Returning to KIPP DC—On Purpose, for a Purpose
For KIPP DC Valor Academy ELA teacher, Amedeo Hines, KIPP DC is not just a workplace; it is home. A proud native of Southwest DC, Amedeo currently serves as an eighth-grade English teacher, Grade Level Chair, and Head Basketball Coach. Long before he stood at the front of the classroom or on the sidelines of the court, Mr. Hines was a KIPP DC student himself, attending middle school and later graduating from KIPP DC College Preparatory in 2015.
As a KIPP DC student, young Mr. Hines recognized that he was given opportunities many of the peers in his neighborhood never had. While his experience at KIPP DC opened doors for him, they also shaped his commitment to return with a deeper sense of responsibility. “I don’t recall having any black male English core subject teachers… I felt like that played a big role [in my return] too.”
That awareness shows up clearly in how Mr. Hines teaches today. Drawing from his own background and his post-secondary studies in Psychology and Africana Studies, his classroom is a space where students’ identities and social-emotional learning intersect. In his fifth year as an educator at KIPP DC, Mr. Hines says, “Anytime I get an opportunity to teach Black history and culture… I love that. And I would say as far as the identity thinking and mapping, that’s definitely what kids tend to like learning the most. They get to learn more about themselves through other people’s experiences.”
One of the messages he emphasizes most is simple and powerful: “Don’t fit in, fit out.” He encourages students to think critically, stand firmly in their values, and lead with empathy, even when it goes against the popular idea. “Last year it all clicked for me and I got direct affirmation from students that this is what I’m supposed to be doing… a lot of people say teaching is a thankless job, but I can’t say that. I see the fruits of my labor every day. I see it with the kids who’ve gone to high school and still reach out and come back to the school to speak to me or support the games.”
The same values extend beyond the classroom as Head Basketball Coach. Through coaching, Mr. Hines emphasizes developing students’ confidence and character alongside their skills. Having coached some players for multiple years, he takes pride in seeing their growth. “Seeing the kids who have been here with me since the sixth grade, since I started. Seeing them now, not only become better basketball players, but just becoming more like confident young men. I love it!”
During Black History Month, and every other day, Mr. Hines embodies representation and reinvestment in community. Grounding everything he does is a deep commitment to discipline and consistency, a lesson passed down from mentors who shaped him early in his career. “Being extremely structured is what I do, not in a way that’s robotic and rigid, but in a way that’s adaptable to what kids need the most.” His journey from KIPP DC student to teacher and coach serves as a living example for students of what’s possible when they are seen, challenged, and believed in.
See photos from our visit to Mr. Hines’ classroom.
