Teaching at KIPP

There are more than 2,800 KIPP teachers working every day to instill in our students the knowledge, skills and character to succeed in college and the competitive world beyond. While their experiences and backgrounds are varied and wide, each shares the fundamental conviction that all children can and will learn.

DO WHAT IS BEST FOR STUDENTS

We value our teachers as professionals by recognizing their contributions, giving them automony to make the decisions that are best for students, and investing in their growth and development as teachers and as leaders.

FOCUS ON CHARACTER

Our longstanding motto—“Work hard. Be nice.”—isn’t just a tagline. Since the beginning, we've believed in a balanced approach to education; hard work and a strong academic curriculum balanced with the development of the character strengths needed to succeed in college and in life.

COLLEGE GRADUATION FOR ALL

We've raised the bar for the definition of success for children in low-income communities; it's not just getting to college, but rather, seeing them all the way through to graduation day. We work with students even after they've graduated to ensure that they are prepared for college and the competitive world beyond.

PROFESSIONAL DEVELOPMENT

Through our KIPP School Leadership Programs, we develop leaders through our multi-tiered leadership development. We believe that the work of educators is incredibly complex and challenging, and we approach professional development of educators with the utmost intentionality.

SHARE WITH COLLEAGUES

Our teachers are all "on the same page." We collaborate to deliver strong instruction and a unifed culture - not only within our buildings but across state lines through retreats, summits, and our online sharing platform, KIPP Share.

Are you a recent college graduate or career changer interested in a teaching career with KIPP?

Download our New Teacher Programs brochure to learn about opportunities available to you at KIPP.

Explore KIPP Classrooms

The best way discover if KIPP is right for you is to visit a KIPP school. In the meantime, watch a few videos, explore our blog, and view typical classroom schedules to gain a better understanding about what makes KIPP, KIPP. In the meantime, we welcome you to:

Enter Nicole’s Kindergarten classroo m in New Orleans >
View sample teacher schedules to gain an understanding of what “more time,” one of KIPP’s Five Pillars, looks like from school to school:
Read a our Team and Family blog >

Teacher Celebration

Every summer, KIPP teachers come together for an entire week of professional development and celebration at the KIPP School Summit (KSS). During the closing Gala, our teachers are recognized and appreciated for the hard work they do each day getting our KIPP students to and through college.

View the 2011 KIPP School Summit appreciation video:

At KIPP School Summit, eleven KIPP teachers from a pool of more than 2,700 KIPP educators were also recognized with the KIPP Excellence in Teaching Award; each received $10,000 from the KIPP Foundation as part of the award recognition. The selected teachers have a proven track record for improving student achievement, inspiring other teachers, and displaying passion and commitment to their schools and to the KIPP mission in helping all students climb the mountain to college.

2012 KIPP Excellence in Teaching Award Winners:

Mary Joann Mathis, KIPP Empower Academy, Los Angeles, CA
Vanessa Evans, KIPP STRIVE Academy, Atlanta, GA
Jamie Irish, KIPP Central City Academy, New Orleans, LA
Rachel Kohan, KIPP Philadelphia Charter School, Philadelphia, PA
Elmer Rivera, KIPP SF Bay Academy, San Francisco, CA
Erica Stewart, KIPP Austin Academy of Arts & Letters, Austin, TX
Elizabeth Valerio, KIPP Inspire Academy, St. Louis, MO
Billy Warden, KIPP Ascend Charter School, Chicago, IL
Aurthur Washington, KIPP WAYS Academy, Atlanta, GA
Sally Winchester, KIPP Believe College Prep, New Orleans, LA
Gara Bell, KIPP Pride High School, Gaston, NC

In addition to local community awards and network recognition, our teachers have also been recognized nationally. KIPP teachers nationwide have received high teaching honors such as the Wal-Mart and Sam's Club Teacher of the Year Award, the Disney Teacher Award, Mr. Holland's Opus Foundation Award, and the American Ambassador in Education Award.

KIPP is committed to equal treatment for all individuals. KIPP does not discriminate on the basis of race, color, gender, disability, age, religion, sexual orientation, or national or ethnic origin.