Teacher Recruitment

Recruitment

The single most important factor in closing the achievement gap in America is teacher quality. Research consistently points to the same conclusion: teachers matter most. Yet, nearly every other program developed to solve the complex transition period between high school and college fails to take this fact into account.

By contrast, exceptional teachers lie at the heart of the US Empowered model. We work relentlessly to recruit the most effective teachers at low-income high schools to lead our program within their school communities. Specifically, we target teachers who develop a culture of rigorous expectations, deliver excellent instruction and differentiated support, use data to inform best practices, and invest students and stakeholders in long-term goals. Following a comprehensive application and rigorous evaluation process, we select exceptional teachers at each high school to lead students through the three-year US Empowered program.
 

Training & Support

Selected teachers, called Program Directors, participate in quarterly training conferences designed to prepare them to lead the US Empowered program effectively.

The regional US Empowered team provides ongoing professional development and direct support to each Program Director. In addition to training, each Program Director is assigned a dedicated program officer that serves as a source of support, feedback, and guidance throughout the three-year program.

Nominate or apply to be a PD

“US Empowered has transformed the attitude, the drive, and the motivation of students at Uplift High School. There is a deep need for US Empowered on a large level. Being a Chicago Public School teacher for a while now, I have constantly searched for a way to get my students the opportunities that they need to be successful. I strongly believe US Empowered is the way to do just this.”

-Anita Thawani, Program Director