Elementary Teacher

Job Description

Job Description

This is a pending placement role. Exact grade level will be determined upon hire

About the KIPP Colorado Teacher Role: The Teacher is the instructional leader of their classroom and is directly responsible for driving student outcomes and creating an exceptional student experience. Teachers drive the educational mission of KIPP Colorado schools by developing rigorous, engaging, affirming, grade-level and culturally-sustaining instruction that prepares students for multiple post-secondary opportunities, and is aligned with our academic program . The Teacher plans instruction, organizes learning activities, internalizes and intellectually prepares for lessons, grades equitably and consistently, and implements with fidelity all accommodations and modifications for students’ IEPs, BIP’s, 504 Plans, ALPs, and MTSS interventions, supporting the individuality and multifaceted nature of all our students .The Teacher at KIPP Colorado holds full responsibility for creating and cultivating a culturally responsive classroom community that is warm-demanding, including upholding school-wide expectations, managing tier 1 behaviors, and contacting families proactively and responsively. Teachers support the campus-wide community and whole school systems through active presence at daily duties, including but not limited to: arrival duty, dismissal duty, lunch duty, threshold presence at transitions, hallway / bathroom duty, and coverage for staff absences. The position is a 10-month academic position and is exempt under the Fair Labor Standards Act. This position reports to a member of the school leadership team.

About KIPP: Together with families and communities, KIPP creates joyful, academically excellent schools that prepare students with the skills and confidence to pursue the paths they choose—college, career, and beyond—so they can lead fulfilling lives and build a more just world. KIPP is a national network of tuition-free, public charter schools open to all students. There are 255 college-preparatory KIPP schools in 20 states and the District of Columbia, serving more than 100,000 students. Nationally, KIPP students are graduating four-year colleges at three times the national average for low-income students. 

Who we are: KIPP Colorado Public Schools is a network of six free college-preparatory public charter schools open to all students. Our 350-person staff educates 2,600 students from ECE to 12th grade. At KIPP Colorado, we partner with our KIPPsters, educators, families and communities to ensure that we are all united around the goal of a choice-filled future for our KIPPsters. Our KIPP Forward Team supports our 1,000+ high school Alumni as they create their own paths. Our core values of excellence, belonging, belief, advocacy and courage are central to who we are and how we operate at all levels of our organization.

What we do: We believe in the unique gifts and brilliance of every student. We believe in setting a high bar for joy and academic excellence to ensure the infinite possibilities our students have before them become a reality. We aspire to create and reinforce a culture of achievement, belonging and support. We know that every student is different and we personalize learning based on a student's needs, skills, and interests.

Role Responsibilities and More About How You’ll Spend Your Time in this Role

Professional Responsibilities 

• Believe deeply in the mission, values, and Race, Inclusion, Diversity, and Equity (RIDE) commitments of KIPP Colorado Schools and that all children can and will learn 
• Assume personal responsibility for student achievement 
• Read, internalize, and adhere to the KIPP Colorado Policies and Procedures manual and guidelines
• Provide an active presence, strategic supervision, and intentional monitoring to ensure student safety and engagement in rigorous learning (regardless of my role and its proximity to students)
• Take ownership for the development of your craft and engage actively in coaching sessions (meet 1-2 times every 1 or 2 weeks (depending on need and role) with a manager, receive coaching, implement all provided feedback, engage in active practice, etc.)
• Commit to being prepared. Such as: internalizing and preparing for lessons, preparing for O3s/coaching, preparing for meetings, coaching, PD, reading and internalizing written communication, etc. 
• Meet professional obligations including and not limited to meeting deadlines and honoring schedules 
• Consistently leverage existing professional tools, including but not limited to Google Suite (google documents, etc.) and Microsoft Suite (including but not limited to your KIPP Colorado email, Teams chat / meetings, Teams phone, and Microsoft Outlook calendar) 
• Maintain strong attendance each day and be on time to all responsibilities
• Collaborate with colleagues and seek feedback in the spirit of continuous improvement 
• Reflect on professional practices to meet individual professional development goals 
• Actively participate in professional development, grade level, and department meetings
• Actively engage and implement in all school-wide and Org wide professional development
• Serve as a positive, contributing member of a grade team or functional team, collaborating with colleagues to tackle common challenges and implement org and grade-wide initiatives
• Share candid, solutions-oriented feedback with peers and leadership on a regular basis, assuring that feedback is shared directly with the intended recipient. Ensure that feedback is focused on improving outcomes and experiences for students
• Assist with both student and staff recruitment and engagement- including events, home visits, calls home, and other determined and related requirements
• Know that your role, professional development, org wide meetings, etc. may require you to travel around Denver to other KIPP Campuses, our Home Office, or other KIPP or PD events 
• Assist with other duties as assigned (such as but not limited to, lunch duty, arrival/dismissal duty, bathroom duty, hallway duty, school support duties, etc.)

Instructional Planning and Delivery

• Develop standards-based instructional plans, including but not limited to unit plans, scope and sequences, week at a glance, and daily lesson plans
• Plan rigorous lessons, in alignment with schoolwide planning deadlines, and engage in lesson internalization practices to deliver high quality instruction
• Design and implement assessments that are aligned with daily objectives
• Grade student material and provide students with feedback and support
• Use adopted high quality instructional materials and curriculum with fidelity, including using data to inform cycles of reteach and reassessment, and in alignment with the academic vision of the school
• Use data to drive instruction, including analyzing student data to adjust short- and long-term plans in order to meet students’ learning needs, providing students feedback and setting and monitoring progress towards goals
• Implement all students’ IEPs, 504 Plans, ALPs, BIPs, and MTSS-aligned interventions with consistency and fidelity, including providing accommodations, modifications, and progress monitoring as outlined in student plans

School Culture Alignment

• Establish and maintain relationships with students and families based on trust and respect
• Approach practice with a sense of urgency to maximize instructional time
• Establish and maintain high expectations for academic work and classroom behavior
• Establish and reinforce rules and consequences to maintain a positive, focused classroom

Additional Responsibilities

• Providing an active presence, strategic supervision, and intentional monitoring to ensure student safety and engagement in rigorous learning
• Complete all specialized certification requirements to maintain compliance, including but not limited to Multilingual Education (MLE) coursework, CDE literacy modules, ECE professional licensure, ESSA highly qualified status
• Partner with the Assistant Principal of Special Services and Special Education Teachers to ensure proper implementation of 504s, BIPs, IEPs, safety plans, accommodations, modification, and language support for students
• Enforce positive behavior systems and monitor behavior data 
• Attend designated school functions outside of school hours (Back to School Night, Report Card Conferences, Community Events, etc.)
• Perform necessary support duties including (but not limited to) bus, lunch, and dismissal duties, chaperone field trips. Participate in parent meetings, conferences, and periodic evening events

• Develop strong relationships with the families of students through home visits, participation in school events and phone calls home
• Communicate regularly with families about academic progress and behavior
• Participate in daily duties (i.e. breakfast, lunch, dismissal) to support school operations
• Maintain accurate and timely records, grade books, and data tracking systems

About a Successful Candidate