A while ago we wrote about the Manhattan GMAT Grant program. We are now pleased to announce that we have awarded 2010 Non-Profit Staff Grants to two incredibly worthy organizations.

The first is The Equity Project (TEP) Charter School in Washington Heights (established by Manhattan GMAT founder Zeke Vanderhoek). A number of MGMAT employees had the pleasure of visiting the school during its first year of operation and seeing the impressive progress already made in its 5th grade classrooms.

The second organization receiving a 2010 grant is Coro, an organization that prepares high school students, young and mid-career professionals, and individuals working with immigrant communities to become active civic leaders in their city. The MGMAT team had the chance to attend the 2010 Coro Civic Leadership Awards in New York this year and learn about the wonderful work being done by the Coro Fellows, Youth Ambassadors, and recent program alums.

Both TEP and Coro will receive $5,000 grants from Manhattan GMAT this year. We are thrilled to be supporting two such worthy institutions, and look forward to seeing more great things from them in the coming year!

In August, Manhattan GMAT declared that it would donate 10% of its revenue to TEP, a charter school in Washington Heights (a neighborhood in NYC) started by Manhattan GMAT Chairman Zeke Vanderhoek. Manhattan GMAT has finally made good on its pledge and donated over $100,000 to the school.

Manhattan GMAT believes the teaching profession should attract the most talented candidates to the field, and we are proud to support the students at teachers at TEP as they pursue this goal.

If you would like to learn more about TEP, please visit them at www.tepcharter.org.

Here at Manhattan GMAT we are incredibly proud of the exploits of our founder and chairman, Zeke Vanderhoek.  Zeke departed MGMAT in order to found TEP, a charter school in Washington Heights dedicated to attracting better teachers to the profession. TEP is paying its teachers $125,000 per year plus bonuses to teach underprivileged children.  The school has generated a lot of attention as a result of its innovative approach; the New York Times has been covering TEP every step of the way (here and here).

Imagine a world where teachers are paid handsomely (without increasing overall costs, TEP pays higher salaries by removing administrators and asking more of its teachers).  More talented young people would choose and stay in teaching as a profession.  Better teachers would produce better outcomes.  In a generation or so, we’d be in a lot better shape!

Now, TEP is only a month away from opening its doors to 120 fifth graders.  TEP will be making use of a temporary facility for the first several years, but will need a permanent home by the time it expands to its full-size of four grades.

To help TEP in its drive for a permanent facility, Manhattan GMAT is proud to donate 10% of the Company’s revenues in the month of August to TEP.  The donation will be made early next year.  We’re tremendously excited to support Zeke’s vision, as we know from experience that if you pay teachers more and expect more out of them, they’ll deliver results!  🙂

Here’s to TEP, higher pay for teachers, and improving the American educational system by making teaching the attractive profession it should be for the best and brightest!

The front page of today’s New York Times included a feature article about TEP, the innovative charter school founded by Zeke Vanderhoek. Zeke also founded Manhattan GMAT and served as CEO until the end of 2006.

Believe it or not, this is Zeke and TEP’s 2nd time on the front page of the Times. If you missed it, here’s a link to the 1st article.

TEP is doing to public education what Manhattan GMAT has done to test prep – demonstrating that if you pay more and select the best, the results speak for themselves. Congratulations to Zeke and TEP! If this article is any indication, the world is watching!