School Year: 2026-2027

Start Date: July 1, 2026 

Compensation: $42,000.00

Teaching at Achievement First: 

Achievement First invites you to apply for a Relay Resident role! This is an exciting opportunity for aspiring teachers dedicated to delivering exceptional instruction while continually growing in their craft. At AF, you'll be part of a vibrant, supportive community where professional development, collaborative planning, and personalized coaching from school leaders are a part of your weekly experience.

In this role, you won't just be preparing students for college and career—you'll be inspiring them to lead lives of purpose, leadership, and impact. You'll create a learning culture in which scholars can discover their fullest potential and become agents of change, making a difference within their communities and beyond.

At AF, we believe in nurturing the whole child, setting high academic standards, and fostering a classroom environment where students thrive both intellectually and emotionally—and can be their authentic selves. Together, we are building a more just and equitable world, one classroom at a time.

Join us, and be part of a team that is transforming lives through the power of education.

The Role of Relay Resident at Achievement First: 

The Achievement First Teaching Residency provides a unique and rigorous opportunity for aspiring educators to enter the teaching profession through a supportive training process. Residents will learn in a classroom alongside mentor teachers while earning a Master’s of Arts in Teaching and an initial CT teacher certificate. This selective two-year residency immerses Residents in intensive training through Relay’s coursework and deliberate practice with a gradual on-ramp into teaching. Furthermore, Residents will have the opportunity to engage in content development, case studies, and instructional rounds – all aimed at building a continuous learning mindset within themselves and their cohort. Upon successful completion of Residency Year 1, Residents can interview for a Lead Teacher seat at one of our Achievement First Schools. 

As an Achievement First Relay Resident, your core responsibilities include:

• Developing teaching skills through regular feedback and coaching
• Participate and contribute as a member of their particular school community
• Providing individual or small group instruction for students
• Committing to constant professional and personal growth through working closely with a team of teachers across the region
• Attend all school-level professional development (PD sessions) and certification coursework with Relay GSE and the Residency.
• Constantly assessing student progress and communicating results to families and colleagues
• Model the school’s values in all communications with students, families, and staff.
• Participate in weekly meetings with mentor/host teacher
• Participate in goal setting, observations, and debrief meetings with School Leaders, Residency staff, and Relay.
• Implement feedback from observation by Residency staff, Relay faculty, School Leaders, and mentor teachers into classroom practice.
• Conduct purposeful observations of mentor and other excellent teachers
• Model the values of Achievement First and set the standard for professional behavior
• Help to envision and create a positive learning environment and exhibit positive rapport with students, parents, and staff
• Have fun and spread joy!

Professional learning, development, and growth: 

• Collaborate with Mentor Teacher to evaluate and improve mastery of instruction, culture building, and leadership skills. 
• Attend weekly resident-specific professional development, team planning and data analysis meetings, and informal learning and development opportunities.
• Observe high-performing teachers throughout the school. 
• Complete Deliberate Practice pre-work to sharpen your pedagogical knowledge before practice. 

Residents will earn: 

• Teaching certification:
• In CT, residents receive a CT Initial Certificate and Master of Arts by completing a Teacher Pathway Program with RELAY Graduate School of Education and completing certification exams.

Skills and Characteristics: 

• High level of personal organization and professionalism. 
• Embraces feedback as an opportunity for growth, openly listening and reflecting on input from others.
• A commitment to Achievement First’s mission, a deep love of content, and an unwavering belief that all students can and will succeed. 
• Passion and commitment to be a teacher in an underrepresented community
• Strong work ethic coupled with an enthusiastic and passionate approach to one’s work
• Ability to work in a dynamic, fast-paced environment and develop strong relationships with parents and colleagues.
• Flexibility, tenacity, perseverance, resourcefulness, teamwork, a sense of humor, and enthusiasm for your subject matter.

Educational Background and Work Experience: 

Bachelor’s degree with a GPA of at least 2.5*. Degree must be conferred by your start date.

Compensation & Benefits:

• Year 1 Residents will receive a set salary of $42,000 with a competitive benefits package. As a regular full-time employee of Achievement First, you will be eligible for benefits that include medical, dental, vision, and life insurance as well as a 403(b) retirement benefit package with match and paid Family Leave.

Achievement First is an equal opportunity employer and an organization that values diversity. People from all diverse backgrounds are strongly encouraged to apply. Spanish language proficiency is a plus. You can learn more about diversity at Achievement First here: http://achievementfirst.org/about-us/diversity/