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Teacher Equity

TEP aims to re-imagine the teaching profession as a place where teachers prioritize their own growth – as pedagogical experts, content specialists, intellectual seekers, and community leaders. We recognize that teaching is more than just a job.

The 3 R’s: Rigorous Qualifications, Redefined Expectations, Revolutionary Compensation

Rigorous Qualifications

Meta-analyses of studies of teacher characteristics show that while the effects of some teacher characteristics (e.g. degree level, teacher preparation, teacher certification) on student achievement are inconclusive, other characteristics such as teacher academic proficiency

[1]Dan Goldhaber and Emily Anthony, “Teacher Quality and Student Achievement,” ERIC Clearinghouse on Urban Education, Urban Diversity Series No. 115, May 2003: 18.

, teacher verbal ability

[2]Constance K. Bond, “Do Teacher Salaries Matter? The Effects of Teacher Salaries on Teacher Recruitment, Teacher Retention, and Student Outcomes,” Dissertation, Columbia University, 2001, 63.

, and teacher content-area knowledge

[3]Bond, 64.

are related to improving student achievement. In addition, a certain threshold of teaching experience has been shown to have important positive effects on student achievement, since teachers tend to improve dramatically in their first few years in the classroom.

[4]ibid, 97-98.

Using this research on highly-effective teachers, TEP teachers must demonstrate their qualifications in 4 major areas: 

  1. Teaching Expertise and Experience
  2. Expert Subject-Area Knowledge (Middle School) and/or Expertise with Younger Students (K–4), 
  3. Strong Curriculum Development Ability 
  4. Outstanding Verbal Ability.

Redefined Expectations

TEP re-imagines the life of a teacher by focusing on one essential principle: Students are best served by teachers who make their own continued growth a central priority. This principle naturally leads to a major restructuring of a teacher’s working life, where TEP redefines:

  • Teacher’s Work-Day, which includes:
    • Teaching Your Classes, Support Periods, Special Groups/Clubs, Teacher Partnership Time, Whole School Service Role
  • Teacher’s Work-Year
    • While TEP has the same amount of school and vacation days as other NYC schools, TEP’s “year round” school calendar redefines the structure and flow of the year.  The main goals and impacts of this redefined calendar are:
      • Addressing the opportunity gap by combatting the ‘Summer Slide’
      • Creating a sustainable work year for teachers, including 3 extended rest breaks and 3 PD institutes that are focused on data driven assessment, targeted learning focuses, and opportunity for collaboration.

Revolutionary Compensation

There are a number of schools in New York City (NYC) and throughout the United States that have adopted a set of very high expectations for their teachers, some of which are similar to the expectations set by TEP. There are also many individual teachers who take on enormous responsibilities that go well beyond any expectations set upon them by their school. Unfortunately, these amazing teachers and schools are the exception, not the rule. The reason for this is clear: although lip-service is paid to how much great teachers are valued, the compensation that these teachers receive makes evident the fact that they are not.

TEP has created a sustainable model that attracts, retains, and develops highly qualified individuals to teach in schools that serve low-income communities. These teachers are valued in a way that matches the redefined expectations set for them:  a $140,000 annual salary and the opportunity to earn a significant annual bonus based on school-wide performance.

‎TEP Perks‏‏‏‏

Our Name: The Equity Project

The school’s name – The Equity Project – emerges from the dual meaning of the word equity.

Equity means the value of an investment. TEP is particularly interested in teacher equity, the value of teachers in student achievement.

Equity also means fairness and equality. TEP aims to provide students from historically marginalized communities with equal access to outstanding teachers and social workers as a means of achieving educational equity.

TEP’s mission is a synthesis of these ideas:

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