Job Postings
- ApplyToEducation.ca is a website where you create a detailed portfolio. Many school boards will use only ApplyToEducation, which makes it important but do keep in mind that to actually apply to jobs you will need to buy credits. However, if you want a job in that school board, there is no way around it. E.g. in Waterloo Region you will have to pay money to apply for public school positions.
- EducationCanada.com is a very popular job posting site where you can make a profile
- JobsInEducation.com is not as popular as EC but has many postings as well as a number of First Nations Job postings
- EduJobsCanada.com and AcademicWork.ca are primarily for college and university jobs
A note on acronyms and titles you might encounter in a job posting:
- An Occasional Teacher is a teacher who can supply, or fill in for a sick or absent teacher.
- The Occasional Teacher List (OTL) is a list of supply teachers. The public boards in Waterloo Region typically open up this list only once a year with limited hiring. Keep an eye on ApplyToEducation.ca for this posting.
- LTO is a Long-Term Occasional where you will cover all duties (including planning and reporting) for the regular teacher who is on maternity leave, long-term illness or leave of absence.
- FTE means full-time equivalent. Often the FTE number is listed as a decimal number. For example, if you see a posting that says ¡§FTE 0.4, this position will be 4/10th of a full time position. These contracts can be combined (e.g. 0.2 FTE and 0.4 FTE).
Location, Location, Location
While most areas of the province are facing declining enrolment, 4 areas have been identified as growth areas: Durham, Halton, Peel and York.
You will need to decide if you are willing to commute/move to a higher growth area or focus your energies on building up your reputation and network locally.
Who to apply to
Public/Catholic schools in Ontario
Each school board has their own unique process to applying for teaching positions. Some school boards will allow those outside of their board to apply to individual schools/job postings. For some, you’ll have to apply through a central application process on their website. For many school boards it is a requirement that you become an Occasional Teacher on their OT list. Check the board’s website for information on their hiring process.
It is a requirement that you are registered with the Ontario College of Teachers to teach in public education in Ontario.
Tutoring
There are lots of opportunities to tutor. It’s good experience and can pay the bills while waiting for certification. You could advertise yourself through community postings, word of mouth, or on classifieds sites such as craigslist.org, kijiji.ca, or yourclassifies.ca.
Alternatively, there are a number of private tutoring companies which hire teachers. Do some labour market research to find tutoring companies and find out their hiring process.
Private schools and religious based schools
There are a growing number of independent schools in Ontario. Some are independent, some are affiliated with other international education systems, and some are religious based. Check the links below to find some of these schools. Each school will have their own hiring process.
French public schools in Ontario
In addition to the English public and Catholic school board there are also French language school boards in Ontario. Remember, teachers who are fluent in French are in greater demand in Ontario. Check with each school board to learn about their hiring process.
First Nations education
Teaching in a First Nations school is a wonderful opportunity. There are often positions open teaching in First Nations schools and positions will come up throughout the year, due to a number of circumstances, the first and foremost likely being geography. Many communities are in Northern Ontario, some in sub-Arctic climates and many are fly-in only or accessible only by winter (ice) road. This is teaching in a culturally different and unique setting compared to most places in Southern Ontario, which can be very rewarding. The decision to teach in a First Nations community should be carefully considered; there are challenges to teaching on a First Nations Community including climate, isolation, resource deficits due to underfunding and high teacher and administrator turnover. Furthermore, these communities are continuing a process of healing and many social issues must continue to be addressed. Overcoming these challenges, however, can present a greater sense of accomplishment for both the teacher and student. While teaching in a First Nations community is an opportunity to gain Canadian teaching experience, it should first and foremost be viewed as an opportunity to positively affect students in need of strong, effective teachers.
