Frequently Asked Questions
Eligibility
Application
What's Next?
After My Application is Submitted
Living in Memphis
Teacher Certification
Eligibility
What if I don’t have a 2.5 GPA?
You must have a 2.5 GPA to teach with Memphis City Schools. We will not consider applicants with less than a 2.5 cumulative GPA.
What if I haven’t completed an undergraduate degree yet?
All applicants must have at least a Bachelor’s degree at the time of employment. If you will be graduating in May or August, we encourage you to complete the online application and note your date of graduation on your resume.
What if I’m not licensed?
All MCS teachers must have either a full or QUALIFY for an alternative license, and meet No Child Left Behind “highly qualified” standards. In many low-need subjects such as Early Childhood and Elementary Education, alternative licenses on an as needed basis. In high-need subjects, applicants must meet the requirements for alternative licensure in Tennessee. MCS will not consider applicants on permits or Interim-B licenses. Please explore “New To Teaching” (link) page for detailed information about obtaining a teaching license.
Does MCS sponsor international teachers?
To be eligible for a teaching position, candidates must be a United States citizen or be an established permanent resident.
Application
What if I applied last year?
You will not need to fill out a new application. After January 1, 2008, you will be able to log back into your original application using the e-mail and password you provided when you originally applied. All of the information previously provided will be saved. You will have the opportunity to update and make changes to your original application, which must then be resubmitted for consideration.
What if I have trouble completing the online application?
Please make sure you have filled out all of the required fields on the application, which will be marked with an asterisk. If there is a problem with a particular field, instructions will appear in blue at the top of the page that you are attempting to complete. If you are still having problems, please contact the Office of Recruitment at 901-416-0232.
What if I don’t have my resume the right format?
Your resume MUST be in either Microsoft Word (.doc) or Adobe (.pdf) format. We do not accept resumes in Microsoft Works, Rich-Text (.rtf) or Word Perfect format.
What’s Next?
How do I know what my status is?
You may check on the status of your application at any time by logging into the applicant portal at www.teachmemphis.org and clicking on the maroon "Status Viewer" tab.
What if I don’t submit the required documentation in time?
You must submit the required documentation in the time allotted to be moved to the new teacher pool. If you do not, you will not be considered to enter the new teacher pool.
What if I need to make changes to my application after it has been submitted?
You can make changes to your contact information by logging back into your application using the same e-mail address and password provided when you originally applied. To make any other changes to your application, you may download the "Update Application Form" found by logging into the applicant portal at www.teachmemphis.org and clicking on the maroon "Documents" tab. You must complete and submit this form with the supporting documentation to the Office of Recruitment.
What if it’s been 3 weeks since I submitted my application and I haven’t heard back from MCS yet?
First, please make sure you submitted your application. When you log into your application and click on the maroon "Status Viewer" tab, you should be able to see your current status. If it does not show that your application has been submitted, or you did not receive an e-mail from MCS within 24 hours after submission providing you with a confirmation number, you did not submit your application. Please log back into your application and make sure to hit “submit” on the last page of the application. If you are certain that you submitted your application more than three weeks ago, please contact the Office of Recruitment at teach@teachmemphis.org. The large volume of applications received during peak application times may delay processing.
After my application is submitted
What if I need to make changes to my application after it has been submitted?
You can make changes to your contact information by logging back into your application using the same e-mail address and password provided when you originally applied. To make any other changes to your application, you may download the "Update Application Form" found by logging into the applicant portal at www.teachmemphis.org and clicking on the maroon "Documents" tab. You must complete and submit this form with the supporting documentation to the Office of Recruitment.
What if I do not successfully complete the initial interview?
The MCS interview process is very rigorous and selective. Candidates who are not invited to join the new teacher pool after the interview will not be considered for hire for the upcoming school year. There is no appeal process and all decisions are final. You may reapply for consideration in future school years.
What if I’ve been invited to attend an interview day and I can’t make it?
All applicants who are invited to an interview must complete an initial interview to be considered for a position in MCS. It is in your best interest to interview as early as possible.
If you have already signed up for an interview space, you may cancel your interview online by logging into the “Sign Up For an Event” section. If you are unable to successfully cancel your interview online, you must contact the Office of Recruitment and inform us that you will not be attending. We require 24 hours notice of any interview cancellation. If you do not attend your interview or do not cancel your interview within the required time period, you will not be eligible to reschedule an interview with MCS and you will not be permitted to enter the New Teacher Pool.
What if I’ve been invited to a job fair but can’t attend?
You are not required to attend job fairs to be considered for positions, but many positions are often filled during these events that may be conducted during the summer. Depending upon how late it is in the hiring season, you may be invited to attend future fairs. There is no guarantee that there will be future job fairs for candidates in your subject areas or that there will be positions available after these fairs.
What if I know a principal has recommended me for hire and I haven’t heard from MCS yet?
Human Resources generally contact candidates within one week of receiving a recommendation from a principal. However, there are sometimes delays in processing. If you have not heard from a member of Human Resources within one week of recommendation, please contact HR at 901-416-5304. The staffing specialist for the school at which you were recommended will be able to assist you.
What if I’m in the new teacher pool but take a job elsewhere?
Please withdraw your application by logging into the applicant portal at www.teachmemphis.org and clicking on the maroon "Withdraw Application" at the top. You may reinstate a withdrawn application at a later time by contacting the Office of Recruitment.
What if I successfully completed my initial interview last year?
You must resubmit your application for consideration. If, after it has been reviewed, you have met the requirements to join the new teacher pool, you will not need to complete the interview again.
Can you return my documents if I choose not to pursue employment with MCS?
No. Once materials are submitted, they become property of MCS and cannot be returned.
Living In Memphis
Do you need to live in Memphis to teach in Memphis?
No. Memphis City Schools does not have a housing requirement or require teachers to live within the city limits.
Does Memphis City Schools offer relocation assistance?
No. MCS does not provide housing or relocation assistance.
Teacher certification
Does MCS honor candidates with teaching certificates from outside of Memphis?
If you have an out-of-state teaching license, you must check with the Tennessee Department of Education to make sure that your license will be recognized in Tennessee. Although Tennessee has reciprocity with all other states, it does not always mean that your license will automatically transfer to Tennessee.
My teaching certificate has expired. Am I still eligible to teach in MCS?
If your teaching license has expired, please contact the Tennessee Department of Education for information about renewing your license at 615-532-4885. All candidates must have a valid license to be considered for a position.
What’s the difference between a license, endorsement and being highly qualified?
In Tennessee, teachers are considered “highly qualified” if they have demonstrated their content knowledge by completing a degree program in the area in which they will be teaching or have taken and passed the required PRAXIS exams. Veteran teachers can also demonstrate their HQ status through continuing education and using the H.O.U.S.S.E. point system. If you have taken PRAXIS exams but have not completed a licensure program, you are highly qualified but not licensed.
In most cases, the PRAXIS tests required for licensure in Tennessee are also those required to be considered HQ. However, as in the case of K-8 licenses and middle grades, you may be licensed in K-8 in but not highly qualified in the K-8 area. This is also true of many professional Tennessee licenses. Without completing continuing education courses or PRAXIS exams, your Professional license may not be considered highly qualified.
An endorsement is an additional certification or licensure area in which you are highly qualified and that is added to an existing teaching license after completing the required courses and PRAXIS exams.
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