All eight KIPP Chicago campuses are rated Level 1 or 1+ in the Chicago Public Schools SQRP rating system, making KIPP Chicago the highest-performing network of schools in Chicago. Currently we serve 3,100 students in grades K-8 and 2000 alumni in high school or college through our KIPP Through College program. Our schools are located in West and South Side neighborhoods where 99% of our students identify as Black or Latinx,  96% qualify for free and reduced price lunch, and 16% qualify as diverse learners. KIPP Chicago alumni graduate high school at a rate of 91% (compared to 78% for low-income students nationally), matriculate to college at a rate of 77% (compared to 34%), and earn a four-year degree at a rate of 30% (compared to 11%). We attract, develop, and retain a diverse and talented staff of educators, 61% of whom identify as People of Color, with 51% identifying as Black and 10% identifying as Latinx. Our students and families choose our schools because our teachers are exceptional educators who work together as a collective to ensure students achieve and thrive.

At KIPP Chicago, Diverse Learners Teachers usually serve caseloads of high-incidence, cross-categorical students through pushing-in to content classrooms and pulling small groups of students out to a resource room.  DL Teachers are needed across our 8 schools, both our elementary schools and our middle schools, across all grade levels K - 8.  Usually, DL teachers instruct caseloads of students from one to three grade levels.

KIPP Chicago has had record high teacher retention and strong hiring for the 21-22 school year.  We are proactively posting for immediate openings should they become available. Our hiring process for open positions will be expedited and will include:

• Phone interview with a Talent Recruiter
• Reference check
• Final interview with a School Leader.
• Candidates who have video of their classroom teaching experience that they can share will be prioritized. 

Once hired, new teachers will have a condensed but robust onboarding process with their school leader. Note that all KIPP Chicago teachers and staff are now required to provide documentation of full Covid-19 vaccination by 10/15/21, unless approved for a medical or religious accommodation.  

KIPP Chicago Schools’ students perform beyond statistical expectations in part because our teachers are exceptional.  They have a “whatever it takes” attitude toward their role in students’ success.  They are remembered by students and families as inspirational.  Expectations specific to the Diverse Learners Teacher role are:

IEP Tasks

• Write initial, annual and tri-annual IEPs using Chicago Public School’s eIEP system

• Inform general education teachers of IEP goals as necessary

• Monitor and support implementation of goals and objectives in general education classrooms

• Provide and/or support modifications and accommodations as needed in general education classrooms

• Keep IEPs updated as to the achievement of goals and objectives at the end of every quarter

• Issue quarterly progress reports on IEP goals for students & families

• Schedule coordinate, and chair the annual IEP meetings in collaboration with families, appropriate clinicians and general education staff

• Maintain a portfolio of student work samples, anecdotal data, and classroom observations

• Encourage parent partnerships and maintains positive communication with families regarding student progress

• Work with the Principal, Assistant Principal and general education teachers to ensure all students receive appropriate accommodations and modifications during formal and informal assessments

Case Management Tasks

• Assume responsibility for case compliance and student academic progress

• Maintain special education file

• Ensure all evaluation recommendations are followed up and completed

• Work with clinicians to ensure related services are being delivered

• Provide input on clinicians’ performance evaluations as appropriate and necessary

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

• A belief that all students can and will be successful at our schools, including students who present challenges

• Commit to the demanding task of working with “low income” students and families toward the goal of college graduation

• 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

• 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 help

• Use best practices in alignment with school-wide systems to manage student behavior and create a safe, warm, demanding, and joyful classroom environment

• 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 and share 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 all students at all times

KIPP Chicago Schools 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 recent model of Mac laptop computer

• A monthly stipend to support the cost of mobile phone usage

• Common behavioral expectations upheld by all school staff and recorded through our student paycheck system with attached school-wide incentives and disincentives

• Principals and assistant principals who are routinely present throughout the building and day

• One-on-one meetings with a principal and/or assistant principal once per week to discuss student progress and the teacher’s development

• Collaboration with grade-level and content teams four afternoons per week

• Two hours of time each week devoted to analyzing student data and planning responsive instruction

• A prep period each day, typically 70 - 90 minutes

• Frequent in-building professional development from school leadership

• A rigorous prepared curriculum in ELA, Math, and Science; prepared unit plans and unit assessments for Social Studies

• In-building technology support

The qualifications for Diverse Learners Teacher are:

• Bachelor’s degree (required)

• Illinois teacher license with the endorsement Learning Behavior Specialist 1 (LBS 1) or equivalent out-of-state license that will transfer to Illinois (required)

• Two years’ prior success teaching in “low-income,” urban communities (preferred)

• A cleared CPS Background check.

• All KIPP Chicago staff are required to provide documentation of full Covid-19 vaccination by or before 10/15/2021, unless approved for medical or religious exemption. (Updated 8/24/2021).  

COMPENSATION AND BENEFITS

• KIPP Chicago Schools offers a competitive compensation and benefits package:

• Salaries based on experience

• 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.

• Contributions to the Chicago Teacher’s Pension Fund in accordance with Illinois state law

• An additional, optional 403(b) retirement account

• Robust professional development

STATEMENT OF NON-DISCRIMINATION

KIPP Chicago is committed to a policy of equal treatments for all individuals applying for employment. KIPP Chicago does not discriminate on the basis of race, color, gender, sexual orientation, national or ethnic background.