Early Commitment &
Peer Recruiters

What is a Peer Recruiter?

A Peer Recruiter is a centrally funded per-session teacher role through the Office of Teacher Recruitment and Quality (TRQ). A Peer Recruiter serves as an inclusive teacher recruitment and hiring ambassador for their school, engages with teacher candidates, and works to support their principal and school hiring team in staffing vacancies, particularly in high-need subject areas.

Which schools are eligible to have a Peer Recruiter?

For the 2025 staffing season, schools in districts 7-12, 16, 17, 19, 23, 27, 32, 75, and select ACCESS schools within the previously listed geographical districts are eligible to have a Peer Recruiter. Additional schools may be eligible and added at the discretion of TRQ. Since the number of Peer Recruiters is limited, to qualify to have a Peer Recruiter, a school must meet eligibility requirements as determined by the Division of Human Resources.

In what ways can Peer Recruiters support staffing?

As an inclusive teacher recruitment and hiring ambassador, a Peer Recruiter can provide several different services that aim to support schools in attracting teacher candidates and making new hires. Some of the ways Peer Recruiters can support a school include:

• Participating in online orientation and new teacher hiring training sessions with TRQ

• Attending virtual and/or in-person networking events on behalf of their school - cultivating a pool of candidates

• Completing assignments and participating in online discussions through the Google Classroom

• Working closely with their school’s principal and TRQ to determine school hiring needs and create a structured plan for teacher recruitment, hiring, and onboarding. 

• Supporting their school principal with management of a school hiring team and the teacher selection process. 

• Staying in close communication with TRQ around support needed, questions, and feedback

• Creating and/or revising school marketing materials (e.g., one-pagers, videos, social media pages, etc.)

• Screening and interviewing candidates, keeping them “warm” and engaged throughout the hiring process and introducing them to their school’s culture

• Scheduling and running school tours for potential candidates

• Implementing the Inclusive Teacher Recruitment and Hiring Initiative (ITRHI) resources and further promoting diversity and inclusivity in their school’s existing hiring process

What subjects can Peer Recruiters support hiring for?

During the Early Commitment period (March 1 – June 15) of the 2025 staffing season, Peer Recruiters support their school in staffing vacancies in eligible Early Commitment subjects. Those subjects include:

• Special Education (all levels)

• Math

• Science

• ENL/TESOL

• World Languages

• CTE

• All Bilingual subjects

• Physical Education (District 75 ONLY)

After the Early Commitment period ends, the Peer Recruiter can assist their school in connecting with candidates to fill vacancies for all subjects and support with new teacher onboarding.

How many hours are Peer Recruiters able to work?

For the 2025 staffing season, Peer Recruiters may work up to 30 hours from March 1 through June 30. 5-8 hours per month can be worked Monday through Saturday. However, work cannot be completed during school hours. There may be an opportunity for Peer Recruiters to apply for additional per session hours for July 1 through September 12, 2025.

What is the cost of a Peer Recruiter to a school?

A Peer Recruiter is a centrally funded per-session teacher role through the Office of Teacher Recruitment and Quality. There is no cost to the school.

What if a school does not expect to make any new hires during the 2024 staffing season?

A major focus for Peer Recruiters is supporting their school in staffing high-need vacancies and making an Early Commitment for their school before June 15. However, if a school determines later that they do not expect to make any new hires during the 2025 staffing season, their Peer Recruiter can focus their work on creating long-term supports for a school’s hiring team, such as marketing materials, onboarding plans, and establishing or updating their school’s social media accounts. 

What kinds of training do Peer Recruiters receive from TRQ?

As part of the Peer Recruiter program, selected teachers will receive several different supports to prepare them to engage with teacher candidates and support their school in staffing vacancies. Upon being accepted into the program, Peer Recruiters will be invited to an orientation, where they will learn about the work that the Office of Teacher Recruitment and Quality does. They will also be given access to the articles featured on HIRE Connections, and receive training in how to use the New Teacher Finder.

In addition, Peer Recruiters will be required to complete assignments in the Peer Recruiter Google Classroom. These assignments require Peer Recruiters to review resources on different staffing initiatives, Including the Inclusive Teacher Recruitment & Hiring Initiative (ITRHI), and complete tasks related to implementing them.

Peer Recruiters will also be given access to a variety of resources to assist them in interviewing candidates, including sample interview questions, questions to avoid during interviews, and a school tour checklist.

What if I have additional questions about the Peer Recruiter Program?

If you have any other questions about the Peer Recruiter Program, please submit your question through the Contact Us page of HIRE Connections, and include “Peer Recruiter” in the subject line.

• Peer Recruiters One-Pager (with edits).pdf

• 200 KB Download

Dear _________, 

We are delighted to extend to you a unique opportunity, an Early Commitment for the position of (insert position title) at (insert school DBN and name) for the (insert school year) school year. Our team has been impressed by your experience, skillset, and vision as an educator, which we believe would greatly enrich our school community.

By accepting this Early Commitment, you may be eligible to receive a stipend of $1,000 (or $2,500 for special education teachers) from NYC Public Schools to help you prepare for the upcoming school year and ready your new classroom. More information about the Early Commitment Stipend can be found here.

The number of stipends is limited and will be given on a first come, first served basis for teachers who accept an Early Commitment and are deemed eligible by the Office of Teacher Recruitment and Quality. 

This Early Commitment is contingent on budget and passing a NYC Public Schools background check and fingerprinting. Your expected start date is (insert start date). Compensation and benefits will be determined by NYC Public Schools according to the UFT salary schedule for your job title.

If you have any questions, please reach out to (school hiring representative and email). 

Sincerely, 

(Principal Name) 

1. How much is the Early Commitment Stipend?

The Early Commitment Stipend is a one-time payment of $1,000 or $2,500 (special education teacher candidates only) to candidates who make an Early Commitment to an eligible school by June 16, 2025. It is meant to support new teacher candidates in setting up their classrooms and preparing for the new school year.

2. What subject areas qualify for the Early Commitment Stipend?

Candidates who are certified and hired to teach in the following subject areas are eligible to receive the one-time stipend:

• Special Education

• Math

• Science

• ENL/TESOL

• World Languages/LOTE

• Bilingual Subjects

• CTE

• Physical Education (District 75 ONLY)

The stipend is only eligible to traditional teacher candidates new to NYC Public Schools. Current and former NYCPS employees are ineligible.

3. Which schools are eligible to make an Early Commitment?

Schools in the following districts are eligible to make Early Commitments to candidates and offer the stipend:

Districts 7-12, 16, 17, 19, 23, 27, 32, 75, select Access schools in the geo-districts above and Students with Disabilities Early Childhood expansion sites approved by the Special Education Office (SEO).

4. How is an Early Commitment made?

Step 1: A school makes an offer to a new teacher candidate either verbally or in writing and tells them they want to make them an Early Commitment. Early Commitment eligible schools are the only schools able to secure a candidate in a high-need subject area before the release of school budgets.

Step 2: The principal or other hiring manager initiates the process by searching for the candidate in their New Teacher Finder account and clicking the Hiring Commitment button.

Step 3: The New Teacher Finder will email the candidate with a link to a hiring commitment form. The candidate must click on and accept the Hiring Commitment within five business days of receipt. There is also an option to decline. After the candidate makes their decision in the NTF, a confirmation email will be generated for the hiring manager. If the candidate accepts, they will be hidden from the candidate pool. Candidates will receive two reminders. After that time, if no action is taken, TRQ will consider the offer as declined.

Step 4: Congratulations! The Early Commitment is made once the candidate has accepted. Early Commitment candidates should be added to a school’s Table of Organization just as they would any other new hire as soon as they receive their budget. Candidates and hiring managers should stay in touch throughout the process and begin to onboard new teachers into their new school community. Candidates will be contacted regarding next steps to receive their stipend.

5. What is the deadline for submitting an Early Commitment and qualifying for the stipend?

To qualify, Early Commitments must be completed in the New Teacher Finder (all forms completed) by June 16, 2025. TRQ will then review all forms for eligibility. Candidates and principals will be notified of final stipend eligibility by June 30, 2025.

6. When and how will the Early Commitment Stipends be distributed to candidates?

Stipend checks will be distributed to candidates by the Office of Teacher Recruitment

and Quality at 65 Court Street in July, after candidates have been finalized in Galaxy on

the hiring school’s Table of Organization.

7. What happens if a school does not receive the budget for an Early Commitment position?

98% of all Early Commitments lead to a finalized hire. However, if a school does not receive the budget for an Early Commitment position, the hiring manager should inform TRQ as soon as possible. If a school does not finalize a candidate due to budget constraints after June 16, the candidate will be held harmless and still receive their Early Commitment Stipend. TRQ will support the candidate in obtaining another NYC Public School position.

The Early Commitment program allows schools in select districts to make offers to candidates in the critical certification areas of Special Education, Science, Math, ENL, World Languages, CTE, and bilingual subjects. In addition, schools in District 75 can make Early Commitments to candidates certified in Physical Education (PE).

Note that NYCPS full-time employees, NYC Teaching Fellows, and Ed Prep NYC candidates are not eligible for the stipend.

New Teacher Finder: Schools are encouraged to post open positions and search for candidates using the NTF. Posts in the NTF are not tied to budgets and can be made and updated at any time. Note that candidates do not see vacancies listed in Galaxy and rely heavily on the NTF for their job search. In-person and Virtual Networking Events: Schools in Early Commitment eligible districts can attend virtual events by subject area through the online platform Brazen and select in-person events offered before the rest of the city.
Candidate list requests: If a school needs assistance with creating candidate lists from the NTF, they should contact TRQ using our online form. 

If a school does not receive the budget for the position, they should notify the candidate as soon as possible. The candidate or hiring manager should then contact the Office of Teacher Recruitment and Quality through TeachNYC (candidates) or HIRE Connections (hiring managers). TRQ will update the NTF and continue to support the candidate in finding a new position within the NYC Public Schools.  

Early Commitments should be completed in the New Teacher Finder by June 16, 2025. Once a school receives its budget, that candidate should be placed on the school’s Table of Organization within five days. Note that in the case of the Early Hiring stipend, there are a limited number of stipends available, and these may run out sooner than June 16.