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How to Become a Teacher in Jacksonville

The Duval County Public Schools (DCPS) school district administers public schools in Jacksonville, which have an estimated 129,000 students and over 8,000 teachers.1 To work as a teacher in the public school system, you will need to be certified by the Florida Department of Education. This process requires a bachelor’s degree and successful completion of an educator preparation program and content exams. Private and charter schools often have their own requirements, which are discussed in our Private and Charter Schools in Jacksonville section. Keep reading to find out more about teaching in Jacksonville.

Jacksonville Teacher Certification Requirements

Jacksonville public school teachers must be certified to teach by the state of Florida. There are many routes to teacher certification in Florida. The traditional path is to complete a bachelor’s degree program that includes a teacher preparation component and apply directly for certification. If you have an out-of-state teaching certification, you may also be able to apply for Florida certification by reciprocity. See the Florida certification page for more information.

Alternatively, if you have a bachelor’s degree but did not complete teacher preparation you can also apply for temporary certification or an alternative preparation program that will help you gain real classroom teaching experience and complete the requirements while you work towards full certification. See our Florida alternative certification page for more information.

Teacher Certification Programs in Jacksonville

The Jacksonville-area colleges and universities listed below offer teacher preparation programs that can qualify you for first-time certification or for additional endorsements if you are already certified. You can also visit our Florida schools page to learn more about certification programs in the state.

  • Edward Waters College
  • Flagler College
  • Florida State College at Jacksonville
  • Jacksonville University
  • St. Johns River State College
  • University of North Florida


Jacksonville School District Steps for Becoming a Teacher

Teachers in Jacksonville must have a Professional Florida Educator’s Certificate issued by the Florida Department of Education. To earn this certificate, you will need to complete a bachelor’s degree and approved teacher preparation program, complete an approved alternative educator program, or have out-of-state credentials reviewed for equivalency. See our certification section for more information. If you have been certified, you can follow the steps below to look for jobs with Duval County Public Schools.

Step 1: Complete the online application.

First you should complete the online application and submit your transcripts, proof of certification, and resume. Once your application is complete, you will be able to apply for open positions throughout the district.

Step 2: Attend an interview with school officials.

Schools will contact you individually if your application matches their requirements. You will likely be asked to attend an interview with school officials to see if you are a good match for the school and job. You may also be asked to bring additional documents, such as sample lesson plans or exercises.

Step 3: Complete the hiring process.

If the school would like to hire you for the position, the principal must submit an employment eligibility review form to the school board to ensure you meet the requirements for the position. You will then attend an individual orientation to complete administrative and human resources details and a two-day new teacher orientation with other new hires before your first day of school.

Contact Information

Duval County Public Schools
Facebook: https://www.facebook.com/duvalschools/
Twitter: https://twitter.com/DuvalSchools

1701 Prudential Dr
Jacksonville, FL 32207
(904) 390-2000
https://dcps.duvalschools.org/

How to Become a Substitute Teacher with the Jacksonville School District

ESS, a third-party service provider, manages substitute teaching positions on behalf of Duval County Public Schools. You should apply to ESS directly for these jobs. You must have at least 60 credit hours from an accredited college or university, English literacy, and be able to pass a fingerprint background check. If you are invited to a pre-screening interview, you will also complete a substitute teaching orientation, employment orientation, and behavioral interview, along with submitting your resume, two reference letters, and official transcripts. Substitute teachers must work at least one Monday and one Friday each month to remain active in the system.

Private and Charter School Teacher Requirements in Jacksonville

Private and charter schools in Jacksonville set their own requirements for jobs and often hire through online postings, job fairs, or word-of-mouth recruitment. If you want to work in these types of schools, you will need at least a bachelor’s degree. Often, teacher certification and relevant experience are preferred. The application process typically involves submitting a resume and cover letter, attending an interview, and providing professional references. Review job postings closely for specific instructions set by the school. Private and charter schools offer the chance to teach small class sizes, often with a religious or specialized subject matter influence. There are many private and charter schools in the Jacksonville area; contact schools directly to find out about current opportunities.

The Largest K-12 Schools in Jacksonville

To help you compare public, charter, and private schools in Jacksonville that regularly hire qualified teachers, we have designed the following table that compares the largest K-12 schools in the Jacksonville metro.

SchoolTypeGrade Level# StudentsStudent-Teacher
Ratio
Chet’s Creek Elementary SchoolPublicK-51,31516:1
Westview SchoolPublicPK-81,23414:1
New Berlin Elementary SchoolPublicPK-51,18017:1
Landmark Middle SchoolPublic6-81,52918:1
Mandarin Middle SchoolPublic6-81,47819:1
Duncan U. Fletcher Middle SchoolPublic6-81,35720:1
Sandalwood High SchoolPublic9-122,84624:1
Mandarin High SchoolPublic9-122,59422:1
Atlantic Coast High SchoolPublic9-122,35822:1
Duval Charter at BaymeadowsCharterK-81,252
Duval Charter School at MandarinCharterK-899032:1
River City Science Middle/High School AcademyCharter6-12942
The Bolles SchoolPrivatePK-121,63412:1
Trinity Christian AcademyPrivatePK-121,31515:1
Providence SchoolPrivateK-121,29913:1

See Table Notes and References at bottom of page.

Jacksonville Teacher Salary and Jobs Outlook

Although lower than national teacher salary averages, Jacksonville teachers earn average annual salaries that are comparable to those of teachers in other areas of Florida. Jacksonville secondary school teachers have the highest average annual salary for regular classroom teachers at $60,420 per year, while kindergarten, elementary, and middle school teachers have averages ranging between $57,360 and $59,820.2 In comparison, at the state level, Florida teachers in these categories earn averages between $50,400 and $54,120.3 At the national level, teachers earn higher average salaries, with secondary school teachers at $64,340, while national elementary and middle school teacher salaries average $62,200 and $62,030 respectively and the national kindergarten teacher salary averages $58,370.4

Teacher job growth in Duval County is positive for the 2019-2027 projection period. Kindergarten, elementary, middle school, and high school teacher openings are all projected to grow by approximately 12% during this period, with the highest number of openings (including replacements) expected in elementary schools during this time.5 Special education teachers are expected to see slightly stronger growth across all categories, particularly special education teachers at the preschool level, where growth is expected to reach 14% through 2027.5

Jacksonville Teacher Shortage Areas

The US Department of Education bases some student loan forgiveness programs on teacher shortage areas, meaning that your chances of qualifying for loan forgiveness may be stronger if you are teaching a subject that has been formally identified as a shortage area. You may also qualify for other funding opportunities or a more competitive salary based on your endorsement(s). Note that shortage areas may change from year to year, so you should be sure to check with state education agencies, your selected education program, and your student loan providers about funding options. For the 2018-2019 school year, the following subject areas were recognized as shortage areas in Florida (statewide):6

  • English
  • English for Speakers of Other Languages (ESOL)
  • Exceptional Student Education (ESE)
  • Mathematics
  • Reading
  • Science-General
  • Science-Physical

Jacksonville Teaching Jobs Boards

Many teaching jobs can be found through online job boards. Below are a few ways to find teacher job listings in Jacksonville. You can also see our jobs board to search teaching job openings in Jacksonville.

Additional Resources

Frequently Asked Questions

Question: How much do substitute teachers make in Jacksonville?

Answer: In Jacksonville, substitute teachers with at least 60 college credits are paid $66.50 per day.7 Substitutes with a bachelor’s degree earn slightly more, $84 per day.7

Question: How do I find teacher assistant jobs in Jacksonville?

Answer:Teacher assistants, classified as paraprofessionals in Jacksonville public schools, are hired through Duval County Public Schools. College credit is typically required to qualify, but this may vary depending on the grade level and need level of the position.

Question: What is the average teacher salary in Jacksonville?

Answer: According to the Bureau of Labor Statistics, as of 2018, average salaries for Jacksonville teachers were as follows: $59,820 for kindergarten teachers, $59,390 for elementary school teachers, $57,360 for middle school teachers, and $60,420 for secondary school teachers.2 Special education teachers earned higher salaries.2

Table Notes and References:
1. Niche, Largest Schools in Jacksonville: https://www.niche.com/k12/search/largest-schools/t/jacksonville-duval-fl/

References:
1. Duval County Public Schools, About Us: https://dcps.duvalschools.org/domain/5268
2. Bureau of Labor Statistics, May 2018 Occupational Employment and Wage Estimates, Jacksonville, FL: https://www.bls.gov/oes/current/oes_27260.htm
3. Bureau of Labor Statistics, May 2018 Occupational Employment and Wage Estimates, Florida: https://www.bls.gov/oes/current/oes_fl.htm
4. Bureau of Labor Statistics, May 2018 Occupational Employment and Wage Estimates, United States: https://www.bls.gov/oes/current/oes_nat.htm
5. Florida Department of Economic Opportunity, Employment Projections: https://www.floridajobs.org/workforce-statistics/data-center/statistical-programs/employment-projections
6. Florida Department of Education, Identification of Critical Teacher Shortage Areas, 2018-2019: https://www.fldoe.org/core/fileparse.php/7584/urlt/CTSA1819.pdf
7. ESS Pay Chart: https://cdn2.hubspot.net/hubfs/561002/ESS%20Duval%20Pay%20Chart%20190508.pdf