Lead Teacher

• “No single literacy activity has a more positive effect on students’ comprehension, vocabulary knowledge, spelling, writing ability, and overall academic achievement than free voluntary reading.” — Donalyn Miller, The Book Whisperer
• “[Play] is our brain’s favorite way of learning … a process as instinctive as breathing.” — Diane Ackerman, Deep Play
• “When children have some choice and control over their learning, they are more motivated, more persistent, and more successful.” — Alfie Kohn, The Schools Our Children Deserve
• “Since learning is almost always a social pursuit, strong relationships with teachers and classmates can inspire students like little else.” — Tom Little, Loving Learning
• “The desire to feel connected to others is a powerful and motivating force within us.” — Jane Nelsen & Chip DeLorenzo, Positive Discipline

• “No single literacy activity has a more positive effect on students’ comprehension, vocabulary knowledge, spelling, writing ability, and overall academic achievement than free voluntary reading.” — Donalyn Miller, The Book Whisperer
• “[Play] is our brain’s favorite way of learning … a process as instinctive as breathing.” — Diane Ackerman, Deep Play
• “When children have some choice and control over their learning, they are more motivated, more persistent, and more successful.” — Alfie Kohn, The Schools Our Children Deserve
• “Since learning is almost always a social pursuit, strong relationships with teachers and classmates can inspire students like little else.” — Tom Little, Loving Learning
• “The desire to feel connected to others is a powerful and motivating force within us.” — Jane Nelsen & Chip DeLorenzo, Positive Discipline

If these ideas energize you—if you see children as curious, joyful learners who thrive when given room to read, play, question, build, and belong—then consider becoming one of our founding teachers.

Strive Charter School is opening its doors in Fall 2026 in a newly renovated historic school building at 604 East 139th Street in the South Bronx, one block from the 6 train and just minutes from Manhattan.

Strive is built around a simple but radical belief: when children are given abundant time, meaningful choice, joyful relationships, and a rich environment for reading and play, they soar.

We are an extended-time elementary school with a progressive, child-centered approach to teaching and learning. We see academic excellence and whole-child development not as competing priorities but as mutually reinforcing. Standardized tests matter—but so do deep curiosity, intrinsic motivation, social skills, and a love of learning.

Our school culture is warm, friendly, relaxed, and rooted in positive discipline, genuine respect, and strong relationships. We believe school should feel like a second home: a place where children want to be, families feel welcomed, and educators can do the best work of their careers.

At Strive Charter School, we will pay our educators a reasonable salary for reasonable hours in good working conditions.

• Your working day will be eight hours. You will have at least 2½ hours during the day for lunch, professional development, and individual and team planning, so you shouldn’t need to take work home.
• Instruction begins at 9 a.m. so you’ll be able to arrive at 8:30 a.m. and leave by 4:30 p.m.
• You will earn $80,000 if you have two years of classroom experience (either as a teacher or assistant teacher) and an additional $2,000 for each additional year of classroom experience.
• Our school is conveniently located in the South Bronx just two blocks from the Cypress Avenue # 6 subway station.
• Our dress code is relaxed. You can wear sneakers and dress comfortably (so long as you dress…