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A group of student work together at one of the Explore charter schools

Explore Charter Schools

Explore Schools manages a network of K through 8 urban public charter schools serving 2,000 students across the Brooklyn-based communities in Flatbush, Crown Heights, and Canarsie. Explore Schools center on culturally responsive instruction that “acknowledges the detrimental impact of racism” and seeks to “dismantle systems of oppression in our practices.” Explore prides itself on sending nearly 90 percent of graduates on to college-preparatory high schools.

Explore’s student-centered approach to education focuses on critical thinking, academic rigor, joy, and establishing identity affirming spaces for students. Enrichment activities in technology and computing, fine and performing arts, foreign language, athletics, and community health encourage students in the upper levels to explore their passions and creativity.

Student population

82% Black
13% Hispanic
2% Multi-racial
1% American Indian or Alaskan Native
1% Asian
1% White

18%

OF OUR STUDENTS ARE CLASSIFIED AS HAVING SPECIAL NEEDS

15%

OF OUR STUDENTS ARE MULTI-LINGUAL LEARNERS

100%

OF OUR STUDENTS QUALIFY FOR FREE OR REDUCED LUNCH

Charter initiatives

  • Restorative Practices: In order to be responsive to the whole student and provide space for the student voice, Explore is refining their approach to restorative practices that include Morning Meeting and Socio-Emotional Learning.
  • Quality of Instruction: There is a focus on continuous improvement of the quality of instruction, especially writing. This is done by providing more opportunities for students to write throughout the day.

Residency site locations

  • Empower Upper School
  • Excel Upper School

The details

  • 30-credit master of arts in teaching in Secondary Education (Grades 7-12)
  • Meet online with NYU Steinhardt faculty and peers twice per week in the evening for your course work ~15 hours/week
  • ~40 hours/week in classroom residency at partner location
  • Tuition subsidy and stipend or wage from partner school
  • Full-day cost details

As a teacher resident, you’ll teach and learn in your content area. You’ll work alongside a mentor and gradually take on more instructional responsibility throughout the year. You also may be asked to substitute teach later in the year as well as support intervention work.

During residency year

Estimated Stipend/Wage

$40,000


Health Insurance

Explore offers a comprehensive benefits plan, covering up to 95% of the cost for qualifying employees and their families.


Start Date

August 2024


After residency year

Job After Graduation

Teacher (Full-Time)


Estimated Starting Salary with Master’s Degree

Master’s uncertified: $67,486
Master’s certified: $73,445


The figures above are estimates provided by our partners for informational and planning purposes only. NYU Steinhardt does not guarantee these amounts.

>66% of NYU Steinhardt Teacher Residents identify as Black, Indigenous, and People of Color (BIPOC)

(compared to ~20% in US public education overall) Source: National Center for Education Statistics


We know that the benefits of creating a more diverse teacher workforce are widespread; they are long-lasting, and they are life-changing.

DIANA TURK
DIRECTOR OF TEACHER EDUCATION; CHAIR, DEPARTMENT OF TEACHING AND LEARNING AT NYU STEINHARDT


We built this program from the ground up, and [the faculty] all agreed on starting with the ideas of building community and understanding identity.

HEATHER WOODLEY
CLINICAL ASSOCIATE PROFESSOR OF TESOL, BILINGUAL EDUCATION, AND WORLD LANGUAGE EDUCATION