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Would You Teach Here for $125,000?

By John Norton

The Equity Project charter school in New York City’s Washington Heights will open this fall with 120 5th graders chosen by lottery. Preference was given to students from surrounding neighborhoods and to weak academic performers. Most children will be from low-income Hispanic families. The school will grow to 480 children in Grades 5 to 8, with 28 teachers. The eight teachers who will open the school were selected in a nationwide search and will be paid a $125,000 annual salary, with potential bonuses in the second year.

In the TLN Forum discussion group, Susie asked:

Would you want to teach in such a school? How many times have you been with a group of accomplished educators and heard someone say, "Well, if we could just start...