Tutor with Ignite

It’s virtual. It’s paid. It’s impactful. It fits your schedule.

Teach For America Ignite is a rewarding, meaningful way to gain unique, hands-on experience as you put your passion for educational excellence into action.

Get paid to spark learning, belonging, and connection with kids as a part-time, online tutor with Ignite. The application opens this fall for our spring 2026 cohort.

Apply to Ignite

A woman holds up a learning visual to her laptop computer.

On This Page

Reasons to Apply to Ignite What Will I Do as an Ignite Fellow? Hear from Ignite Fellows Requirements for Participation What Kids and Teachers Say About Ignite Become an Ignite Fellow

So Many Reasons to Apply to Ignite

Illustration of a trophy with a star on it

Help students succeed

95% of schools report that fellows helped students grow academically.

Help students succeed

95% of schools report that fellows helped students grow academically.

Foster student belonging

Build relationships to help students feel connected, healthy, and able to bring their full selves to learning.

Foster student belonging

Build relationships to help students feel connected, healthy, and able to bring their full selves to learning.

Illustration of a stick figure climbing a ladder to the top of giant books

Become a better leader

Your ongoing training and hands-on tutoring experience will give you skills that are transferable into any professional setting.

Become a better leader

Your ongoing training and hands-on tutoring experience will give you skills that are transferable into any professional setting.

Illustration of three arrows -- two point down, and one points up.

Understand the system

95% of fellows say that they gain new insights about the state of education and their role in working towards educational excellence for all children.

Understand the system

95% of fellows say that they gain new insights about the state of education and their role in working towards educational excellence for all children.

Find connection

As an Ignite fellow you’ll feel part of a supportive, inclusive community as you partner with students, teachers, and others in the Teach For America network.

Find connection

As an Ignite fellow you’ll feel part of a supportive, inclusive community as you partner with students, teachers, and others in the Teach For America network.

Earn a financial award

Receive $800 - $1,200 in the fall and $1,000 - $1,400 in the spring at the end of the semester. It’s a part-time job with greater purpose.

Earn a financial award

Receive $800 - $1,200 in the fall and $1,000 - $1,400 in the spring at the end of the semester. It’s a part-time job with greater purpose.

As an Ignite fellow you will:

Instruct and mentor a small group of kids, usually 2-3
Tutor online, connecting over Zoom, Teams, or similar tools
Work 3-5 hours per week for a term (14 weeks):
- Weeks 1 + 2: Build your skills through onboarding
- Weeks 3-14: Partner directly with a small group of students
Build relationships and foster belonging with kids
Accelerate learning in in elementary reading, middle school math, and high school post-secondary access
Receive a financial award for your semester of service

View Our Program FAQs

View Our Application Process

What Fellows Are Saying About Ignite

As a future teacher, this program enabled me to develop teaching skills, understand the education landscape, and get excited about being in the classroom.

Ignite fellow

I felt like I was really helping my student and making an impact on her education and her understanding, which was really meaningful to me. I just loved the experience.

Ignite fellow

It was a rewarding experience to see that in real time I can make a difference with my students. It's really exciting to see when they understand something and they get excited.

Ignite fellow

I valued the opportunity to connect with students through my teaching experience. I learned how to adjust teaching, what works and what doesn't, and how I can get them excited to learn.

Ignite fellow

I love that Ignite gives students a chance to create safe and trusting relationships. The small group size ensures that children are given individualized attention and the fellow is able to recognize and cater to students’ specific needs and interests.

Ignite fellow

I valued getting to meet with the same students every session and getting to be involved in their classroom goals and agendas. It feels like the Ignite fellows become a part of the students’ classroom experience.

Ignite fellow

I'm most proud of being able to help a teacher accommodate some of her students and alleviating some of their pressure.

Ignite fellow

Requirements for Participation

At a minimum, fellows must:

Be current undergrads, grad students, TFA alums, or renewing fellows
Have at least a 2.5 undergraduate GPA (or 3.0 high school for college freshman)
Be available to work up to 5 hours per week during K-12 school hours
Be authorized to work in the U.S. and at least 18 years old

Qualities we look for are:

Deep belief in kids and families facing systemic barriers
Bold vision setting and the ability to create meaningful change
Effective collaboration with people from different backgrounds and perspectives
Desire to learn from people, experiences, and self-reflection

tutor and student working together on laptop

Tutor With Purpose

All kids deserve individualized learning to meet their unique needs. Ignite fellows provide personalized learning that helps students increase their achievement and fosters greater belonging in the classroom. Research shows that tutoring is one of the most effective ways to improve educational achievement. This school year, TFA Ignite will reach 7,000 students across 43 communities in 160 schools.

Among our students

95%

said that Ignite fellows taught them in the way they learned best.

Among our partner schools

95%

reported Ignite fellows had a positive impact on students' academic growth.

And among our partner schools

94%

said that Ignite fellows had a positive impact on students' engagement in school overall.

What Kids and Teachers Say About Ignite

It really made me start believing that I could be taught in my own way and still be smart.

Student

I enjoyed that my Ignite fellow takes her time in trying to get us to understand. I got a good grade in math because of it.

Student

Ignite to me is about my students being exposed to college students and seeing themselves in their shoes.

Teacher

I really appreciated the quality of people selected to be fellows. I was very impressed by their background, passion, and dedication.

Teacher

Become an Ignite Fellow

Join a paid, part-time tutoring fellowship that suits your strengths, availability, and passions—and maximize the undeniable impact and meaningful difference you can make with students.

Apply To Ignite