• Get involved in tutoring, teams and clubs, theater groups, sports, and community service activities.
   
• Find out if your district offers a teaching career pathway (program of education-related courses).
   
• Talk to counselors about the recommended sequence of classes for college entrance.
   
• Be a leader in class: take the initiative and facilitate group discussions in your class.
   
• Talk with your teachers about their career experiences as well as their feelings about their jobs.
   
• Research teacher salaries. Start by checking out the annual salary survey done by the American Federation of Teachers. The Bureau of Labor Statistics website is also a great resource.
   
• Join, lead, or start a Future Educators of America club.
   
• Express your interest in teaching to your favorite teachers. They can offer practical tips and advice.
   
• Explore and join school clubs and teams.
   
• Gain hands-on experience working with children. Try to find after-school and summer jobs in child care or preschool, day camps, or sports.
   
• Get ready for the next step to college. Practice for your PSATs early; take them in your sophomore year.
   
• Learn the importance of preparing and searching for a college. Visit Collegeview.com.
   
• If you have determined what grade-level(s) you are interested in teaching someday, it’s a good idea to look at what schools offer teacher preparation programs that suit your needs. Go to Tennessee’s website to see what licensure preparation programs are available at prospective schools. This website is updated by the state of Tennessee. This will help you determine what college best meets your needs.
   
• Fill out your FAFSA as early as possible. Check early application dates and deadlines on FAFSA’s website. In addition to being a requirement for nearly any grant, scholarship or loan you apply; it screens for funding available at the federal-level in accordance with your personal situation.
   
• Investigate college programs in teaching. It's possible to start at a two-year college and transfer to a four-year institution. Use the information in Tennessee Postsecondary Schools Tab to contact these institutions.  Ask about transfer policy and procedure.
   
• Take action and get recommended for scholarships related to teaching. Ask your guidance counselor how to look for scholarships in your area.
   
• Begin to research financial aid options. Ask your guidance counselor to recommend books or Web sites. Attend financial aid meetings and college fairs. If possible, have your parents, family members, or guardians attend these meetings and fairs as well. Also, if a financial aid option requires that you pay for information/application, it is not likely to be a legitimate endeavor.
   
• Prepare a portfolio of your high school experiences including exceptional essays, papers and descriptions of after-school and community service experiences.

* For the unedited version of the above list, visit the National Teacher Recruitment Clearinghouse’s website.

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