From Tutor to Teacher:
Your Journey Starts Here

At Saga Education, we believe tutoring is more than a year of service—it’s a launchpad for future educators. Tutor-to-Teacher is a media hub designed to showcase the many pathways our tutors have taken to turn their passion for education into lasting careers in K-12 classrooms.

Driven by the stories of former Saga tutors, this resource highlights diverse journeys into teaching, from alternative certification programs to graduate degrees and state licensure. Through candid interviews and real-life experiences, you’ll see how serving with Saga helps build the confidence, skills, and classroom presence needed to take the next step as a teacher.

Whether you’re exploring the idea of teaching or ready to find your pathway, Tutor-to-Teacher is here to guide you forward—with inspiration from those who’ve been in your shoes.

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Explore Tutor to Teacher Interviews

Discover real stories and practical pathways to become a K-12 educator. Learn how Saga tutors have turned their service experience into successful teaching careers—and how you can too.

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Interview with Nastasia

"Saga is a valuable contributor to the CPS mission of providing every child from every community in Chicago with a quality education that prepares them for success in college, career, and civic life."
LaTanya McDadeFormer Chief Education Officer, Chicago Public Schools
"If we can [expand Saga’s approach] for the school and for the city and around the country, we are going to have a lot more kids be successful."
Arne DuncanFormer U.S. Secretary of Education
"The results that Saga is generating are remarkable and among the finest interventions ever rigorously studied at the high school level."
The University of Chicago Urban Education Lab

Explore Education Pathway Options

Alternative Certification & Service Programs

Pre-teaching service programs like Saga Education and Teach For America (TFA) provide structured, immersive pathways for individuals (often recent college graduates or career changers) who want to enter education without an immediate teaching license.

These programs offer:

  • Hands-on classroom experience under mentorship
  • Accelerated pathways to certification while teaching
  • Commitment to underserved schools & communities
  • Financial support, such asstipends or tuition assistance
State Licensure Pathways

  • Traditional Teacher Preparation Programs through a university (often as part of a Bachelor’s or Master’s degree)

  • Alternative Certification Programs offered by school districts, non-profits, or state agencies designed for career changers or paraprofessionals (e.g., Relay Graduate School of Education, TNTP, state-run alt certs)

Post-Secondary Education Pathways

  • Bachelor’s Degrees in Education for undergraduates aiming for immediate licensure upon graduation

  • Master of Arts in Teaching (MAT) or Master’s in Education (M.Ed.) for those who already hold a bachelor’s degree but want formal teacher preparation

  • Residency-based graduate programs (e.g., Boston Teacher Residency) that combine coursework with classroom apprenticeships

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Alternative Certification & Service Programs

State Licensure Pathways

Post-Secondary Education Pathways

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