Explore careers in education
Shaping future teachers
Kansas Future Teacher Academy
The Kansas Future Teacher Academy at Emporia State University, sponsored by The Teachers College, has graduated more than 1,200 high school students over more than 30 years.
Since 1989, when the first academy had the honor of receiving the AASCU Christa McAuliffe Showcase for Excellence Award, the Future Teacher Academy at ESU has provided select students with the opportunity to learn more about the challenges and rewards of teaching and has become recognized as an established and highly respected training opportunity for students throughout the state of Kansas.
During this intense five-day program, the participants share in a variety of activities that will help them to understand better what teachers do and to determine whether or not they have the potential to meet this professional challenge.
The application for the academy is posted on this website and all Kansas public and private high school principals and counselors are notified when the application becomes available.
2024 KFTA
June 3-7, 2024 and/or July 15-19, 2024
Emporia State University campus
Applications will be accepted between Nov. 1, 2023, and March 1, 2024.
Careers for an individual with a degree in education
- teacher: early childhood / elementary / middle school / high school
- coach: academic / athletic
- curriculum development
- online teaching
- textbook author/editor
- test developer
- education research
- social welfare
- community service
- child care administration
- vocational counseling
- educational sales
- corporate professional development
An education degree can be the foundation for specialized positions
- adaptive physical education instructor
- curriculum specialist
- school counselor
- school librarian
- school psychologist
- special education administrator
- school principal
- district administrator
- speech and language pathologist
- superintendent
- reading specialist
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A degree in education does not always lead to a job in a traditional school setting
- charter schools
- private schools
- magnet schools
- schools outside the US (including Department of Defense schools)
- recreation centers
- hospitals
- correctional institutions
- museums
- libraries
- churches
- government agencies
- test preparation companies
- international language schools
Frequently Asked Questions
This academy is a chance for you to explore teaching / career in education as a possible career choice. What do we offer? What does the academy experience give you?
Academy Alumni
We celebrated our 30th year in 2019! That's a lot of people - around 2,000 - who have attended the academy. Were you one of them?
Annual KFTA Timeline
- Fall Semester / Early Spring Semester - applications are made available
- March - applications are due
- April - notifications to applicants are sent out
- June - academy is held
Professional Communities
Whatever career you go into, it helps to learn from your peers. There are a number of organizations you can follow on social media to see if what they are talking about is what lights your professional fire.
How to contact us
Todd Roberts, KFTA Director
fas fa-envelope-open troberts@emporia.edu
fas fa-phone-alt 785-418-9309
Mailing Address
Kansas Future Teacher Academy
Emporia State University
1 Kellogg Circle
Campus Box 4036
Emporia, KS 66801