Our Application & Hiring Process

Ready to Join Us?

As the highest rated network of non-profit, public charter schools in Cleveland, our staff members are held accountable for high expectations in order to deliver on the promise of providing all students with excellent educational opportunities.

Our rigorous selection process is designed to identify teachers, leaders, and support staff who are committed to doing whatever it takes so the students of Cleveland receive what they deserve – the very best education possible.

process

We encourage all applicants to learn as much as possible about our network of schools through browsing websites, reading articles, checking us out on social media. You’ll get a chance to learn about what makes us unique and get a sense of which model best fits your educational philosophy. Be prepared to answer questions about why you want to work in urban education and at one of our schools.

Next up, some information to help you through the application process. If at any time, you have any questions, please do not hesitate to contact the Human Capital Department at careers@breakthroughschools.org.

Step 1 – Be Informed.

Browse through our website and the websites of all our network schools. You'll get a chance to learn about what makes us unique. Be prepared to answer questions about why you want to work in urban education and at one of our schools. Also be ready to ask any questions you may have about our schools and mission.

Step 2 – Be Thoughtful.

Complete the online application: This is your first opportunity to tell us about you! You will get a chance to see all of our open positions and chose the one that fits you the best. You will need to complete the application, upload a resume and cover letter and complete the narrative response questions.

Step 3 – Be Yourself.

Phone interview: Based on a review of your application, you may be selected for a phone interview with a member of our Talent and HR team. We want to learn more about you, your experiences and your interest in our opportunities. If you are selected for a phone interview, we'll send you an email to sign up for a 30 minute time slot that works best for you – so make sure you check your email SPAM folders!

In addition, following your phone interview, you may be asked to submit a short 30 minute demo lesson of yourself teaching subject/grade-level appropriate material.

Step 4 – Be Prepared.

In-person interviews and school visits: Once a phone screen is complete, you may be invited for an in-person interview and/or school visit. All of our schools have a slightly different process, but the in-person interview typically includes interviews with the leadership team, classroom observations, competency assessments and teaching a demo lesson.

Step 5 – Check References.

As part of our selection process, we may request three professional references from you post-interview. One of those should be from a current or former supervisor.

Step 6 – Join the Team!

Upon completing the reference checks, if we are interested, we will make an offer contingent on the successful completion of your background check. You will typically have about a week to get back to us with your decision.

Tips For Completing Your Application

Applications to work at Breakthrough Schools have increased significantly this year over last. To give you some context, last year, we had about 1,000 completed applications to join our team and this year, we anticipate having 1,500 applications! With such an increase in application numbers, we are able to be even more selective in our choices for hiring teachers. Having better teachers means we will be able to serve our students better and increase our pace to transform Cleveland.

In the coming school year, Breakthrough Schools will be adding new grade levels at many of our schools. There will be opportunities to teach and lead in every content area and grade level. Here are some simple tips to consider when applying:

Do your research. We are looking for people who have clearly done research when applying. The work that someone puts in to research us really comes through in how they craft their essays (for teaching positions) or letters of intent (for non-instructional roles). Research can vary and can include everything from talking to current employees, visiting a campus or digging for information on the website.

Take your mini-statement questions seriously. A majority of the people who do not get offered an interview do not take the essay portion of the application seriously enough. Either candidates do not put in the necessary effort or they fail to truly answer the question. Our suggestion is in advance to submitting the application, take a first crack at the essays, save them and come back to review them later.

Make sure your resume truly reflects the things you have accomplished in your career. Many times, candidates are cheating themselves when crafting their resume. We want to see your accomplishments and your leadership. Make sure those things shine through when writing your resume.

References. We want you to include your references; however, formal letters of recommendation are OPTIONAL! They are not required to apply. You can simply complete the reference section in the online application without letters of recommendation. We will contact your references after the interview process is completed. 

Are You Ready For This?

We’re growing, we’re hiring, and we need the best teachers for our students. Is that you? If so, let’s get started. We have a poster hanging on our wall, and we believe it: “This is your world. Shape it or someone else will.” Let’s do this, together.