KIPP, the Knowledge Is Power Program, is a national network of free, open enrollment, college preparatory public schools dedicated to preparing students in underserved communities for success in college and life. There are 255 KIPP schools across the nation and the District of Columbia, serving more than 100,000 students. Nationally, KIPP students are graduating at 3x the national average for low-income students.

Founded in 2008 with 50 students in 5th grade, KIPP Columbus currently serves nearly 2,000 students in grades Kindergarten through twelfth. During the 2018-2019 school year, and for the third year in a row, KIPP Columbus had the highest amount of academic growth of any community school in Ohio.

The mission of KIPP Columbus is to create a system of schools where students develop the intellectual, academic, and social skills needed to understand and take action on issues they encounter in everyday life. By establishing a rigorous, safe, and personalized learning environment, KIPP Columbus will foster a culture of responsibility and service and empower all students to become active and engaged citizens. Our vision is to ensure that all students in our community will have access to a transformational education that empowers them with the knowledge, skills, and character necessary for success in college and life.

The INSPIRE Teaching Fellowship is the ideal position for candidates with a deep belief in the KIPP Columbus mission, a strong desire to become an effective educator, and a relentless drive and commitment to making our community a better place.  

KIPP Columbus recognizes teaching as the most sacred and critical part to making our mission a reality. By offering new educators a year of targeted training and “hands-on” experience, the INSPIRE Teaching Fellowship seeks to develop candidates into excellent teachers with the aim of assuming lead teaching positions at KIPP Columbus for a minimum of three years.

The fellowship offers a unique opportunity to observe and learn across classrooms at KIPP Columbus, develop alongside a supportive learning community of fellows, and receive ongoing professional development that will equip fellows with the foundational knowledge and skills to be successful in any classroom.

INSPIRE Teaching Fellows make a commitment to teach for a minimum of three years at KIPP Columbus, with the first year spent training in a classroom with a highly effective teacher. Upon successful completion of the fellowship, Fellows will be considered for a full-time teaching position within KIPP Columbus.

Throughout the year, Fellows learn and grow by engaging in four key components of our program:

• Deliberate Practice: Fellows will frequently engage in deliberate practice through participation in regional cohort professional development with a focus on lesson planning and classroom management.

• Gradual Release of Responsibility: Through the guidance and support of a mentor teacher, fellows will take part in increased opportunities to lead teach in an environment that is structured and stable. The mentor also fosters a positive, nurturing, and connected relationship with the Fellow.  

• Instructional Coaching:  A coach/manager will help to oversee the Mentor-Fellow relationship, ensure that Fellows have a safe and supportive platform to practice acquired skills and lead Fellows through observation-feedback meetings that are individualized and responsive to each Fellow’s unique needs.

• KIPP Columbus Mission, Vision and Values: Fellows will have opportunities to engage, invest in, and connect with KIPP Columbus’ Mission, Vision, Values, the role of a teacher at KIPP Columbus, and the community as a whole.  They will leave the Fellowship program inspired to continue the work and advance the mission.

• Bachelor’s degree with a cumulative GPA of a 2.75 or above.
• Willingness to pursue a teaching license through the state of Ohio
• Deep belief in the mission of KIPP Columbus and a strong desire to work towards equity within education
• Growth mindset and a desire to learn and grow through consistent coaching and feedback
• Belief that all students are capable of success and deserve to be pushed to a rigorous academic and behavioral bar
• Willingness to do whatever it takes and go above and beyond to serve all students

Compensation and Benefits

KIPP Columbus offers a competitive salary and a comprehensive benefit plan including medical and dental insurance, as well as group term life insurance, retirement plan and paid time off.  The fellowship year offers a $30,000 salary with benefits.

Statement of Non-Disclosure

KIPP Columbus is committed to a policy of equal treatment for all individuals applying to the school for consideration of any position (admission, employment, etc.). KIPP Columbus does not discriminate on the basis of disability, gender, nationality, race or ethnicity, religion, sexual orientation, or any other characteristic that is contained in the definition of hate crimes set forth in Section 4112.02 of the Ohio Revised Code.