TEACH

If you are a teacher who is interested in helping us shape Lafayette Academy Charter School into a great school, thank you.  Thank you for being the type of person and the type of teacher who wants to make meaningful contributions to the lives of children.  Nothing is more powerful than powerful teaching, and we are looking for people who feel the deep commitment to be or to become a powerful influence in the lives of children.
 
We are placing this letter on our Web site because a decision about where you will teach is a very important one, maybe the most important one you can make about your career.  You and the school must “fit.”   You must make the best, informed decision about your future.  We understand that and honor that.

Before I begin providing some details about the type of teachers we need, let me tell you about a habit of mine.  When I write a memo like this, I always put things as starkly as I can.  I like to say all of the “bad” things up front.  That way I know that those who join us really want to be with us on this adventure.  So, again, I ask for trust and flexibility as you move down the page.  I don’t mean to run anyone away, but I do want to make sure that we are all on the same page as we move forward--together. 

Here goes.

Lafayette Charter Academy must become a beacon of light for the students who attend school with us. I believe that is our solemn duty.  For whatever reasons—poverty, sustained neglect, lack of resources for teachers, corruption, incompetent leadership, legislative bumbling--schooling in New Orleans has not served its children as well as it should.  Lafayette must not be just another experiment in “school reform.”  We must succeed!  As educators, we have a chance to build a school that will succeed.  I am sure that you share this sentiment: we cannot among the educators who fail another generation of children.

That brings me to my first point.  Everyone who works at Lafayette must commit to being part of a team that will see to it that the school succeeds.  That certainly is my job, but it has to be your job, too. Part of the profile of the successful Lafayette teacher and staff member is that commitment to be part of the team.  I realize that “fits” some people just fine, and I realize that it scares others away, but we must have people who want to be team players, not solo performers.  It’s not about me, it’s not about you.  It’s about us, and—most importantly--it’s about our children.  

Lafayette is a place of employment for us, but that is not its purpose.  Its purpose is to prepare children for a great high school experience and to set them on a track for college.  That certainly won’t happen overnight, but it will happen if we can all commit to ourselves and to each other that it will happen and that we will do what it takes to get there.  Before you read any further, ask yourself if you are that type of person.

Second, we need teachers and staff members who are persistent.  Working in a school is not always fun, and we will have some bumps in the road as we invent the school anew.  We cannot give up or give in to the many problems that will arise.  Again, that appeals to some who are creative and energetic, and it does not appeal to others.  Please think about that as you pursue employment with us.

Third, we need relationship-builders. Whether it is relationships with students, with parents, or among faculty and staff, great schools are populated by people who care about relationships and who work at improving them.  Those of us who are experienced teachers, for example, know that good relationships with our students minimize disciplinary problems and drive quality instruction and student performance.  Rules and regulations do not do that: relationships do.  On the other hand, unwillingness to reach out to each other on behalf of the students will lead to frustration and failure.  If you decide that you want “in,” we will know you will be a relationship-builder.

Fourth, we are data-driven.  That is, we assess our students on a regular basis and make adjustments to the program according to those assessments.  We do not wait until standardized tests are given to assess what we do.  We do that much more frequently.  Teachers are expected to know their students well and to be able to problem solve with team members to help each child improve. 

Fifth, you have noticed that I have not mentioned compensation.  That is because compensation alone—no matter how high or how low--will not insure that our students will have the type of faculty and staff they deserve.  Having said that, I will tell you that we understand that Lafayette needs to be very competitive in the New Orleans market to attract and retain the type of teachers we are seeking.  We will do all that we can to make sure that compensation and teaching resources will assure that we have a great faculty and staff.  For more information about our employee benefits, see the link on our home page.

The biggest reason to join us is to be part of a team that will build a great school for our students.  If that motivates you, Lafayette Academy will be a place not just of employment, but also of professional and personal fulfillment.  Our students need teachers and staff members who understand that idea and who thrive in that environment.

Thanks again for taking the time to consider joining us at Lafayette Academy Charter School.  If you have considered your fit for Lafayette and gotten this far down the page, I hope to talk with you soon.  

If you REALLY want to make a difference in the lives of children, the best step you can take is to contact us at Lafayette Academy right now. Send your resume and letter of interest to our Head of School, Mickey Landry, at Mickey.Landry@lafayetteacademyno.org or call him at 504 861 8370.  For more information on the type of teachers who do well at Lafayette, see how you measure up to what is said about good teaching in the article at:http://oregonstate.edu/instruct/ed553/kappan.html