You can enroll you and your family in your school district’s health plan. This typically includes comprehensive medical, dental, vision and other insurance costs. 

Vacation days will depend on your district, but in general you can expect: 

• Spring break
• December holiday break
• National holidays off
• Paid personal & sick days during the school year

You may also get time off during the summer. Teachers use this time to travel, explore professional development, relax or work elsewhere. Some districts offer summer positions for teachers, such as summer school or curriculum development jobs.

In Texas, you’ll receive retirement funds through the Teacher Retirement System of Texas. You can receive full benefits if you: 

• Are 65 and have completed at least five years of in-state teaching service.
• Are 62 and your combined age and years of service equal at least 80.

How does teacher retirement work?

During your teaching years, you’ll contribute a portion of your salary to the Teacher Retirement System of Texas. Your employer also makes a contribution that goes into the statewide fund. 

Your contributions, your employer’s contributions and the contributions of other Texas employees earn interest over time. Those contributions add up, so you’ll be financially secure when it’s time to retire. (4)

Stepping into a classroom could mean stepping out of debt. Loan forgiveness programs cancel your remaining student loans (meaning you don’t have to pay them back!) if you commit to teaching for several years:

Teacher Loan Forgiveness Program

The Teacher Loan Forgiveness Program helps public school teachers with federal student loans.

Teachers in certain shortage areas, including math, science and special education can receive up to $17,500 in forgiven loans. If you teach a different subject, you can still get up to $5,000! To qualify, you’ll need to:

• Have a federal Direct Loan or Stafford Loan.
• Teach in a school that serves low-income students.
• Teach full-time for five consecutive academic years.
• Have taken out your loans before the end of your five years of service. 

Perkins Loan Forgiveness

You can get 100% of your Perkins loans forgiven if you teach for five years!

You’ll need to:

• Have a federal Perkins loan.
• Teach in a school that serves low-income students.
• Teach in a state-designated shortage area.

Public Service Loan Forgiveness

If you work full-time in a public service field (like teaching!) for 10 years, you can get your remaining student loans forgiven through the Public Service Loan Forgiveness Program.

To qualify, you’ll need to:

• Have a federal Direct Loan, or consolidate your other federal loans into a Direct Loan.
• Work full-time (at least 30 hours a week).
• Make 120 on-time payments while you’re employed full-time. 

Buying a house is expensive, but there are resources to find a home in the community where you teach:

Good Neighbor Next Door

The federal government created Good Neighbor Next Door to contribute to community revitalization and to support people in service professions (like teaching).

Good Neighbor Next Door offers a discount of 50% from the list price of qualifying homes. The home inventory changes weekly—so if you don’t see something in your area right away, it’s worth checking back!

Teacher Next Door

Teacher Next Door helps classroom teachers become homeowners in the communities where they work. The program offers a wide range of support, including:

• Housing grants
• Down payment assistance
• Home loans
• Preferred interest rates

Texas State Affordability and Housing Corporation

The Texas State Affordability and Housing Corporation helps teachers, public service workers and low-income families become homeowners. You can get a wide range of home-buying support, including:

• Mortgage tax credits
• Down payment assistance
• Fee waivers

Want to continue your teacher education? Many school districts offer tuition reimbursement and professional development funds, for things like conferences or trainings.

Building your skills can increase your knowledge and your pay. It also helps districts retain top-notch educators, so it’s a win-win for everyone.