I have read with interest over the past couple of days in the New York Times and on ransomtech's blog about a new school in New York city who recruited the best teachers to come and teach at its new school in the fall. The school didn't just go out and observe these teachers in their element (their classrooms) and then offered them a signing bonus or relocation budget. Instead, they clinched the deal by offering them contracts with a pay of $125,000 a year and a chance to earn up to $25,000 the following year for high performance of their students.This is an interesting idea as the school's founder, Zeke M. Vanderhoek has decided that excellent teachers, not small classes, the latest technology or talented administrators make a school great. It will be interesting to see how these 8 teachers make out next year with extra responsibilities, longer hours and more students then the average NYC classroom. The principal, Mr. Vanderhoek himself, will earn less than the teachers, $90,000.
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I'm not exactly sure why, but this post has had me sitting staring at the screen, thinking this through over and over again, looking for the good in it. I can't find it - sounds like a disaster waiting to happen.
ReplyDeleteOn the surface of it, 125k sounts pretty appealing. But when I think of all the world class teacher I know, I can't think of one who would go to a school for that reason alone...there's so much more to it. So who are the actually going to get?