In order to retain The Teacher Academy scholarship, at the end of their first year of study, students must commit to working in a high need New York City public school for at least two years after graduation. The New York City Department of Education commits to students that each new teacher placed in a New York City school will receive one-on-one mentoring in order to ensure success in the classroom. Teacher Academy students will develop and maintain a network of fellow graduates and former faculty for ongoing guidance while on the job.

Graduates of The Teacher Academy will be entering a career that has numerous opportunities for personal and financial rewards. The New York City Department of Education, the largest public school system and the largest employer of teaching professionals in the United States, offers its teachers the following career paths:

• classroom teacher,
• lead teacher (a designated teacher who assists with supervision, planning, and professional development),
• mentor,
• coach,
• assistant principal,
• principal.

Individuals who enter New York City's teaching force are employed under the terms of contracts negotiated by the United Federation of Teachers with the City of New York. In recent years, those contracts have led to significant increases in starting teachers' salaries of teachers. Look at the chart below to get an idea of what teachers might be making in the future.

But money is only part of the story. The other "perks" that come with being a teacher include:

• Making a difference in someone's life;
• New students and new opportunities every year;
• Field trips instead of business conferences;
• The flexibility to pursue other interests every summer;
• The friendship and support of others who are committed to the same ideals.