What We Look For

Teachers

The backbone of KIPP DC students’ success is a team of exceptionally talented and diverse teachers and leaders. United by the belief that an excellent education transforms lives, our teachers have helped KIPP DC become the highest performing school system in the District of Columbia.

REQUIREMENTS: 

• Bachelor’s degree (Required)
• KIPP DC prefers all teachers to be “Highly Qualified”, which includes a Bachelor’s degree and passing the appropriate Praxis exam(s)  (Preferred)
• Commitment to working with students from communities that have limited access to quality educational options (Required)
• Bachelor’s degree in the content area (Preferred)
• Experience/strength in the content area (Preferred)
• One to two years of teaching experience in a public school (Strongly Preferred – requirements vary by role)
• Experience teaching in a predominantly African American environment (Preferred)

DESIRED QUALITIES:

• Content Knowledge – Teachers at KIPP DC are experts in their content areas and display an outstanding ability to build understanding and interest in students at multiple levels. Teachers connect content across disciplines to real life and use their own content master to empower students to think deeply about academic content.
• Instructional Responsiveness – Teachers use data to engage in a deliberate cycle of internalization, planning, delivery, questioning, feedback, and reflection to move student mastery forward in academic and socio-emotional learning. Teachers are aware of how all students are performing and can adapt to meet the needs of students.
• Care of Students & Classroom Culture – Teachers set a joyful, authentic tone and build loving relationships, so each student and family feel valued. Teachers encourage students’ voices, promote independent thinking, and encourage students to take risks academically and socially. Teachers collaborate with families and empower students to work towards ambitious academic and socio-emotional learning goals.
• Teacher Leadership – Teachers at KIPP DC are continuous learners and seek feedback and development opportunities while self-reflective about their own practice. Teachers apply flexibility and a problem-solving approach to persist through challenges. Teachers have a deep and growing understanding of their identity, mindsets, and biases and use this insight to inform their teaching and professional development.

Capital Teaching Residents

Capital Teaching Residents commit to teaching for a minimum of three years in Washington, DC. Residents spend the first year of this commitment—their residency year—training in a classroom with a highly effective lead teacher. Residents are placed at one of KIPP DC’s 20 high-performing public schools in Washington, DC.

REQUIREMENTS:

• Bachelor’s degree from an accredited institution by June 2022, all majors are accepted
• Undergraduate minimum GPA of  2.75 GPA or higher required for secondary applicants)
• Residents are expected to pass their Praxis II exam, and CORE exam before their residency year. Residents do not have to take the Praxis exam until they have been admitted to the program, and we reserve the right to decline the admission of any applicant that does not pass the required Praxis exams. Praxis study guides are provided by our team upon offer to join the program.

DESIRED QUALITIES: 

We are looking for highly dedicated individuals who bring:

• An eagerness to deliver effective, rigorous instruction in joyful classrooms and foster relationships with families.
• A belief that meaningful learning experiences are created in classrooms where students have strong relationships with their teachers and a sense of belonging and importance are fostered daily.
• A belief that student success can be achieved through teamwork, tenacity, and dedication.
• An understanding that a foundation in the core academic subjects develops the knowledge and skills necessary for student success.

Regional Support & Non-Instructional Roles

KIPP DC is looking for dynamic and dedicated people to join its headquarters team. Every position is critical to KIPP DC’s mission of empowering the District’s next generation of leaders. We believe that every role contributes to a strong culture of achievement that helps our students become thoughtful, intentional citizens in the competitive world.

REQUIREMENTS:

Non-instructional job requirements vary depending on the role. Please review the qualifications on the job description for any roles you are interested in.

DESIRED QUALITIES:

• Commitment – We strongly believe that all students can and will succeed. Our staff operates each day with this belief at the forefront. We are looking for staff members who align to this unwavering commitment.
• Growth Mindset – A tenet of our beliefs is that we can constantly improve. Feedback is an important part of our organizational culture and all members of our team strive to improve through reflection and professional growth.
• Organization & Communication – Ability to balance and prioritize multiple tasks is integral to roles. Our teams achieve lofty goals through thoughtful communication, project management, and organizational skills.
• Team & Family – We are only as strong as our collective team. We celebrate, collaborate and lift each other up. In prospective team members, we look for candidates dedicated to building relationships with their colleagues and being part of a team.