Announcements
The 2013-2014 Lead Teacher application is now closed. The 2014-2015 Lead Teacher application will be available in April 2014.
Please view the Lead Teacher Webinar for Interested Teachers to learn about the role, the selection process, and key timelines.
To be eligible for a position as a Lead Teacher, you must be a current, licensed, teacher in New York City district public schools and tenured as of September 1, 2013. The Lead Teacher application for the 2013-14 school year is now closed.
Selection will take place in a two-stage process:
- Initial selection will be made by a joint DOE/UFT central personnel committee. The central personnel committee will screen applications and conduct in-person interviews to create a pool of eligible candidates from which school committees can select.
- Each participating school will establish its own school-based personnel committee. This committee will make selections from the central candidate pool.
Eligibility Guidelines
- Current NYC district tenured teachers, with at least 3 years of successful teaching experience (as of 9/1/13)
- Teachers with at least 1 year of successful adult leadership experience, including formal and informal roles
- Record of successfully impacting student achievement and working with high-need students
- Record of creating model classroom learning environments
- Proven ability to work cooperatively and effectively with colleagues
- Proven ability to create and nurture a professional learning community
What can Lead Teachers expect?
- Work with colleagues in a variety of ways to help improve student achievement
- Be able to have your own class and coach colleagues at the same time
- Be recognized as an instructional teacher leader within your school building
- Join a cohort of like-minded peers and colleagues
Program Overview
The Lead Teacher Program supports teachers who assume a leadership role within their school. Lead Teachers spend 50% of their time in the classroom and the remaining 50% of their time providing professional development to teachers. In addition, the Lead Teacher works closely with the school’s literacy and math coaches. As per the UFT Bargaining Agreement, Lead Teachers are eligible to receive an additional $10,710 per year.
The two primary components of the Lead Teacher’s work are:
- Having a classroom that serves as a lab for utilizing best teaching practices and for demonstrating new pedagogical strategies and curriculum.
- Supporting the professional development of other teachers either by grade(s) or subject area. This may include:
- Leading study groups around standards, assessments and instruction
- Assisting teachers in setting goals for their professional development
- Serving as a “critical friend” to colleagues by providing coaching and feedback
- Facilitating regular grade level or subject area planning meetings
- Leading action research projects with other teachers
- Building trust and collegiality among teachers
Lead Teachers also participate in professional development and training prior to the start of school and work four hours per month outside of normal school hours. More than 140 schools across the City currently participate.
Program: Full school-year position (September-June). Continuation in the role in subsequent years is at the discretion of the school leader.
Contact:
For further information regarding the Lead Teacher Program, please email LeadTeachers@schools.nyc.gov.
"We love our Lead Teacher. He's competent, thorough and a very dedicated person, going the extra mile not just as our Lead Teacher, but also as our Data Specialist. He's a real blessing."
-Participating Principal, 2011-12 School Year
"I strongly believe that this was one of the initiatives that the city got 'right.' It's a collegial, non-judgmental method for teacher improvement with a positive educational impact on the students we serve."
-Lead Teacher, 2011-12 School Year