Putting Teachers First: A Bold New Approach to Pay at Kairos
- Dr. Khalil Graham
- Mar 26
- 4 min read
What makes a great teacher? A subject expert? A mentor? A leader? At Kairos Academies, we believe teachers are all of the above—and more. They shape the entire learning experience, building strong relationships with students and families while driving academic success. That's why we are restructuring our organization to put teachers first by launching Teacher First Compensation, a bold new approach to teacher pay and organizational structure that prioritizes the impact of incredible educators.
To understand how we got here, I sat down with veteran Kairos teacher Brianna Willis and Kairos Co-Founder and Chief Strategy Officer Jack Krewson to reflect on the journey that led us to this moment.
The Early Days: Wearing Many Hats
When Kairos opened five years ago, every teacher wore every hat. There were no principals, no counselors, no support staff. Teachers handled everything for a flat salary—from instruction to discipline to extracurriculars. It was exciting, and it was exhausting. “We all taught, and we were driven by a shared vision to build something revolutionary,” Jack recalled. “It was thrilling—but it wasn’t sustainable.”
"...we were driven by a shared vision to build something revolutionary."
Finding Balance: More Leaders, More Structure
As we grew, we hired administrators to take on leadership roles, freeing teachers to focus on instruction. But without clear policies and systems of support in place, teachers were left to negotiate their own salaries, leading to pay gaps between colleagues doing the same work. While this structure attempted to reward impact, it left teachers juggling responsibilities and feeling undervalued. The thrill of innovation was fading into burnout.
Another Shift: Standardized Pay & More Support
When I arrived at Kairos in 2023, I moved to standardize salaries, boost teacher pay, and bring consistency to the teaching experience. We also moved quickly to provide relief to our classroom teachers–hiring additional staff to take on non-teaching roles, from student experience managers to “super mentors.” But this approach ultimately diluted our school culture. Too many staff members were separated from students and some lacked a deep understanding of the personalized approach and tight-knit relationships that defined the Kairos experience.
Brianna noticed the shift. “Not everyone understood what made the Kairos model work. We lost some of that sense of community and belonging,” she said. The solution, she believes, is commitment. “When teachers are fully invested, kids can feel it. That’s what creates a strong, stable school culture.”
"When teachers are fully invested, kids can feel it."
The Breakthrough: The Data Told a Clear Story
Listening to feedback from teachers, students, and families, we dug into the data—looking at everything from student growth to teacher retention. One clear trend emerged: teachers who deeply embraced the Kairos model consistently delivered the strongest results. Those numbers increased the longer teachers stayed in the classroom.
These committed teachers outperformed school-wide averages in student growth, parent satisfaction, and attendance. Their secret? They weren’t just instructors—they put in the time to be great mentors, advocates, and leaders. And that brings us to Teacher First Compensation.
Teacher First Compensation: Paying for Impact
With Teacher First Compensation, we’re flipping the script on how teachers are paid. We recognize these key truths:
Building a team of all-stars. For most teachers, the job isn’t about the money. But offering more money signals how serious we are about creating an all-star culture—one that attracts and keeps the very best teachers for our kids and community.
Great teaching requires deep commitment. Our teachers aren’t just delivering lessons—they’re building relationships and shaping lives. As Brianna put it, “At Kairos, we don’t just teach content—we teach life skills, community, and connection. That’s what drew me here.”
Passionate teachers drive student success. We need to close the pay gap between teachers and administrators so great teachers can grow their careers without leaving the classroom. “Too many amazing educators leave teaching just to earn a higher salary,” Brianna noted. “You should be able to do what you love—and be paid fairly for it.”
What Teacher First Compensation Looks Like
This new model ensures teachers earn the region’s highest salaries based on their impact. A structured evaluation and point system determine placement in three salary tiers:
$60,000
$70,000
$80,000
Any teacher—even a new hire—can earn up to $80,000 based on their impact. This means the average Kairos teacher (making $52,000 this year) will see a raise of $8,000-$28,000 next school year.
A Radical Shift: Prioritizing Teachers
Teacher First Compensation sends a clear message: we value our teachers above all else. As Jack put it, “If you’re delivering impact now, you deserve the pay now. Teachers shouldn’t have to wait 10, 15, or 20 years to earn $80,000.”
"If you're delivering impact now, you deserve the pay now. Teachers shouldn't have to wait 10, 15, or 20 years to earn $80,000."
By investing in our teachers, we’re investing in our students. This model will attract the best educators, compensate them fairly, and drive transformational student growth.
Kairos Academies is on a mission to find transformational teachers for every student, in every classroom. Check out open positions at www.kairosacademies.org/careers.
