We work in New York City charter schools and are active in our union. Read our stories and find out how we are working in our schools to make improvements for our students and ourselves.
Kenya Burton
Q: Why did you decide to become a charter school teacher?
A: My initial impression of charter schools was they were freed from being forced into a “cookie-cutter’ curriculum and provided teachers with greater control over what was taught, which seemed exciting to me. I thought of traditional district schools as more rigid and charters as having greater freedom over what was taught in the classroom. Read more…
John Carlos Benros
Q: Why did you decide to become a charter school teacher?
A: I decided to become a charter school teacher because I wanted to venture into the “new model.” I had gone to New York City public schools my whole life so I wanted to venture out. The kids are the same; it’s all about the teachers and the relationships they build with students. It’s a matter of what individual teachers can do with particular students, classes and schools. Read more…
Ed Tan
Q: Why did you decide to become a charter school teacher?
A: I didn’t. I started as a paraprofessional in another school in Manhattan and then I became a teacher in the Renaissance School and they converted into a charter school. It is more flexible now; we can do more stuff. We can pace our curriculum the way we want; we can make decisions for our own department’s matters. There are a lot of opportunities for us to get involved in sports and other after-school activities. For instance, I was the high school teaching and learning coordinator; I coached the girls’ basketball and boys’ soccer teams; I also taught Chinese Mandarin after school; and I am currently the UFT chapter leader in my school. Read more…
Reagan Fletcher
Q: Why did you decide to become a charter school teacher?
A: I had an opportunity to start a music program in a brand new school and that afforded me some freedom that I didn’t have working in an established district school. For example, as my students get older, I don’t have to have a traditional band setting. I can have different ensembles that cater to my students’ interests. So essentially I can build the program around the size of the school and the community we’re in and it is very exciting. Read more…
Lissette Velazquez
Q: Why did you decide to become a charter school teacher?
A: What I immediately liked about charter schools was that teachers are allowed to design their own curriculum. This freedom gives teachers more flexibilityto teach to the specific students in the classroom as opposed to being given a generic curriculum that may not suit the kids that live in our community. By allowing teachers to develop their own curriculum, it gives us the chance to teach to each student’s learning style and help teachers grow as educators. Read more…
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