Lead Kindergarten Teacher

Company Description

ABOUT KIPP MICHIGAN

At KIPP Michigan, we are guided by a simple, yet powerful mission: Together with families and communities we create 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.  

Currently, KIPP Michigan operates 1 school: KIPP Detroit Imani Academy [Elementary School].  KIPP Detroit Imani Academy is the state of Michigan’s first KIPP school.  And the first KIPP school in the city of Detroit.  KIPP Detroit Imani Academy opened in the fall of 2022 in the Warrendale neighborhood on the west side of Detroit. 

We believe the destiny of students from Detroit are limitless and students should not be bound by their circumstances. Unfortunately, in America, there is still a link between socioeconomic status and educational attainment.  KIPP Detroit Imani Academy seeks to eradicate this injustice.  KIPP Detroit Imani Academy will become the highest performing school in the city of Detroit; and, to do so, we attract, develop and retain a diverse and talented staff of educators.  Our students and families will choose our schools because our teachers are exceptional educators who work together as a collective to ensure students achieve and thrive.  For more data and information about our successes and vision for the future, visit www.kippdetroit.org

Job Description

In school year 2022-2023, KIPP Imani launched with Kindergarten and has added grades each year; it will, eventually serve students in grades K-5.  The founding team at KIPP Imani has included Grade-Level teachers, Diverse Learning teachers, Paraprofessionals and Elective Teachers. KIPP Imani will also be supported by an operations team and student support team to ensure a strong foundation for the school’s continued founding and growth. 

Lead Kindergarten Teachers understand that critical foundations for school and student success are built at the kindergarten level.  At KDIA,  this means we expect kindergarten teachers to create the conditions for KIPPsters to exit Kindergarten reading.  In order to achieve this ambitious goal, we expect instructional excellence and strong culture in all classrooms.   To support these aims and beliefs, Lead Kindergarten teachers at KDIA share their classrooms with Co-Teachers.  The purpose of a Lead & Co model is  to create a student:teacher ratio that maximizes individualized attention which yields student mastery; especially, at this critical foundational grade.  

Our expectations for teachers at KDIA include, but are not limited to, the following:

• Share a commitment to the success of the mission, vision and goals of the KIPP Detroit Imani Academy
• A belief that all students can and will learn and be successful at our schools 
• Demonstrate genuine concern for the students and the staff by maintaining high personal standards and strong work ethic
• An understanding that organizational success is accomplished in collaboration and cooperation with teammates
• Maintain standards of professionalism and ethical behavior/decision-making that help create a results-driven culture of  joy and belonging amongst teammates
• Being consistent and reliable; attendance is an essential function to assure the proper operation of KIPP Detroit Imani Academy
• Practice a growth mindset about oneself and all others at the school, including seeking help and engaging in self-reflection in order to constantly refine one’s own teaching
• Set specific, ambitious growth targets for all students and identify and leverage all necessary resources to ensure they meet them
• Use best practices to backwards plan weekly and daily instruction that is tightly aligned to prescribed unit objectives and student needs as demonstrated by assessment data
• Assess students daily, weekly, and at the ends of units and analyze shared assessment data through school-wide systems
• Use best practices, including differentiation with instructional technology and other techniques, to execute engaging instruction at a level rigorous for all students
• Collaborate throughout each day with grade level and content teams, sharing responsibility for student mastery
• A commitment to pursuing anti-racism in our schools and work together
• Dependable attendance according to our extended school year and extended school day
• Communicate frequently and consistently with students and families, including after school via phone, regarding academics, behavior, logistics, and homework 
• Use best practices in alignment with school-wide systems to manage student behavior and create a safe, affirming, warm/demanding, and joyful classroom environment

KIPP Michigan teachers are supported in their demanding work by experienced and dedicated leadership and staff who have themselves proven successful in the teaching role.  Our leaders maintain consistent school-wide systems and procedures -- academic, behavioral, cultural, logistical -- designed to permit teachers to do their best work.

Our supports for teachers’ work include, but are not limited to the following:

• A laptop computer

• Principals and assistant principals who are routinely present throughout the building each day
• One-on-one meetings with a principal and/or assistant principal once per week to discuss student progress and teacher’s development
• Quality coaching to help develop teachers content knowledge and classroom management skills 
• Collaboration with grade-level and content teams 
• A daily prep period
• Frequent in-building professional development from school leadership
• A rigorous prepared curriculum 
• In-building technology support
• Highly efficient and thoughtful school scheduling
• A team of ambitious, talented staff, who are all committed to our important work

Qualifications

The minimum qualification for Lead Kindergarten Teachers are:

• Bachelor’s degree or better from an accredited university or college (required)
• Active Michigan Teachers Certification or active teachers license that can be transferred to MI (required) 
• At least two years’ prior success teaching in urban communities (strongly preferred)
• A cleared Criminal Records Check.
• All KIPP Detroit staff are required to provide documentation of full Covid-19 vaccination by or before their start date [unless approved for medical or religious exemption].

Additional Information

KIPP Michigan is the Educational Service Provider to KIPP Detroit Imani Academy. As such, KIPP Michigan is the employer for this role.   

COMPENSATION

KIPP Michigan offers a competitive compensation and benefits package:

• Salaries based on experience related to role and responsibilities
• Competitive rates for medical insurance and short-term disability insurance.  Dental insurance, vision insurance, life insurance, and long-term disability insurance are offered at no cost.
• Competitive retirement savings benefits 
• Stipends for additional leadership and enrichment leadership  

INTERVIEW & ONBOARDING PROCESS 

To apply, please submit your application and resume for the role. Please apply immediately, as applications are accepted and roles are filled on a rolling basis.  The interview process for this position includes a phone/zoom interview, a round of in-person interviews, submission of a performance task, and reference check.  

STATEMENT OF NON-DISCRIMINATION

KIPP Michigan is committed to a policy of equal treatment for all individuals applying for employment. KIPP Detroit does not discriminate on the basis of race, color, gender, sexual orientation, national or ethnic background. All your information will be kept confidential according to EEO guidelines.