Special Education Teacher (Middle School)

Join a team of master teachers and earn a $140,000 salary at The Equity Project (TEP) Charter School, featured in the New York Times, The Wall Street Journal, and on 60 Minutes for its revolutionary teacher salaries and its outstanding results. TEP aims to achieve educational equity for students from traditionally underserved communities by utilizing world-class teachers, while re-imagining the teaching profession as a place in which teachers prioritize their own growth—as pedagogical experts, intellectual seekers, and community leaders.

Watch the video below to learn more about TEP's investment in teachers. 

About the Role (Responsibilities)

As one of the three pillars of our program (Academics, Arts, and Athletics), TEP is deeply committed to building an inclusive classroom culture that fosters a genuine love of learning.

Special Education teachers at TEP work as a co-teacher in an integrated classroom, team teaching with the General Education teacher to support the needs of ALL students. Special Education teachers also teach small group literacy and math support classes for students who are significantly below grade level in these subjects. TEP is committed to serving students with a range of learning and behavioral representations, with over 20% of TEP students having Individualized Education Plans (IEPs). Special Education teachers at TEP lead instructional blocks in addition to providing co-teaching support, and middle school Special Education teachers specialize in a particular content (e.g. Math or Literacy). 

TEP Middle School Special Education teachers collaborate to develop and implement effective Individualized Education Plans (IEPs) tailored to the unique strengths and challenges of each student, ensuring a personalized and supportive educational experience. 

Middle School teachers will work in a state-of-the-art learning environment carefully designed, built, and crafted to spark joy and instill a love of learning for TEP students. Our school building in the Washington Heights/Inwood community, provides a perfect learning environment for developing students by providing innovative classroom settings, a full gymnasium, a high-tech performing arts space, and an indoor/outdoor café where meals are prepared fresh on a daily basis for students and staff.

About You (Qualifications)

• Deeply aligned to TEP’s mission of providing a world-class education to historically under-resourced student communities (90% of TEP students qualify for free or reduced-price lunch, 22% of TEP students receive Special Education services, and 25% of TEP students are Multi-Lingual Learners).
• Classroom experience: Minimum of 3 years of lead teaching experience, at least 2 of which must have been in classrooms that support Special Education students from 4th through 9th grade classrooms in a public charter school, traditional public school, or private school setting.
• The ability to create, internalize and implement dynamic, innovative, and engaging curriculum while providing differentiated instruction to accommodate various learning styles and abilities. Ability to shape the content to cultivate critical thinking while meeting each individual student's needs and learning style.
• Outstanding verbal ability and strong communication skills.
• Certification requirements: Special Education Teachers do not need to possess a New York State Teacher Certification to be hired at TEP Charter School. However, prospective Special Education teachers that do not yet have New York State teaching certification must identify and present a pathway to obtain New York State teaching certification on their application.
• Education requirements: TEP adheres to the educational background requirements outlined within the individual pathways to NYS teaching certification (see above), and does not require any additional degree programs for English Language Arts Teachers.

Looking to have a significant impact while gaining lead teaching experience within a community of expert educators? Explore our TEP Teaching Fellow opportunity!

Why TEP (Benefits)

At TEP, growth isn't just for our students—continued growth is also a central priority for our teachers. That's why we're redefining the teacher experience, offering a rewarding career that includes an annual salary that matches TEP’s high expectations.

• Compensation: Master Teachers earn an annual salary of $140,000, with the opportunity to earn a significant annual bonus up to $35,000 based on whole school performance
• Redefined Work-Year: 3 extended rest breaks and 3 professional development institutes focused on learning and collaboration
• Unmatched Educator Talent: Be surrounded by a collaborative community of experienced, passionate educators who care about educational equity
• Time Off: Approximately 10 weeks of vacation per year (all school vacations)
• Employee Wellness: We value your well-being through our Staff Food Program, Staff Retreats, and Wellness Programming
• Healthcare: World-class medical, dental, vision, Short-Term Disability (STD), Long-Term Disability (LTD), and Life Insurance policies
• Family Focus: Parental leave and dependent care account so you can care for your loved ones
• 403b Retirement Plan: We care about your ability to save for your future
• Learning & Development: A culture that provides and encourages professional growth and development, including professional development and tuition/continuous learning reimbursements

Join us for an upcoming VIRTUAL Info Session!

If you or a friend is interested in applying for a teaching position at TEP, join us for a virtual information session with TEP's Senior Leaders. Learn more about the teacher application process and what it's like to teach at TEP. 

Please RSVP here!

Application Process

TEP is designed and structured around the belief that great teachers are the key to achieving educational success for students. As such, we require applicants to demonstrate their qualifications throughout the application and hiring process. The requirements for each applicant include:

• Resume: Applicants must submit an up-to-date resume
• Cover Letter: Applicants must submit a well-written cover letter highlighting their specific interest in joining the TEP community
• Instructional Video: Applicants must submit an unedited video clip of themselves teaching in a classroom setting or small-group setting
• Submission of Teaching and Learning: Applicants must submit a portfolio of student work, assessment data for a class of students, or an original curricular tool that they have personally developed

The requirements for the Instructional Video and the Submission of Teaching and Learning components are specified in detail below.

INSTRUCTIONAL VIDEO: Please submit an unedited video clip (maximum 15 minutes) of you teaching in a classroom setting (preferred) or a small-group setting. It is preferred that the students be in the same grade-level as the TEP teaching position for which you are applying, though this is not a strict requirement. The video may contain only one continuous, unedited clip (i.e. do not splice together multiple clips from different points in the lesson). The clip does not need to show an entire lesson; a brief lesson segment is perfectly acceptable.

If you do not have a video with students in the classroom you may still submit a video of yourself teaching. Get creative! You may include a video of you teaching (a) a lesson with/for no students, (b) a lesson of you teaching family members, (c) or a lesson for students virtually. We’re excited to see your creativity.

The video must be accompanied by a written narrative that analyzes and reflects upon the teaching and learning that occurs in the lesson and may offer an explanation as to what occurred prior to and subsequent to the clip. There is no minimum or maximum length for the narrative. The video may be submitted in any format, but a link to a video posted online is preferred.

SUBMISSION OF TEACHING AND LEARNING: Submit one of the following three options:

Option A: Portfolio of Student Work that demonstrates the progress of at least two specific students that you have taught. The portfolio must contain a minimum of two work products for each student (for a minimum of four work products) completed at different points in time during the period when each student was in your class. The portfolio must be accompanied by a written narrative that analyzes and reflects upon the progress that each student demonstrates. There is no minimum or maximum length for the narrative.

Option B: Assessment Data for at least one entire class of students that you have taught. The assessments may be standardized national, state, or city assessments or your own self-created assessments.  The assessment data can be provided in any form that you choose (official documents with students’ last names crossed-out, or documents that you create to summarize student assessment performance). The data you provide should ideally show progress over time; as such, it is recommended (though not required) that you provide data for at least two assessments taken at different points in time. The assessment data must be accompanied by a copy of the assessments themselves. If a specific assessment is unavailable, provide a copy of a similar assessment. The assessment data must also be accompanied by a written narrative that provides background on the assessments, explains how the assessments measure student performance, and analyzes the results of your class. There is no minimum or maximum length for the narrative.

Option C: Original Curricular Tool of any form that you have personally developed. The requirement here is deliberately open-ended because we are interested in seeing anything that you have developed that you believe has meaningfully supported your students' learning. This may take the form of written materials, a unique instructional methodology, a technological innovation, etc.  The curricular tool must also be accompanied by a written narrative that provides background on the tool, how the tool functions, and speaks to the impact of the tool within your classroom. There is no minimum or maximum length for the narrative.