Do you think teaching is an unprofitable profession? Think again! The New York Times just released an article earlier this morning about how a select group of teachers are raking in an annual salary of $125,000!

Yes, you read that number correctly. A charter school is set to open in New York City in September, which is going to feature a super-star group of eight extraordinary individuals (who are slated to earn an unheard-of teaching salary). $125,000 is nearly DOUBLE the average salary for New York City public school teachers.

Their charter school, called the Equity Project, is based on the premise that good teachers are the key ingredient for the success of the student body. This school is experimenting with the belief that good teachers are enough to make a good school. And it seems like six-figure salaries are the way to secure the best possible teachers! Here are the contenders:

• Joe Carbone, a physical education teacher, who was responsible for training NBA star Kobe Bryant and the LA Lakers
• Damion Frye, an English teacher, who has his master’s degree from Brown University and is pursuing a doctorate at Columbia’s Teachers College
• Rhena Jasey, a math teacher and graduate of Harvard University, who introduced a math lesson by exclaiming “Oh, this is the fun part because I looooooove math!” Now THAT’S enthusiasm.

So, what makes a teacher great? According to the Zeke Vanderhoek, the founder of the Equity Project, there are a couple of factors that make a teacher really stand out in the crowd:

• A high “engagement factor” that keeps students interested. A good teacher will have students forgetting that they’re in a classroom!
• Are skilled in dealing with potential troublemakers and re-directing their energy towards something positive.
• Have an infectious enthusiasm for learning that gets students excited about being in school.

Keep in mind that you don’t have to be a Harvard graduate or be a celebrity personal trainer order to be a great teacher. Effective instructors can come from all sorts of backgrounds and have a wide variety of personal experience. All you need to get started is a willingness to make a difference in students’ lives!