SFUSD Pathway to Teaching Program Recruits Record Number of Internal Candidates

Press Release

San Francisco (Nov. 21, 2022) - The San Francisco Unified School District (SFUSD) Pathway to Teaching program is accepting applications for its seventh cohort. Pathway to Teaching is SFUSD’s practice-based intern teacher credential program, which allows candidates to teach full-time in a classroom, earning a full-time teaching salary and benefits, all while completing credentialing coursework and receiving intensive coaching from district experts in their credential area. Pathway to Teaching focuses on developing elementary Multiple Subject teachers, elementary Bilingual Spanish teachers, and K-12 Education Specialists for Mild to Moderate Support Needs (special education teachers).

The current cohort of Pathway to Teaching participants consists of 60% individuals who previously worked in SFUSD as paraeducators or staff who held an emergency credential. 68% of current Pathway teachers and alumni identify as a person of color.

“We know that the key to student success in any classroom is a consistent, highly-skilled and -qualified teacher,” said SFUSD Superintendent Dr. Matt Wayne. “We’re excited that our Pathway to Teaching program offers staff members the opportunity to become credentialed teachers, and we encourage anyone who wants to become a teacher in our district to apply to this program.”

Before starting in classrooms in the fall, Pathway teachers complete spring launch coursework and intensive pre-service preparation and fieldwork in the summer. Over the course of the school year, they continue coursework and participate in small group and one-on-one coaching and assessment.

To be eligible to join Pathway to Teaching, applicants must hold a Bachelor’s Degree, have authorization to work in the United States, and meet the CBEST basic skills and subject matter competency requirements by Apr. 14, 2023. Pathway provides test preparation support to teachers working to meet testing requirements.

"Pathway to Teaching prepares caring, skilled, committed new teachers to be successful and feel supported from the moment they enter the classroom. I am grateful to the Pathway team for working in alignment with our school site and district initiatives and priorities," said Laura Juarez Codicetti, principal of Bryant Elementary School.

SFUSD has a number of other efforts in place to support and retain educators including paid professional development, one-on-one coaching, cash bonuses, and more. This past summer, SFUSD teachers and paraeducators received two bonuses of $2,000 each. The SF Board of Education approved a 6% salary increase for teachers and paraeducators this year. In late September, SFUSD and the City and County of San Francisco broke ground on Shirley Chisholm Village, a 135-unit affordable housing complex that will prioritize educators and employees of SFUSD and their families. 

Those interested in applying to Pathway to Teaching can RSVP for an upcoming informational webinar. Applications are due on Nov. 27.

Learn more about Pathway to Teaching here.

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