Teacher & Leader Pathways
The Teacher and Leader Pathways Department is dedicated to cultivating a diverse community of educators and leaders who are committed to excellence, equity, and innovation in education. Through Grow Your Own Programs, comprehensive support, rigorous data driven professional development, and a focus on collaboration, we empower individuals to become transformative agents of change, driving the success and well-being of all students and fostering a culture of continuous improvement in Richmond Public Schools.
Are you an RPS employee interested in becoming a licensed teacher?
Eligibility Requirements
- Must have a bachelors degree
- Must be a full time RPS employee (long term substitute, IAs, non-instructional personnel)
- Commit to 3 years of Teaching in RPS
- Must be willing to teach in a High Needs Area (Elementary, Secondary English, Secondary Math, Secondary Science, ESL, Special Education, or be a Minority Male)
Sign up for the Richmond Public Schools Build Our Own Teachers Program here. You must submit copies of all college transcripts to sign up
Tuition Reimbursement
Portal will reopen for the 2024-2025 school year in the fall (late September/early October)! Be on the lookout for additional details as communicated via the RPS Insider.
RPS employees can receive up to $800 per school year for tuition and licensure assessment opportunities.
Please ensure you follow the steps outlined by the Teacher and Leader Pathways Department to submit a tuition reimbursement request for coursework completed during this fiscal year (on or after July 1, 2024). An email does not suffice as a submission.
Steps:
1. Complete the Tuition Reimbursement Application form with all required signatures.
2. Obtain final grade/score (proof of successful completion), and the receipt of payment that lists you as the payee from your college or institution.
3. Upload all forms and materials (application, proof of successful completion, and proof of payment) to the Tuition Reimbursement Portal (portal link will be available in the fall).
Please be mindful, tuition reimbursement is rendered on a first come, first serve basis as funds are available up to $800 ($500 of which can be used for assessments) per school year. Please don't hesitate to reach out to teacherleaderpathways@
Richmond Public Schools Welcomes Student Interns for 2024-2025
Richmond Public Schools is delighted to offer internship opportunities (student teaching, practicums, school counseling, administration, etc.) for the 2024-2025 academic year. We look forward to collaborating with aspiring educators and leaders.
Placement Requests:
To ensure a smooth placement process, please adhere to the following deadlines:
- Practicum Placements: Requests must be submitted at least 30 days in advance of the desired start date.
- All Other Internships: Requests must be submitted at least 45 days in advance of the desired start date.
Please utilize the designated student intern request form to initiate the placement process.
Memorandum of Understanding (MOU):
All universities seeking to place interns within Richmond Public Schools are required to have a current MOU on file with our Teacher and Leader Pathways Department.
- New MOUs: Please download the Richmond Public Schools MOU template and submit it to teacherleaderpathways@rvaschools.net to initiate the MOU process.
We appreciate your interest in partnering with Richmond Public Schools. For any further inquiries, please feel free to contact the Teacher and Leader Pathways Department.
We look forward to a successful and enriching internship experience for all involved!
National Board Certification
Richmond Public Schools offers support for National Board Certification through an internal support program and through the Center for Teacher Leadership at the VCU School of Education, the program provides teachers in the Metropolitan Education Alliance (META) school divisions with structured opportunities to clarify each aspect of the certification process and a network of support as they strive to meet the highest standards established for the profession. Contact Rahmah Gibson at NBCTRPS@rvaschools.net for more information or teacherleaderpathways@rvaschools.net.
Yale Teacher's Institute
Teachers Institutes are educational partnerships between universities and school districts designed to strengthen teaching and learning in a community’s high-poverty public schools. The Yale Teachers Institute places equal emphasis on teachers increasing their knowledge of a subject and of their developing teaching strategies that will be effective with their students. At the core of its program is a series of collaborative seminars on subjects in the humanities, mathematics, and the sciences. Topics are requested by the teachers based on what they think could enrich their classroom instruction. Richmond Fellows have participated in the Yale Teachers Institute since 2005.
License Support
The Virginia Department of Education certifies all teachers employed by Richmond Public Schools. Any questions specific to licensure should be emailed to licensure@rvaschools.net.
RPS has partnerships with the following universities for those seeking classes to obtain course work for a teaching license.
