At Believe,
we SEE teachers.
THE BENEFITS OF TEACHING AT BELIEVE
By fostering a positive culture of support for our teaching staff and providing the resources they need, we enable our educators to reach their highest potential and give our students what they deserve.
Teacher Development and Support
Teachers should be provided the supplies and support they need to do their job and grow as educators. At Believe, we cover all material expenses and unlimited copies at no cost to teachers and celebrate our educators for being their authentic selves. This way, our teachers can focus on their mission of providing an excellent education and honing their craft.
“Believe's greatest strength lies in its people. The school fosters a collaborative and connected environment where individuals can show up as themselves. As a result, Believe has created a space that values teamwork and individual learning. Even on the toughest days, you are surrounded by a strong support system that enables continued growth. This collective approach to ongoing learning creates a school that students truly deserve. I highly recommend Believe to my colleagues because the school is an excellent example of an organization prioritizing individual and professional growth.”
Amy Dowden, Former Teacher
Maternity/Paternity Leave
We believe that teachers have the right to start their families without incurring a loss of income. We offer paid maternity and paternity leave to any staff member welcoming a new child to their family.
“Becoming a mother 9 weeks early, although it was a scary time, came with minimum stress from the job aspect of life. As a black young female educator, I sometimes feel that we are not always thought about or cared for in the same capacity as employees and occupations. But here at Believe, we are constantly reminded and shown how much we are valued. The maternity/paternity leave protocols in place allowed me to take 6-12 weeks to care for myself and my family without being pressured to return to work sooner than needed. Knowing that my employer values me and has my best interest in mind allows me to have a certain comfortability that I wish all expecting mothers could experience regardless of profession.”
Kandice Duncan, Dean of Culture
Believe Black Women Fund
As a part of our commitment to anti-racism and disruption of the status quo, this fund is set aside on an annual basis to recognize that privilege is real and that the intersectionality of systemic racism and sexism impact staff members of color and women more pervasively than other privileged individuals. While privilege and lack thereof are not earned, the impacts are real and felt. Therefore, for the last three (3) years, Believe has committed to this fund as our commitment to our values.
“It was an unprecedented experience for me to have my identity as a Black woman recognized, validated, and celebrated openly. It's not often that marginalized communities are appreciated in this way. The Black Woman Fund represents a special financial acknowledgment that celebrates the inherent strength within a frequently overlooked group of people.”
Rhoda Smith, Assistant Head of School
Believe Teacher Fellowship Program
The Believe Teaching Fellowship (BTF) Fund is an investment in new and aspiring teachers who want to seek their license. Believe covers the cost of this education and supports them on their journey. We currently have several full-time teachers and current members of our Leadership Team who are alumni of the BTF.
“I was afforded the opportunity to participate in a residency that provided a foundation of strong pedagogical, instructional, relationship-oriented, biases-aware service. The reflection of this program made me a more effective educator quickly and allowed the process of progression to be codified, leading to less time wasted as a professional and, most importantly, as an effective educator of children. This fund is essential to our work as a school because we are in a day-to-day race against the odds for our students, communities, and future world. The better our teachers are developed, the more effectively we develop our present and future world, saving lives both today and for years to come.”
Dominique Clark, Assistant Head of School
Mental Health Days
Established by our school social worker, Lauren Reed, The Badger Mental Health Days (BMHD) offer a proactive approach to addressing staff burnout and mental health needs by allowing staff to choose 1 day off per year that does not come out of their PTO. A person may schedule their BMHD around the anniversary of the death of a loved one, seek therapy, engage in self-care, or take a trip.
“The Badger Mental Health Days (BMHD) offer a proactive approach to addressing staff burnout and mental health needs. At the beginning of each semester, staff get to choose 1 day to take that does not come out of their PTO. Personally, my BMHD was the first time off work I did not feel guilt. I was able to do anything I wanted or needed to do and it was refreshing!”
Lauren Reed, School Social Worker
