A MODEL DEVELOPED TO PROVIDE WORLD CLASS EDUCATION
The New American Academy, developed in partnership with the Harvard Graduate School of Education, the United Federation of Teachers, and the New York City Department of Education, is intentionally designed to be a learning organization. Through the use of semi-autonomous, four-person teaching teams, we encourage and support continuous innovation. Under the leadership of a Master Teacher, each team is given the freedom and trust to modify and adapt the curriculum, groupings, and professional development to best meet the needs of their particular classroom.
In direct contrast to the prevailing system of depersonalized learning, The New American Academy is relationship driven. Each teaching team loops with their students from kindergarten through fifth grade, nurturing powerful and deep relationships throughout the school community. This approach allows for unprecedented levels of targeted support, instruction, and mentorship for both teachers and students. In addition, by embedding a highly paid and experienced Master Teacher in each classroom, we ensure that teachers and students have the highest level of expertise to support their learning.
The focus on adult learning is another hallmark of The New American Academy model. Research overwhelmingly suggests that the single greatest factor influencing student achievement is the effectiveness of their teacher (Rivers & Sanders, 2000). Understanding that teacher passion, expertise, and growth are the foundations of student learning, our groundbreaking career ladder and mentorship system incentivize and support continuous teacher development.
The potential and creativity unleashed by our model is the engine behind our interdisciplinary, student-centered curriculum. Organized around six thematic units, lessons are hands-on, discovery-based, and engaging. We encourage active student participation and believe that the best classrooms are those in which student voice is amplified, developed, and diversified. As a trilingual school, The New American Academy exposes students to both Spanish and French at an early age.
This world-class education is possible thanks to a school model that makes the most efficient use of classroom time and resources. While paying higher salaries and investing more money into teacher training, the Academy’s budget is still significantly more cost-effective than a standard NYC public school. Most importantly, as a NYC unionized public school, the academy is easily scalable, and ready to be replicated across the public school system.
