KIPP in Touch

February 2019 Issue #6

KIPP DC Brings “Loads” of Support to KIPPsters

The idea to bring Loads of Love to KIPP DC’s Shaw Campus was spearheaded by mental health practitioner Patrick DiSalvo, who was aware of the unique challenges some of our students endured outside of school and wanted to make a difference. “We give out a lot of uniforms to students who aren’t in uniform for a variety of reasons. Sometimes kids are experiencing difficulties, or may have just forgot,” he said. “Every day, seeing the relief on a child’s face when they can get a clean uniform, despite whatever circumstances might have occurred, has been a welcome sight.”

Read more about Loads of Love!

Classroom Spotlight

KIPP in Touch stopped by WILL Academy’s OU classroom, led by Mr. Gregory Rottman. During our visit, students were preparing for their test on Geometry and Measurement by working on metric and customary conversions, classifying polygons, and learning about the volume of rectangular prisms. Looking ahead, Mr. Rottman is excited for his class to start review lessons in the ramp up to PARCC. 

Mr. Rottman loves how this group keeps him on his toes. “I love that every day is different and unexpected.  Working with students, especially middle school students, never gets stale!  Every day I know we’re going to learn a lesson, but beyond that there are so many unpredictable variables at play. I love the innovation and creativity required for this work.”

Congratulations to the OU classroom for being this month’s classroom spotlight. Check out more images for this month’s visit!

Updates Across the Network

Though we still have a busy and important spring ahead of us, we’re already starting to look ahead to the 2019-20 school year and wanted to provide some quick updates about changes happening around the KIPP DC network.

  • Principal Transitions: We’re excited to share some updates to our school leadership teams as we prepare for next school year:
    • After seven years at Heights Academy, Gaelan Gallagher will be returning to her middle school roots to lead our new (to-be-named) middle school at the Somerset Campus as part of our partnership there. Miriam Darby has been participating in the KIPP Foundation Fisher Fellowship for the past year in preparation to lead her own school, and will be returning to Heights as principal next year.
    • Having served in a variety of roles across a number of KIPP DC campuses, John Barnhardt will be transitioning away from KEY Academy after this school year. We’re excited to share that five-year KIPP DC veteran and current KEY vice principal Rashaand Sass will be succeeding him this summer.
    • After nearly 12 years at LEAP Academy as a resident, teacher, vice principal, and principal, Abe Clayman will be leaving his post this summer. His successor, Shantel Sappleton, has been a vice principal at LEAP for three years and we’re excited to have her take the lead next year.
    • At Grow Academy, Lauren Ellis will be stepping away from her role at the end of this year. We’re excited to introduce her successor, Ashley Peel, who started as a Capital Teaching Resident at LEAP in 2011 and has been a vice principal at Grow for the past four years.
  • Somerset Partnership:  Today is the deadline for students to apply for enrollment through the My School DC common lottery, so we will soon begin enrolling new students at the expanded KIPP DC Somerset Campus. Our recruitment team is wrapping up first-round interviews with current Somerset Prep staff members who have expressed interest in working at KIPP DC next year, so middle school principal Gaelan Gallagher and high school principal Lauren Catalano are looking forward to filling out their teams in the coming months with current staff, internal staff transfers from other KIPP DC schools, and new hires to the KIPP DC team. We have been building out an academic, special education, and extracurricular program for next year based on current student and family interest, and are feeling confident that we will start the school year strong.

The KIPP in Touch Podcast: Althea Holford & Nathan Woods on Engaging Our Community

This month's KIPP in Touch Podcast focuses on EXPANDING OUR IMPACT with managing director of external affairs and real estate Althea Holford and community relations manager and KIPP DC alumnus Nathan Woods. Listen as they both discuss past and future events to engage the community, the pride we have in the success of our KIPP DC alumni, and the inspiration found in Black History Month celebrations!

Upcoming Dates

  • Thursday, March 7 - P3 Capstone Event at KIPP DC Headquarters
  • Friday, March 8 - All Schools Closed for Parent Teacher Conferences
  • Wednesday, March 13 - Teacher Development Day + Early Dismissal for KCP
  • Friday, March 22 - KIPProm @ Union Market
  • Friday, March 29 - Teacher Development Day + All Schools Closed

Social Media Highlights

Follow us and stay up to date on the latest happenings around KIPP DC!

Campus Snapshots

  • In February, middle schoolers learned and played alongside international musicians through The Global Leaders Program!

  • Don't miss "In the Heights," a KIPP DC College Preparatory spring musical production, when it debuts in late March!

Did You Know?

Bring Your Own Teacher Referral Event 

The recruitment team is hosting a referral happy hour on March 7th. Do you know a teacher who would be a great fit for KIPP DC schools? Come introduce them to the recruitment team at our Bring Your Own Teacher (BYOT) Referral Happy Hour on March 7th from 6:00 pm-8:00 pm at Shaw’s Tavern (520 Florida Ave NW, Washington D.C. 20001).

RSVP for you and your friend. We’re eager to reconnect with you and meet other great educators!

Classroom Spotlight Nomination

Do you know a special group of KIPPsters that deserves recognition for their outstanding performance?

Contact us and let us know!