How to Become a Teacher in Fort Worth

The Fort Worth Independent School District (FWISD) oversees over 140 K-12 schools that provide education to more than 84,000 students, offering many employment opportunities for prospective teachers.¹ Teachers in the Fort Worth public school system must possess a minimum of a bachelor’s degree, have completed an approved teacher preparation program, and must pass the appropriate Texas Examinations of Educator Standards (TExES) to earn a teaching certificate through the Texas Education Agency (TEA). Requirements to teach at private or charter schools in Fort Worth may differ based on individual school guidelines as the state does not require educators in private or charter schools to hold Texas teacher certification. Continue reading to learn more about teaching opportunities in Fort Worth.

Fort Worth Teacher Certification Requirements

To work as a classroom teacher in the Fort Worth Independent School District, you must hold a bachelor’s degree, have completed an approved teacher education program, and have passed the state TExES exams. The traditional way to complete these requirements is through an approved bachelor’s degree program with a teaching component. More detailed information about becoming a teacher through the traditional pathway in Texas can be found on our Texas teacher certification page.

Aspiring teachers in Fort Worth who have a bachelor’s degree but did not complete teacher preparation can pursue Texas alternative teacher certification. An alternative program can be completed in as little as one year including coursework and practice teaching, after which you will need to pass the same state TExES exams as traditional applicants. To learn more about this option, visit our Texas alternative teacher certification page.

Teacher Certification Programs in Fort Worth

The following colleges and universities in Fort Worth offer state-approved certification programs that can prepare you for first-time teacher licensure or additional endorsements. You can read more about teacher preparation in the state on our Texas schools page.

• Arlington Baptist University
• Texas Christian University
• Texas Wesleyan University
• University of Texas-Arlington

Fort Worth School District Steps for Becoming a Teacher

The Fort Worth Independent School District hires educators who are certified to teach in Texas. You will either need to complete a traditional path to certification by finishing a bachelor’s degree with an approved educator preparation component or an alternative path to certification if you already have a bachelor’s degree. See our certification section for more information. Once you are certified, you can apply to positions with the Fort Worth Independent School District by completing the following steps.

Step 1: Complete the online application.

First, complete the online application and upload a current resume. Once your application is reviewed and approved, you will be able to apply for open teaching positions.

Step 2: Be interviewed by a school leader or panel.

After you have submitted an application to an open job, you will be contacted by school leaders if they would like you to come for an interview. You may be required to demonstrate a lesson plan and provide official transcripts of college coursework, two professional references from previous employers, and a letter of recommendation from a principal or a supervisor if applicable.

Step 3: Complete the hiring process.

If you are offered a position with the school system, you will likely be asked to complete the hiring process with a human resources department or other district hiring authority. This may include a background check or a health check.

Contact Information

Fort Worth Independent School District
Facebook: https://www.facebook.com/fortworthisd/
Twitter: https://twitter.com/FortWorthISD

100 N University Dr
Fort Worth, TX 76107
(817) 814-2000
https://www.fwisd.org/

How to Become a Substitute Teacher with the Fort Worth School District

A bachelor’s degree and certification are not required to be part of the substitute teaching pool in the Fort Worth Independent School District. However, substitute candidates must have completed a minimum of 60 college credits and be available to work at least two days per week. To apply, complete the online application and submit an official transcript. If you are accepted to the pool, you will need to complete specific training modules based on your level of experience and certification.

Private and Charter School Teacher Requirements in Fort Worth

A teaching certificate is not a state-level requirement to work in private and charter schools in Texas. As a result, private and charter schools in Fort Worth commonly have different hiring requirements than those of the Fort Worth Independent School District. However, individual private and charter schools may prefer to hire educators who hold Texas teacher certification. Look for job postings in private and charter schools on their websites.

The Largest K-12 Schools in Fort Worth

To help you learn about public, private, and charter schools in Fort Worth, we compiled the following table of the largest schools in the Fort Worth area.

See Table Notes and References at bottom of page.

Fort Worth Teacher Salary and Jobs Outlook

Kindergarten teachers earn similar average salaries in the Dallas-Fort Worth-Arlington area and at the state level ($53,720 and $54,780 respectively), although these are both lower than the national average ($58,370).^2-4 Elementary, middle school, and secondary school teachers in this area also earn below national averages, but are above Texas-wide averages.^2-4 Fort Worth lementary school teachers earn an average salary of $59,460 compared to $56,520 in the state overall and $62,200 nationally.^3-5 Middle school teachers earn $59,430 on average in Fort Worth-Arlington compared to $56,580 in Texas and $62,030 nationally.^2-4 As of 2018, the average salary for Fort Worth secondary school teachers was $61,180 compared to $58,190 in Texas and $64,340 across the US.^2-4

All teacher groups in the Tarrant County Workforce Development Area that includes Fort Worth are expected to experience double-digit jobs growth through 2026.⁵ Kindergarten, elementary, middle, and secondary school teachers are all expected to see job growth of about 20% through this time period.⁵ This growth is based on new positions; replacement openings will add additional job opportunities for new teachers.

Fort Worth 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 2020-2021 school year, the following subject areas were recognized as shortage areas in Texas (statewide):⁶

• Bilingual/English as a Second Language (Elementary and Secondary)
• Career and Technical Education (Secondary)
• Mathematics (Secondary)
• Special Education (Elementary and Secondary)
• Technology Applications and Computer Science (Secondary)

Fort Worth Teaching Jobs Boards

Online job boards are a great place to start looking for teaching positions. Take a look at these job boards with postings in Fort Worth. You can also check out our jobs board to search for teaching jobs in Fort Worth.

• Texas Association of Private and Parochial Schools
• Roman Catholic Diocese of Fort Worth
• Texas Charter Schools
• Fort Worth Independent School District

Additional Resources

• Fort Worth Independent School District (FWISD): The public school district for K-12 schools in Fort Worth.
• United Educators Association Texas (UEA TX): An association focusing on the needs of educators serving in North Texas schools.
• Fort Worth Education Association (FWEA): An affiliate of the Texas State Teachers Association (TSTA) providing a local voice for Fort Worth-area teachers.

Frequently Asked Questions

Question: What is the starting Fort Worth teacher salary?

Answer: First-year teachers in Fort Worth with a bachelor’s degree begin at a salary of $54,000.⁷ This rises to $55,000 for those with a master’s, and $56,000 for those with a doctorate.⁷ Note that unlike many other school districts, annual compensation increases are not guaranteed and salaries are re-determined each year. As a result, the FWISD cautions individuals not to predict salaries based on previous compensation levels.⁷

Question: What is the pay for Fort Worth substitute teachers?

Answer: Substitute teachers in Fort Worth earn $78 per day if they have 60 college credit hours, $86 per day if they have a bachelor’s degree, $96 per day if they have a bachelor’s plus teacher certification, and $127 per day if they taught in and retired from the FWISD.⁸ Note that only substitutes with a bachelor’s degree are eligible for long-term substitute positions (those lasting 11 days or longer), which pay at a higher rate of $127 per day for each day after the 11th full day.⁸

Question: How can I find out about jobs in Fort Worth public schools?

Answer: The Fort Worth ISD publishes job openings on its website, as well as announcements about upcoming career fairs, a recruiting calendar, and other resources for prospective teachers.

Table Notes and References:
1. Niche, Largest Schools in the Fort Worth Area: https://www.niche.com/k12/search/largest-schools/t/fort-worth-tarrant-tx/

References:
1. Fort Worth Independent School District: https://www.fwisd.org/domain/184
2. Bureau of Labor Statistics, May 2018 Occupational Employment and Wage Estimates, Dallas-Fort Worth-Arlington Metropolitan Division: https://www.bls.gov/oes/current/oes_19100.htm
3. Bureau of Labor Statistics, May 2018 State Occupational Employment and Wage Estimates, Texas: https://www.bls.gov/oes/current/oes_tx.htm#25-0000
4. Bureau of Labor Statistics, May 2018 National Occupational Employment and Wage Estimates, United States: https://www.bls.gov/oes/current/oes_nat.htm#25-0000
5. Texas Labor Market Information, Tarrant County WDA Long-term Occupation Projections: https://texaslmi.com/LMIbyCategory/Projections
6. Texas Education Agency, Student Loan Forgiveness for Teachers: https://tea.texas.gov/about-tea/news-and-multimedia/correspondence/taa-letters/2020-2021-teacher-shortage-areas-and-loan-forgiveness-programs
7. Fort Worth Independent School District 2019-2020 Compensation Manual: https://www.fwisd.org/site/handlers/filedownload.ashx?moduleinstanceid=43261&dataid=50671&FileName=2019-2020%20Compensation%20Manual%20FWISD%202019-08-27v2.pdf
8. Fort Worth Independent School District, Teaching Substitutes: https://www.fwisd.org/Page/8340