theories and practices. You must also complete a state-approved teacher preparation program.
A bachelor’s degree provides you with a strong foundation in English so you can effectively teach learners. If you’re interested in teaching non-native English-speaking students between grades K-12, you may need to pursue a degree in English as a second language(ESL).
2. Pass the required tests
Once you have finished a teacher education program, you will likely need to take a standardised Praxis test. This test is designed to measure one’s basic skills or knowledge in a specific subject area.
Some states may require the Praxis I before you begin your teacher education program, while others require both the Praxis I and Praxis II.
3. Gain in-classroom experience.
Most states require teaching candidates to obtain teaching experience under the supervision of a licensed teacher. It provides you with the opportunity to apply your theoretical knowledge in a real-world classroom setting and gain valuable practical experience.
By gaining in-classroom experience through student teaching, you strengthen your teaching skills, build your confidence, and increase your chances of success as a high school English teacher.
Even if your state doesn’t require a formal student teaching placement, volunteering in a classroom can provide you with valuable experience and exposure to teaching practice.
4. Get your teaching license.
After you have completed your bachelor’s degree, you will need to obtain your teaching certification before you are allowed to teach in the classroom. All public schools require certification. However, if you are looking to work in a private school, the requirements may vary based on the school.
Having a teaching license means you have met the standards set by your state’s education department and are qualified to teach.
With your bachelor’s degree and having completed the necessary exams and student teaching, you will need to apply for a teaching license to your state’s education department. You’ll be required to provide transcripts, test scores, references, and other required documents.
As part of the licensing process, you’ll be required to undergo a background check and fingerprinting to ensure that you have no criminal record that would disqualify you from teaching. Your state will review your application and issue you a teaching license.
High School English Teacher Salary & Job Outlook
The high school English teacher’s salary and outlook can vary based on location and amount of education earned.
On average, high school English teachers make $50,369 per year, or $24.22 per hour, in the United States. Those on the lower 10% of that spectrum make about $37,00 a year, while the top 10% make $67,000.
The states where high school English teachers make the most money are Maryland, New York, New Jersey, Rhode Island, and Massachusetts.
The employment of high school teachers is expected to grow, showing little or no change from 2022 to 2032. However, about 67,100 openings for high school teachers are projected each year, on average, over the decade.
Should I become a High School English Teacher?
Becoming an English teacher in the United States offers a rewarding and fulfilling career path. As a high school English teacher, you play a role in shaping students’ critical thinking, communication, and analytical skills. Your work has a profound impact on students’ academic and personal success.
As a high school English teacher, you ignite students’ passion for literature, language, and writing, fostering a lifelong love of learning.
There are several ways to determine whether becoming a high school English teacher is the right choice for you:
- You like helping others: Do you enjoy mentoring younger students and guiding them through challenges? Do you find satisfaction in seeing them succeed?
- You love teaching: Do you have a natural ability to explain complex concepts clearly? If you enjoy sharing your knowledge and inspiring others, this career may be a perfect fit.
- You are a social person: You enjoy interacting with people from diverse backgrounds and building relationships. You also thrive in social settings and enjoy group activities.
- You’re patient and kind: You have a calm demeanor and can handle stressful situations with patience and understanding. You’re also compassionate and empathetic toward others.
- You love talking about your passion: You’re always excited to share your enthusiasm for English literature, writing, and language with others. You must enjoy discussing books, poems, and writing techniques.
Taking the Next Step
If you’re passionate about education, literature, and making a positive impact on young lives, consider becoming a high school English teacher.
High school teachers (and teachers in general) are responsible for raising the next generation of youth—teachers shape and nurture the intellectual and emotional growth throughout the generation.
This career offers several benefits, including the opportunity to impact students’ lives, a stable job market, and the chance for ongoing professional growth. High school English teachers also enjoy a flexible schedule, creative freedom in lesson planning, and the ability to foster critical thinking and a love for literature.
At Teachers of Tomorrow, we can help you become a high school English teacher through the alternative certification program. If you already have a degree in another field, you can pursue teacher certification through this route.
