[This op-ed originally appeared in the Daily News on May 3, 2014.]

New York City finally has a contract for education.

The United Federation of Teachers and the de Blasio administration agreed Thursday on a teachers contract that fosters an environment that will move the profession forward.

Instead of the “Hunger Games” atmosphere encouraged by the previous administration, we have a contract devoted to the spirit of collaboration between educators — and between labor and management.

It will allow teachers to be innovators and to focus on what really matters — the students in our classrooms.

This contract recognizes that the solution to great education exists in each and every school right now. Schools finally have the opportunity to experiment and use their own techniques to achieve great results.

Schools, teachers and principals can work together to create their own initiatives such as teacher input on hiring decisions and new uses of time for professional activities.

The contract also gives teachers more time to work together for school-based professional development, a block of time every week devoted to increasing contact between parents and educators, a more streamlined teacher evaluation process, a career ladder for teachers to be paid more for working longer hours and aiding their colleagues, and an opportunity for true innovation from inside our school system.

This contract is groundbreaking in the classroom and treats teachers with respect, but it’s also smart about the economics. Teachers will receive a total of 18 percent in raises, retroactive pay and a $1,000 cash bonus. The 4 percent raises UFT members missed in 2009 and 2010 will be phased in starting in future years.

The mayor says that respect and communication can solve problems. He proved to everyone that he is right, and we can proudly say that New York has a contract that allows us to begin real education reform.