Teachers teach students, but who teaches teachers?
Teacher quality is the most important factor in student performance, yet in traditional schools of education, teachers are taught theory, not how to teach. Robin Hood is deeply invested in improving education in New York City. We recognized that three programs that we support—Achievement First, Uncommon Schools, and KIPP (Knowledge Is Power Program)—were, both literally and figuratively, best in class. They had devised practical classroom techniques that kept students from New York City’s poorest neighborhoods focused and motivated. Now that they had learned the most effective way to teach, the next question was how to replicate those practices on a scale that would take New York City schools to a new level. Put another way, could we share that with the rest of the classrooms in the five boroughs? The answer was yes, and the answer was the Relay School of Education.
Passing the baton
Robin Hood helped create the Relay School of Education (formerly known as Teacher U) to help “relay” the effective techniques we learned to all New York City teachers. Specifically, R.S.E. offers a part-time, two-year master’s program for full-time public school teachers and trains them to use those proven techniques to help New York City students excel. R.S.E.’s master’s program is distinct from traditional teacher training programs. The curriculum is practical, emphasizing how to teach and the art of classroom management, rather than focusing on educational history or theory. In order to be granted a master’s degree, R.S.E. graduate students must demonstrate increases in their own students’ performance.
In February 2011, in a historic move, the New York State Board of Regents chartered R.S.E. as the first independent, master’s degree-granting graduate institution of its kind. This will allow R.S.E. to achieve financial sustainability, as well as spur further innovation in teacher training. It will be the first standalone graduate school of education to open in New York City since 1916.
The how in the how-to
Robin Hood brought together the expertise of the three premier charter management organizations we support and combined it with the extensive educational experience of Hunter College. It was a classic Robin Hood approach: innovate, then replicate. Take insight from best-in-class programs, and create a new best-in-class program to ensure a higher return on your investment. It’s a perfect example of the RH Factor at work.
The results have been A-plus excellent
In 10 years, R.S.E. will have trained thousands of New York City teachers. They, in turn, will enrich the lives of their students. So, in a decade the RH Factor will be responsible for having helped hundreds of thousands of New York schoolchildren, each and every one an investment in the future of our city.
The Relay Graduate School of Education (formerly Teacher U)
Three charter school programs that Robin Hood supports—Achievement First, Uncommon Schools, and KIPP (Knowledge Is Power Program)—are, both literally and figuratively, best in class.
They have devised practical, effective classroom techniques that keep students from New York City’s poorest neighborhoods focused, motivated and on a path to graduation from a four-year college. We wondered how we could take what was working in these charter schools and share it with New York City public schools.
At our 2008 benefit, we raised $30 million to make this idea a reality.
The Relay Graduate School of Education was created to “relay” those effective techniques to all New York City teachers. Specifically, Relay offers a part-time, two-year master’s program for full-time public school teachers and trains them to use those proven techniques to help New York City students excel.
Relay’s master’s program is distinct from traditional teacher training programs. The curriculum is practical, emphasizing how to teach and the art of classroom management, rather than focusing on educational history or theory. In order to be granted a master’s degree, Relay graduate students must demonstrate increases in their own students’ performance. The teachers’ progress is linked to that of their students. This is even more critical now that recent reports show that less than half of New York City students can read at grade level.
Within two years, the Relay School of Education expects to graduate 2,000 teachers. In turn, those teachers will affect the lives of 100,000 students. And that, without a doubt, is a heroic achievement.