OPT Esl Teacher Jobs
ESL teacher jobs on OPT are available at language schools, K-12 districts, universities, and corporate training programs. Your OPT work authorization must match education-related roles, and STEM OPT extensions don't apply here. Most positions require TEFL or TESOL certification alongside your degree.
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Get Access To All JobsJob Title: ESL Coordinator/Teacher (Coordinates and Delivers ESL Services)
Reports to: Headmaster
Location: Shared across Invictus Upper and Lower Schools (K-12); Helotes, Texas
Supported by: Special Student Services Team - Assigned Campus
Exemption Status/Test: Exempt
- This position requires an ESL certification awarded by the Texas Education Agency that covers the assigned grade levels. TESOL and TEFL do not meet this requirement.
Duties and Responsibilities:
Program Coordination:
- Implement procedures and coordinate the process to identify emergent bilingual students at all grade levels, including review of student data and testing of students.
- Develop and revise bilingual and ESL curriculum as needed.
- Assist teachers in providing emergent bilingual students with appropriate course work through curriculum modification, accelerations, etc.
- Develop and coordinate a continuing evaluation of the bilingual and ESL programs and implement changes based on the findings.
- Plan and execute all required language assessments including identification, annual proficiency, and reclassification assessments.
- Plan, manage and conduct all required LPAC meetings.
- Manage the ESL classroom, set service schedules to meet the needs of each emergent bilingual, oversee the support provided by ESL Teachers and Assistant Teachers, and ensure the physical safety, emotional, social, and educational needs of the emergent bilinguals are met.
- Instruct and support emergent bilinguals in small group pull out ELAR classes.
Consultation:
- Provide resources and materials to support staff in accomplishing program goals.
- Consult with parents, administrators, counselors, teachers, community agencies, and other relevant individuals regarding emergent bilingual students.
- Plan and conduct parent meetings, including parent advisory committee meetings.
Budget and Inventory:
- Compile budget and cost estimates based on documented program needs.
- Assist with the selection and purchase of supplemental equipment and supplies for the program.
Policy, Reports, and Law:
- Compile, maintain, and file all physical and computerized reports, records, and other required documents.
- Train campus personnel and oversee LPAC meetings and paperwork.
- Comply with policies established by federal and state law, State Board of Education rule, and the local board policy.
Qualifications
Education/Certification:
- Bachelor’s degree from an accredited university required
- Valid/Current Texas Teacher Certification required
- Valid Texas Bilingual Spanish Endorsement or ESL Supplemental required
- Texas Teaching Certification in a Generalist or Core Content Area that covers assigned grade levels required.
Experience:
- Two or more years of teaching experience
- Experience as an ESL teacher or coordinator
Benefits:
Great Hearts offers a very competitive benefits package. Overall compensation will be commensurate with talent, experience, and education.
ESL at Great Hearts
At Great Hearts, our English as a Second Language Teachers and Coordinators are integral members of our faculty and participate in all faculty-wide events and professional development. Their specialized expertise provides English learners assistance with grade-level curriculum using ESL strategies, enabling students to become academically successful. Great Hearts aims to serve all students including English learners in a manner that affirms and reflects their dignity and rightful participation within the larger student body and academy. Through small group and one-to-one support, the ESL team provides essential support throughout the school year and with annual state assessment preparation. Through the state mandated Language Proficiency Assessment Committee identification, monitoring and reclassification processes, ESL Coordinators and Teachers support all English learners at Great Hearts as they develop their academic English language to proficiency.
Qualities & Values
Passionately Committed
With humility and curiosity, we seek to know more about our core purpose; seek to share (with each other and with others externally as an advocate); seek to live the mission ourselves with relentless pursuit and intrinsic motivation; seek to understand our work and how it serves the mission…which should result in getting the right stuff done with measurable results because we love actualization – not just the theory.
Servant's Heart
The foundational element of having a servant’s heart is the acknowledgment of inherent dignity in their fellow human. Someone with a servant’s heart believes that their work is to promote the development of those around them and make it possible for others to be successful in serving the mission of the organization.
Team Player
We believe our mission can only be accomplished through collaboration and receive true joy in being a part of something greater than ourselves; Each of us is one part of a whole, each with different roles, expertise, and responsibilities; working together in synchronicity.
Compensation:
Great Hearts offers a competitive benefits package and overall compensation will be commensurate with talent, experience, and education.
Additional Requirements:
- Type of fingerprint clearance: Must possess or obtain valid Texas fingerprint clearance card.
- Physical functions: Requires but is not limited to standing, sitting, repetitious hand and body movements, bending, squatting, and reaching. May be required to move or position equipment up to 15 pounds approximately.
- Travel required: May need to travel locally to the various academies within the metro area.
This description reflects management’s assignment of essential functions, it does not exclude or restrict the tasks that may be assigned.
US work authorization is required
Great Hearts Academies is an Equal Opportunity Employer
Employment is contingent upon successful completion of a criminal history background check and fingerprint clearance in accordance with state requirements.
Travel required: May need to travel locally for training and professional development opportunities.
This description reflects management’s assignment of essential functions. It does not exclude or restrict the tasks that may be assigned.
Great Hearts Academies is an Equal Opportunity Employer.
Job Title: ESL Coordinator/Teacher (Coordinates and Delivers ESL Services)
Reports to: Headmaster
Location: Shared across Invictus Upper and Lower Schools (K-12); Helotes, Texas
Supported by: Special Student Services Team - Assigned Campus
Exemption Status/Test: Exempt
- This position requires an ESL certification awarded by the Texas Education Agency that covers the assigned grade levels. TESOL and TEFL do not meet this requirement.
Duties and Responsibilities:
Program Coordination:
- Implement procedures and coordinate the process to identify emergent bilingual students at all grade levels, including review of student data and testing of students.
- Develop and revise bilingual and ESL curriculum as needed.
- Assist teachers in providing emergent bilingual students with appropriate course work through curriculum modification, accelerations, etc.
- Develop and coordinate a continuing evaluation of the bilingual and ESL programs and implement changes based on the findings.
- Plan and execute all required language assessments including identification, annual proficiency, and reclassification assessments.
- Plan, manage and conduct all required LPAC meetings.
- Manage the ESL classroom, set service schedules to meet the needs of each emergent bilingual, oversee the support provided by ESL Teachers and Assistant Teachers, and ensure the physical safety, emotional, social, and educational needs of the emergent bilinguals are met.
- Instruct and support emergent bilinguals in small group pull out ELAR classes.
Consultation:
- Provide resources and materials to support staff in accomplishing program goals.
- Consult with parents, administrators, counselors, teachers, community agencies, and other relevant individuals regarding emergent bilingual students.
- Plan and conduct parent meetings, including parent advisory committee meetings.
Budget and Inventory:
- Compile budget and cost estimates based on documented program needs.
- Assist with the selection and purchase of supplemental equipment and supplies for the program.
Policy, Reports, and Law:
- Compile, maintain, and file all physical and computerized reports, records, and other required documents.
- Train campus personnel and oversee LPAC meetings and paperwork.
- Comply with policies established by federal and state law, State Board of Education rule, and the local board policy.
Qualifications
Education/Certification:
- Bachelor’s degree from an accredited university required
- Valid/Current Texas Teacher Certification required
- Valid Texas Bilingual Spanish Endorsement or ESL Supplemental required
- Texas Teaching Certification in a Generalist or Core Content Area that covers assigned grade levels required.
Experience:
- Two or more years of teaching experience
- Experience as an ESL teacher or coordinator
Benefits:
Great Hearts offers a very competitive benefits package. Overall compensation will be commensurate with talent, experience, and education.
ESL at Great Hearts
At Great Hearts, our English as a Second Language Teachers and Coordinators are integral members of our faculty and participate in all faculty-wide events and professional development. Their specialized expertise provides English learners assistance with grade-level curriculum using ESL strategies, enabling students to become academically successful. Great Hearts aims to serve all students including English learners in a manner that affirms and reflects their dignity and rightful participation within the larger student body and academy. Through small group and one-to-one support, the ESL team provides essential support throughout the school year and with annual state assessment preparation. Through the state mandated Language Proficiency Assessment Committee identification, monitoring and reclassification processes, ESL Coordinators and Teachers support all English learners at Great Hearts as they develop their academic English language to proficiency.
Qualities & Values
Passionately Committed
With humility and curiosity, we seek to know more about our core purpose; seek to share (with each other and with others externally as an advocate); seek to live the mission ourselves with relentless pursuit and intrinsic motivation; seek to understand our work and how it serves the mission…which should result in getting the right stuff done with measurable results because we love actualization – not just the theory.
Servant's Heart
The foundational element of having a servant’s heart is the acknowledgment of inherent dignity in their fellow human. Someone with a servant’s heart believes that their work is to promote the development of those around them and make it possible for others to be successful in serving the mission of the organization.
Team Player
We believe our mission can only be accomplished through collaboration and receive true joy in being a part of something greater than ourselves; Each of us is one part of a whole, each with different roles, expertise, and responsibilities; working together in synchronicity.
Compensation:
Great Hearts offers a competitive benefits package and overall compensation will be commensurate with talent, experience, and education.
Additional Requirements:
- Type of fingerprint clearance: Must possess or obtain valid Texas fingerprint clearance card.
- Physical functions: Requires but is not limited to standing, sitting, repetitious hand and body movements, bending, squatting, and reaching. May be required to move or position equipment up to 15 pounds approximately.
- Travel required: May need to travel locally to the various academies within the metro area.
This description reflects management’s assignment of essential functions, it does not exclude or restrict the tasks that may be assigned.
US work authorization is required
Great Hearts Academies is an Equal Opportunity Employer
Employment is contingent upon successful completion of a criminal history background check and fingerprint clearance in accordance with state requirements.
Travel required: May need to travel locally for training and professional development opportunities.
This description reflects management’s assignment of essential functions. It does not exclude or restrict the tasks that may be assigned.
Great Hearts Academies is an Equal Opportunity Employer.
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Get Access To All JobsTips for Finding OPT Sponsorship as an Esl Teacher
Target employers familiar with OPT
Language schools, international universities, and large K-12 districts hire OPT students regularly. These employers already understand work authorization timelines and are less likely to reject your application the moment they see you need sponsorship consideration.
Get your TEFL or TESOL certified before applying
Most ESL teaching roles require a recognized teaching certificate alongside your degree. Having a TEFL or TESOL credential before you apply removes a common objection and signals you're ready to step into the classroom without additional training.
Focus on roles tied to your degree field
OPT requires your job to be directly related to your degree. A linguistics or education degree maps cleanly to ESL teaching. If your degree is in another field, document the connection carefully before your DSO approves your OPT application.
Ask about H-1B sponsorship during the offer stage
Don't wait until your OPT is expiring to raise visa sponsorship. Bring it up once you have an offer in hand. School districts and universities with HR departments handle H-1B filings more routinely than small private language schools.
Track your 90-day unemployment limit carefully
OPT students accumulate unauthorized unemployment if between teaching roles. ESL work can be contract-based or seasonal, so gaps add up quickly. Keep records of your employment dates and consult your DSO if a gap is approaching 60 days.
Esl Teacher OPT: Frequently Asked Questions
Does ESL teaching qualify as a valid OPT job?
Yes, ESL teaching qualifies for OPT as long as it's directly related to your degree. A degree in linguistics, education, TESOL, or a related field maps cleanly to the role. If your degree is in an unrelated field, you'll need to document the connection to your DSO before they approve your OPT application.
Can I work as a part-time ESL teacher on OPT?
Yes, part-time ESL teaching is permitted on pre-completion OPT, which allows up to 20 hours per week while school is in session. On post-completion OPT, you must work at least 20 hours per week to maintain valid status. Falling below that threshold counts toward your 90-day unemployment limit, so track your hours carefully.
Do ESL teaching jobs typically lead to H-1B sponsorship?
It depends on the employer type. Large public school districts, universities, and established language training companies are more likely to sponsor H-1B visas than small private tutoring centers. ESL roles do qualify as specialty occupations when tied to a relevant degree, so the path to H-1B sponsorship exists. You can find ESL roles at employers open to visa sponsorship on Migrate Mate.
Is a TEFL or TESOL certificate required to get an ESL teaching job on OPT?
Not universally, but most employers expect one. K-12 public school districts typically require state teaching licensure, while language schools and corporate ESL programs usually accept TEFL or TESOL certification. Having a recognized certificate alongside your degree strengthens your application significantly and reduces friction with employers who are already weighing your OPT authorization requirements.
Can I teach English online for a foreign company while on OPT?
No. OPT requires you to work for a U.S.-based employer or be self-employed in a way that meets USCIS guidelines. Working for a foreign company with no U.S. presence does not qualify for OPT. If you're doing freelance or contract ESL work, it must involve U.S.-based clients or a U.S. business entity to count toward your authorized practical training.