How E4E Membership Helped Joe Tadros Grow

For 15 years, Educators for Excellence members have shaped policy, strengthened the profession, and grown as leaders in their schools and communities. Recently, we asked a few long-time members about their E4E journey and how it has contributed to their professional growth. Their answers highlight the power of teacher leadership when educators have the tools, training, and support to use their voice.

Below, meet Joe Tadros, a long-time E4E member whose career path was shaped, elevated, and expanded through his involvement with E4E.

What will your journey look like? Join E4E today and find out!

Where were you in your teaching career before joining E4E?
At the time, I was teaching in the South Bronx, having transitioned from a career in engineering to education through the New York City Teaching Fellows program. I joined E4E at the start of my second year of teaching.

What inspired you to join E4E?
A friend invited me to an after-work event to meet other educators in our borough. I went simply to connect with people — I wasn’t thinking much about the organization behind it.

But after meeting the E4E team and hearing about their work, I became interested in education policy. It felt more exciting than my day-to-day routine and offered a way to make a lasting impact beyond my classroom.

I never imagined I’d still be involved more than a decade later. E4E has been the one organization that consistently gives me meaningful leadership opportunities to advocate for students, teachers, and school communities.

What new roles or leadership opportunities have you taken on since then?
Over the years, I’ve:

• Mentored new STEM teachers through residency programs and NYC Men Teach
• Been named a New York State Model Teacher
• Participated in multiple leadership fellowships, including the CORO Immigrant Civic Leadership Fellowship and New Leaders Council
• Served on advisory boards, including the Arab-American Family Support Center

Today, in addition to teaching AP Calculus and serving as an Academic Director in Brooklyn, I help lead E4E’s National Teacher Leader Council Executive Board, and I recently joined E4E’s Board of Directors.

Tell us about the E4E leadership trainings you’ve participated in.
As a National Teacher Leader Council (NTLC) member, I’ve participated in trainings on:

• Policy 101
• Writing op-eds
• Media interviewing
• Federal advocacy
• Messaging and narrative development
• Communications strategy
• Understanding union contracts
• Designing questions for the national teacher survey

How did they help you grow as an educator and leader? 
I can confidently say that many of my commitments to school leadership and educational advocacy have been shaped by my experiences with E4E. I’ve always been grateful for the opportunities they’ve provided; no other organization has placed me in so many spaces where I could influence real change in our schools.

Through E4E, I’ve spoken at press conferences alongside elected officials, contributed to national teacher surveys, and participated in panels to advocate for our students and teachers. I never imagined I’d be in those rooms when I left engineering to become a teacher. My students have made that transition worthwhile, and the leadership experiences I’ve gained through E4E have truly been priceless.

Your leadership journey starts here.

Every educator has a story, and every educator deserves a voice in the decisions that shape our students’ futures. Joe’s experiences show what’s possible when teachers are empowered, supported, and connected.

What will your journey look like? Join E4E today and find out!