YES Prep: Hiring and Supporting Great Teachers

TL;DR

YES Prep North Central prioritizes hiring and supporting exceptional teachers to ensure the success of their low-income students.

Transcript

Teacher: All right, if you still need to record, your books are in this little closet right over here, so-- >>Narrator: One of the key ingredients to success at YES Prep North Central, is the caliber of the teachers here. >>Teacher: Any questions before I-- >>Chris: YES was founded by teachers. We wanted to create an organization that was going t... Read More

Key Insights

• 😃 YES Prep North Central was founded by teachers who prioritize creating a supportive and empowering environment for both educators and students.
• 😘 Hiring exceptional teachers is crucial to the success of low-income students.
• 🤩 YES Prep has identified seven key traits in their teachers, including resilience, energy, leadership, collaboration, perfectionism, drive, and the ability to share opinions.
• 😃 YES Prep provides a support system, including professional development and collaboration opportunities, to ensure teachers have the resources they need to thrive.
• 👨‍🏫 Teachers at YES Prep have a voice in setting school policies and actively participate in decision-making processes.
• 🫡 Structured teamwork and support enhance camaraderie and mutual respect among teachers.
• 😃 YES Prep prioritizes the well-being of their teachers and seeks ways to provide balance in a demanding job.

Questions & Answers

Q: What is the founding philosophy behind YES Prep North Central?

YES Prep North Central was founded by teachers who sought to create a school where teachers could have a voice in decision-making and every choice made would benefit students and teachers.

Q: Why are teachers considered the single greatest factor in the achievement of low-income students?

Teachers have a significant impact on student success, and at YES Prep, they believe that hiring great teachers for every classroom is essential in their mission to send 100% of their students to college.

Q: How does YES Prep attract and select exceptional teachers?

YES Prep hires an outside organization to identify the traits that represent their highest-performing teachers. They then prioritize those traits during the hiring process to ensure they bring in teachers who embody those qualities.

Q: How does YES Prep support their teachers?

YES Prep has a support structure in place to ensure teachers have the resources they need. This includes a full-time Dean of Instruction who provides professional development and observes classroom instruction, as well as weekly planning meetings for collaboration and team teaching.

Summary & Key Takeaways

• YES Prep North Central was founded by teachers to create a school where every decision is made in the best interest of students and teachers.

• Teachers at YES Prep North Central are the single greatest factor in the achievement of low-income students, and the school strives to find a great teacher for every classroom.

• YES Prep has identified seven key traits in their teachers, including rebound time, energy mode, taking charge, agreement, perfectionism, drive, and reserve.