Thursday, June 25, 2026 @ 5:30 PM
TEP aims to put into practice the central conclusion of a large body of research related to student achievement: teacher quality is the most important school-based factor in the academic success of students, particularly students from low-income families.
In singling out teacher quality as the essential lever in educational reform, TEP is uniquely focused on attracting and retaining master teachers. To do so, TEP uses a three-pronged strategy that it terms the 3 R’s: Rigorous Qualifications, Redefined Expectations, & Revolutionary Compensation.
TEP hires experienced teachers for Kindergarten through Grade 4 who are passionate about building strong academic foundations and creating supportive, engaging classroom communities. Educators in these roles play a critical part in helping students develop early literacy and math skills, as well as the social-emotional competencies that support long-term success in school.
Our Early Childhood and Elementary School teams work in the Washington Heights and Inwood communities, serving young learners in a structured, high-expectations environment that values consistency, care, and academic rigor. Through strong instruction, thoughtful classroom culture, and close collaboration with families, our staff model our “CUB” values in all that we do. Each letter in “CUB” represents a Latin word that describes one of our core values; C – Cura (Care & Curiosity), U – Unitas (Unity), B – Benevolentia (Kindness). Teachers and staff help students build confidence, curiosity, and a love of learning from their earliest years.
TEP’s school model is intentionally designed to support strong, effective instruction through a clear and coherent curriculum, consistent schoolwide routines, and a focus on mastery of essential skills and concepts. Teachers work within a well-aligned academic program that provides clear expectations, high-quality materials, and shared instructional practices, allowing them to focus deeply on teachings. The program prioritizes early literacy, foundational mathematics, and the systematic building of knowledge across subjects, ensuring that students develop strong reading, writing, and problem-solving skills from an early age. This structured, aligned approach creates continuity across grade levels and campuses, supporting both teacher effectiveness and long-term student success.
Teachers have access to continuous professional development sessions on a wide range of topics during TEP’s Institute Weeks and a campus-specific professional development schedule. Teachers have collaborative planning time, data analysis sessions, and ongoing feedback observations to support their instructional practice and strengthen classroom culture. Clear expectations for instruction, student work, and daily routines provide a consistent framework across classrooms, allowing educators to focus their energy on high-quality teaching, supporting student learning, and driving continuous academic growth.
In Early Childhood (Kindergarten and 1st grade), teachers focus on building strong early literacy skills, including phonics, decoding, and beginning writing, alongside foundational math concepts such as number sense and basic operations. Instruction is carefully structured to help students develop the skills and confidence needed to become fluent readers, writers, and mathematical thinkers. In Elementary School (Grades 2–4), the emphasis shifts toward reading to learn, with a focus on building comprehension, vocabulary, and writing fluency, as well as strengthening problem-solving and reasoning skills in mathematics. This progression ensures that students move from mastering foundational skills to applying them across subjects with increasing independence and depth of understanding.
Classrooms emphasize consistent routines, positive behavior support, and strong relationships that create a safe, structured, and engaging learning environment. In partnership with families and TEP’s grade-level social workers, teachers intentionally help students build independence, practice collaboration, and develop the social-emotional skills needed to work productively with peers, manage challenges, and take ownership of their learning.
Teachers communicate regularly with families and work in close partnership to support each student’s learning, behavior, and overall development. Through ongoing communication and collaboration, families and educators share insights, align expectations, and work together to ensure students are supported both in and out of the classroom.
TEP’s master teachers are lead teachers in the classroom and serve as leaders outside of the classroom. Teachers deliver high-quality instruction, lead key instructional blocks, plan and implement lessons, and assess student progress in the early childhood and elementary grades. Teachers also play a key role in building strong, supportive classroom communities by establishing clear routines, fostering positive relationships, and creating an environment where students feel safe, challenged, and motivated to learn.
TEP believes that teacher leadership outside of the classroom leads to a stronger school community. TEP teachers contribute to the school community by leading a whole school service role that is related directly to student development or parent and community involvement and are NOT related to school operations. Given the significant investment in teacher compensation, and given the quality of its teachers, TEP aims to provide as many opportunities as possible for its teachers to interact with students and community members. Each teacher takes on one whole-school service role in a particular year, which may remain as the same role for multiple years or shift to a new role each year.
Teaching Fellows serve as teachers in one Kindergarten, 1st, 2nd, 3rd, or 4th grade classroom, while refining their skills in partnership with a master teacher. Teaching Fellows serve as the lead teacher for some instructional periods each day and co-teach with the Master teacher for other periods of instruction during the day, teaching across subjects to build deep relationships that support student progress and development. Throughout the day, they will also lead small group learning in both literacy and math. By working closely with lead teachers, they help provide individualized attention, targeted academic support, and consistent structure, ensuring that all students receive the guidance and care they need to succeed both academically and socially. Teaching Fellows also contribute to the school community by leading a whole school service role that is related directly to student development or parent and community involvement.
As pillars of TEP’s vision for the 3 A’s (Academics, Arts, and Athletics), students receive daily Music Instruction and Physical Education at every grade level (Kindergarten through 8th grade). In Early Childhood (K & 1) and Elementary School (Grades 2–4), TEP hires one Music Teacher and one Physical Education teacher per grade, who contribute to a well-rounded academic program and play an important role in supporting students’ creative and physical development. Music Teachers provide high-quality instruction in music and performing arts, helping students build artistic skills, express themselves, and develop an appreciation for creativity as an essential part of their overall education. Physical Education teachers lead daily PE periods and integrate physical education into the broader educational experience, supervising physical activities during recess and ensuring that students are active on the road to developing the habits that will lead to life-long health.
New teachers focus on building strong and consistent classroom routines, establishing positive relationships with students and families, and creating a safe, supportive learning environment. They work to become fluent with the curriculum, instructional materials, and schoolwide expectations, ensuring alignment with TEP’s academic model and culture. Through coaching, collaboration, and practice, new educators develop the skills and confidence needed to deliver high-quality instruction and support student growth from the start of the school year.
Teachers demonstrate effective classroom management, strong instructional planning, and a consistent ability to drive measurable student growth in literacy, mathematics, and social-emotional development. Through well-structured lessons, clear expectations, and responsive teaching practices, they create learning environments where students are engaged, supported, and able to make meaningful academic and personal progress.
TEP teachers earn a revolutionary compensation of $140,000 a year with the opportunity for a significant performance bonus based on whole-school performance. TEP offers comprehensive benefits, along with meaningful opportunities for ongoing professional growth, access to consistent professional development resources, and leveraging teachers’ skills and expertise. TEP is committed to fostering an environment where educators make a strong impact on student learning and contribute their expertise and leadership through intentional whole-school service roles.
Explore current Early Childhood and Elementary teaching opportunities and take the next step in your career at The Equity Project (TEP) Charter School. At TEP, you’ll join a mission-driven community dedicated to academic excellence, equity, and whole-child development. View available roles, learn more about our supportive culture and professional growth opportunities, and apply to become part of a team committed to making a meaningful impact on students’ lives every day.
TEP hires for a range of roles supporting early childhood and elementary grades, typically spanning Kindergarten through Grade 4. These positions include instructional, classroom support, and specialized roles that contribute to students’ academic and social-emotional development. Specific openings vary by year based on enrollment, program growth, and campus needs, allowing TEP to staff schools thoughtfully and responsively. As hiring needs change, opportunities may be available across different grade levels and campuses, offering educators and staff multiple ways to contribute to a strong, mission-driven elementary program.
Yes. TEP often hires teaching assistants and similar classroom support staff to help deliver strong instruction, maintain consistent classroom routines, and provide targeted support during small-group and individualized learning. These roles work closely with lead teachers to reinforce lessons, assist with classroom management, and ensure that students receive the attention and guidance they need throughout the day. Availability for these positions depends on current staffing needs and open roles at each campus, which may vary by year.
Qualifications vary by role. Lead teaching positions typically require relevant classroom experience as well as appropriate state certification or licensure, reflecting the responsibilities of serving as the primary instructional lead. Teaching assistant and other support roles may have different experience or credential requirements, depending on the nature of the position and level of responsibility. Each job posting clearly outlines the specific qualifications, credentials, and experience needed for that role so that candidates can understand the expectations and determine their fit.
Certification requirements vary by position at TEP. Some roles, particularly lead teaching positions, require appropriate state certification, while other instructional or support roles may not have the same credential requirements. The best way to confirm what is required is to review the qualifications listed in the specific job posting, as each role clearly outlines the necessary certifications, experience, and credentials needed to apply.
Early literacy instruction at TEP emphasizes consistent routines, systematic skill-building, and the development of strong reading comprehension. Teachers provide structured practice in foundational skills and maintain clear, high expectations, helping students build confidence, fluency, and independence as readers.
Yes. Teachers receive ongoing instructional coaching, collaborative planning time, and regular, actionable feedback to support continuous improvement in their practice. These supports help educators reflect on instruction, strengthen lesson design, and refine classroom strategies. Through coaching and collaboration, teachers are able to grow professionally, align to shared expectations, and continuously improve outcomes for students.
You can apply online through TEP’s careers page, where current openings across teaching, operations, and support roles are posted. The site provides detailed job descriptions, qualifications, and application instructions for each position. If there are no current openings that match your interests or experience, you can join TEP’s talent network to stay connected and be considered for future opportunities. By joining the talent pool, you can receive updates about new roles as they become available and be contacted when positions align with your background and career goals.
Thanks for reading about Early Childhood & Elementary Teaching Positions!