Frequently Asked Questions

Our recruiters are happy to set time to connect with you and help you explore opportunities at YES Prep. Connect with us at Careers@yesprep.org

Our Talent Team reviews all instructional applications and asks that you submit only one application. On the application, you have the opportunity to list any and all subjects you are interested in and qualified to teach. As such, please only apply to your most highly preferred position. YES Prep determines the positions you are being considered for by reviewing the subject areas you listed on the application and your geographic preferences. We do our best to match candidates to campuses that have positions open in the content area(s) they are most interested in and at a preferred campus or region. If you are interested in non-instructional roles, you should submit an application for any position(s) that is/are of interest and for which you meet the qualifications. 

At YES Prep, the application is a very important piece of the interview and selection process. Each application is read in its entirety by staff members and closely evaluated for position fit. Applications that do not meet the required criteria are not moved forward in the hiring process. You will however receive communication via e-mail of any updates.

We strive to ensure that the hiring process is as quick as possible and are committed to sending application updates regularly. Typically, the process from application to video interview takes one week. This, of course, depends on how quickly the candidate completes the video interview.

The final interview is commonly referred to as a Finalist Day. While they do vary by campus and position, a typical Finalist Day for a teaching position involves a campus visit where you will have the opportunity to plan and teach a sample lesson in the content area for which you are being considered. You will also participate in a reflection and final interview after your sample lesson. If you move forward for a final interview, a campus representative will reach out to you directly with an objective to teach as well as resources and instructions on what to prepare and bring to campus. If you are interviewing for a non-instructional role, the hiring manager will reach out to set up an in-person final interview.  

Almost half of the employees we hire annually are from outside of Texas. If you are an out-of-state candidate and you move forward for a final interview, a hiring manager will reach out to you directly to set up an initial time to talk via phone or Microsoft Teams. From there, you can discuss travel accommodations and plans with the hiring manager. More information on travel arrangements and compensation will be available from the hiring team. Please feel free to inquire during your initial communication.
 

For non-instructional positions, you may apply to new positions. For teaching positions, your application materials and status will be retained for the full school year. You can begin reapplying when the next school year application opens, which is typically in November.

YES Prep's selection process has become increasingly competitive each year, and this year is no different. We review all information contained in a candidate's application before making a decision, including education, GPA, previous work experience and essay responses to determine whether your application matches our rigorous selection criteria. Given the large volume of candidates who apply for roles at YES Prep, we are unable to provide individualized feedback. 

YES Prep is unable to sponsor visas.

We only consider applications that have been submitted online and ask that you not reach out to school-based staff regarding employment. If you have specific questions about an opening prior to applying, you may reach out to Talent Acquisition via email at careers@yesprep.org 

We believe that there is a transformative academic and social benefit for students when their teachers/leaders share their backgrounds and reflect a wide range of backgrounds. We are proud of the broad make-up of our staff.

YES Prep is a growing system, and we are striving to ensure that all students in Houston have access to quality education. We currently have 24 campuses, 15 secondary campuses and 9 elementary campuses.

Please visit our Careers page and Talent Events page.

Although a certification is not required in order to be hired, you must sign our certification acknowledgement attesting that you will receive your certification within one year of being hired. Additionally, you will need to take and pass a content test prior to the first day of the school year to be eligible to begin your teaching assignment.

At YES Prep, we have our very own Alternative Certification Program called Teaching Excellence. Teaching Excellence provides rigorous and relevant training and individualized support that accelerates the development of new teachers.

Learn more about the Teaching Excellence program including admission requirements, program requirement, enrollment information, and other resources by visiting www.yesprep.org/TeachingExcellence

Yes, it is valid in the state of Texas. Upon successful completion of the Teaching Excellence program, you will hold a standard teaching certification. This can typically be completed within one school year and is the type of certificate that could be eligible to transfer to another state, if necessary.

If you are an experienced teacher new to YES Prep, we have a 'New to Blue' program that is designed to help you successfully transition to your new environment and integrate your skills into the YES Prep culture and curriculum. If you are looking to utilize and develop your leadership skills outside the classroom, we have the Leadership Pathway program for every campus-based Director, Resident Principal, and Principal. Find out more about campus leadership opportunities

The starting salary for a novice teacher is $64,000. Based on your performance in the classroom, your salary will increase over time. The teacher salary scale can be found here.

YES Prep offers a comprehensive benefits plan, including but not limited to, medical, dental, vision, discounts for services and an optional 457b. Learn more about YES Prep's benefits. 

Yes, YES Prep participates in TRS.

While all of our campuses focus on preparing students for college, each campus provides a unique experience. Most campuses have a longer school day and classes are held, on average, from 7:45 a.m. – 4:15 p.m. and vary by campus. You can find the hours of the school day on the Map & Contact section of each campus.
 

It is action-packed! Typically, you will have two planning periods and six teaching periods. You may have lunch duty where you will supervise students and build transformative relationships. You also may need to check in with your Dean of Instruction, Dean of Students, and Instructional Coach during an off-period to improve your craft as an educator, which in turn maximizes student achievement. It is recommended that you typically arrive 30 minutes before the start time of your campus to prep for the day-- ensuring the lesson plan and materials are printed for the day, the lesson plan is posted, your inbox is cleared, and your classroom is set up for students. You may have morning or afternoon duty for your campus, which means you would come to school earlier/stay later to be on duty for 15-20 minutes to ensure students’ safety as they are arriving to or leaving campus. You may need to stay after school to print materials for the next school day or week, grade assignments, hold tutorials, attend professional development, meet with parents, attend an open house or report card night, etc.

Our school year begins in August and ends on the first week of June. All YES Prep employees also have a week of vacation for Thanksgiving, two weeks of Winter Break, and a week off for Spring Break. In addition, YES Prep staff members receive federal and state holidays. You can learn more about the calendar year at YES Prep here.

YES Prep's curriculum is based on the TEKS or AP standards. Ensuring that our students are prepared to take the SAT's and are college ready.

As a district, the first page of the lesson planning template is the same for every core subject. Templates vary by content area to best meet the needs of the specific content. 

We truly believe that excellent instruction every single day is created through four things:

1. Thoughtful lesson planning;
2. Safe and nurturing environment;
3. Solid grading practices;
4. And high touch-point coaching.

 Our lesson planning template was created to reflect the research-based elements of effective planning, and the posting of lesson plans is a requirement every single day. 

We credit collaboration to be a huge part of our success as an organization.

• Teaching Excellence: For our first-year teachers, we offer our Teaching Excellence program and an Instructional Coach. You will also collaborate with teachers going through Teaching Excellence and share best practices.
• New to Blue : For teacher who have taught before in a different district, this academy is designed to leverage the experiences of veteran teachers while providing tailored professional development on YES Prep methods and curriculum. We also encourage collaborating with veteran teachers at our YES Prep campuses to learn routines, systems, procedures, and how they build relationships with students and families.
• Content Day: This unique opportunity fosters a collaborative environment where you meet with all the teachers in your subject in the district to discuss the upcoming unit plan and unit tests, share best practices, and attend professional development that is facilitated by Content Specialists and Course Facilitators. Content Days happen once every six weeks. 

It varies depending on the needs of the campus. All campuses meet the legal teacher-to-student ratio requirement.

If you hold a standard teaching certificate in Texas, you must renew it every five years. Follow the steps provided in this link to renew it.

Yes, campuses offer stipends to teachers who take on additional responsibilities on their campuses, such as serving as a Grade Level Chair or coaching a sport. These are campus-by-campus decisions, and a School Director may answer any question you have about stipend opportunities.

Yes, interested teachers may explore opportunities to coach or start/lead extracurricular activities after school. Specific sports may differ by campus.