Overview
Category:instructional
Median Salary:$56,000
Education Required:bachelors
Growth Outlook:fast-growing
Student Interaction:direct student
Key Responsibilities
- Assess English language proficiency levels
- Provide direct English language instruction
- Support content area learning for ELL students
- Collaborate with classroom teachers
- Communicate with multilingual families
- Develop culturally responsive curriculum
A Day in the Life
- Pull-out or push-in language instruction
- Small group vocabulary and grammar lessons
- Co-teaching with classroom teachers
- Language assessments and progress monitoring
- Parent conferences with interpreters
- Culturally responsive teaching activities
- Collaboration and planning meetings
Education & Certification Path
1
Bachelor's degree in Education or related field
2
ESL/TESOL certification or endorsement
3
Complete practicum with ELL students
4
Master's in TESOL or Applied Linguistics (optional)
Required Certifications
- State ESL/ELL teaching endorsement
- TESOL or similar certification
- Bilingual endorsement (preferred in some districts)
Career Progression
ESL Teaching Assistant → ESL Teacher→
Lead ESL Teacher or Coordinator→
District ELL Program Director→
ESL Curriculum Specialist
Work Environment
Dedicated ESL classroom or traveling between classrooms for support
Typical Schedule
7:30 AM - 3:30 PM, may serve multiple schools