KIPP DC
Primary Teaching Resident (26-27 SY)
Washington, DC - Full Time
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Primary Teaching Resident
Job Summary
The Primary Teaching Resident serves as an integral part of KIPP DC Public Schools' teaching pipeline. The first year salary for this role is $52,000. This is a full-time, fully on-site role based in one of our Early Childhood or Elementary Schools with an anticipated start date of July 13, 2026.
About KIPP DCFor 25 years, KIPP DC has partnered with students, families, and the community to create joyful, academically excellent schools across the nation’s capital. Today, our network of 22 schools educate more than 7,500 students in grades PreK3-12, supported by 1,500 dedicated teachers, leaders, and staff.
Our work is grounded in five pillars–Academic Excellence, Joy & Sense of Belonging, Highly Effective Teachers and Leaders, Safe, Structured, and Nurturing Learning Environments, and Commitment to College Readiness–which ensure every student is equipped with the knowledge, skills, and confidence to pursue success in college, careers, and beyond. Our schools combine high expectations with joyful, affirming environments that nurture academic success and personal growth for students and staff alike.
As part of the national KIPP network, we share best practices and innovations while maintaining deep roots in Washington, D.C. Together, we strive toward a future without limits for our students, alumni, and community.
About the team
Quality teachers have a proven impact on student success. The Capital Teaching Residency is a teacher training program that provides a pathway for new teachers to develop into high-performing educators. With a full year of learning under a mentor teacher, unparalleled professional development, and a commitment to educational equity, the Capital Teaching Residency provides an alternative and accessible pathway to teaching careers. Upon successful program completion, residents are eligible to apply for their DC teaching certification.
About the Role
Primary Teaching Residents commit to teaching for a minimum of three years in Washington, D.C. Residents spend the first year of this commitment – their residency year – training in an anchor classroom with a highly effective lead teacher to develop teaching skills and confidence. Early Childhood residents train in a PreK or Kindergarten classroom, while Elementary residents train in 1st through 4th grade classrooms. This is an exempt position and will report to their school’s principal.
Location and Type of Work
Location: We have six early childhood schools and six elementary schools in DC looking for excellent teachers to join their team.
Work Hours: While students receive instruction from 8:00 am to 3:30 pm, KIPP DC teachers are on duty in school Monday through Friday from 7:30 am to 5:00 pm two times a week, and 7:30 am to 4:00 pm three times a week.
Primary Teaching Residents will also be required to attend in-person CTR professional development classes starting with summer professional development in July and continuing in the school year on Wednesday evenings after school hours. This professional development is required for certification.
Additional responsibilities may arise during the school year. This could include but not limited to: attending staff and student field trips, open houses, family-teacher conferences and other events involving parents and students as needed. We will communicate them to all employees with as much notice and flexibility as possible.
Responsibilities
Teaching (65%)
- Assist lead teachers with instruction, classroom culture, and administrative duties
- Under the supervision of your mentor teacher, gradually take on increasing classroom responsibilities as determined by classroom need and your individual performance
- Apply new skills in other grades and subjects within your school community by serving as the substitute in a classroom when a teacher is absent
- Internalize and teach clear and concise developmentally-appropriate content to support student learning
- Gather resources and prepare materials to ensure strong student engagement in lessons
- Participate in regular meetings with your mentor teacher and school coach, grade level meetings, and network wide professional development
Professional Development (20%)
- Attend and actively participate in all Capital Teaching Residency professional development beginning in July 2026 through the end of the school year
- Participate in and implement feedback from observations, evaluations, and feedback meetings with school leaders and the Capital Teaching Residency team
Program Coursework (15%)
- Meet the resident clinical practice milestones in accordance with the gradual release model
- Complete all Capital Teaching Residency certification assignments and projects throughout the residency year
- Complete the applicable asynchronous course aligned to the Praxis Content Knowledge exam required for certification
- Attempt all Praxis certification examinations required for DC teaching certification
Requirements & Preferences
Required Qualifications:
- Bachelor’s degree from an accredited institution by June 2026, all majors accepted
- A belief that all students have the right to a high quality education where educators play an integral role in providing support so that all students can succeed
Preferred Qualifications:
- Ideal candidates have an undergraduate GPA of 3.0 or higher
Physical Requirements:
- Ability to travel across KIPP DC schools and throughout Washington, DC.
- Occasional flexibility to work outside normal business hours or weekends for KIPP DC events.
Demonstrated Excellence in the Following Areas:
- Commitment to Students and Schools: Demonstrates commitment to education reform, believing in every child's potential for success and prioritizing students, schools, and the essential role of families.
- Strategic Thinking and Problem Solving: Finds creative solutions to challenges that achieve broader goals of team and organization.
- Project Management: Sets a high bar for own work and supports others to achieve desired team outcomes.
- Communications and Influence: Demonstrates adept communication skills and influence to advance work by adjusting content and style.
- Teamwork: Contributes to a supportive team culture, fostering diverse work styles and maintaining a high performance standard.
- Trust and Collaboration: Establishes and nurtures effective relationships with a diverse set of stakeholders to support the best outcomes for our work.
- Cultural Humility: Advances KIPP DC’s commitment to anti-racism by creating a diverse, equitable, and inclusive environment for all stakeholders.
- Continuous Learning: Commits to continuous learning through feedback, self reflection, humility, and action.
Benefits & Compensation
KIPP DC offers an extremely competitive compensation and benefits package:
- When it comes to compensation, at KIPP DC we strive for clarity, equity, and to be highly competitive. We look at compensation benchmarks in schools across DC. Resident salaries are exempt and start at $52,000. Please see the salary scale here.
- Following the residency year, residents who successfully complete the program are eligible to interview for roles with competitive pay including senior resident ($57,200) and lead teacher at KIPP DC (starts at $65,500 - salary scale here), or lead teacher roles at partner public charter schools.
- KIPP DC offers a robust benefits package including medical, dental, and vision insurances; various voluntary benefits; and employer paid benefits such as short term disability, long term disability, life insurance, and a membership to One Medical.
- KIPP DC also offers a 403(b) retirement account with a 3% employer contribution and a 3% match with vesting after three years.
- Currently, individuals in this role have up to 10 paid sick days, 12 paid holidays, paid Thanksgiving week break, winter break, spring break, and summer break. This is subject to change and your exact schedule will be shared in your offer letter.
- All employees who use public transit through WMATA are eligible for pre-tax deductions for transportation costs.
Equal Employment Opportunity Employer
KIPP DC Public Schools does not discriminate against, or tolerate discrimination against, employees or applicants for employment on any legally-recognized basis or protected class including, but not limited to, actual or perceived race, color, national origin, immigration status (except as necessary to comply with federal, DC, state, or local law), religion, sex (including pregnancy, childbirth, lactation and related medical conditions), age, physical or mental disability, medical condition, sexual orientation, gender (including gender identity or expression), marital status (including domestic partnership status), genetic information, political affiliation, pregnancy, family responsibilities, personal appearance, veteran status, uniform service member status, status of being unemployed, status of victim a survivor of domestic violence, sexual offense or stalking, matriculation or any other protected class under federal, state, DC, or local law.
Click here or here to review KIPP DC’s non-discrimination policy and KIPP DC’s Title IX Coordinator’s contact information.
Please Note: If you encounter difficulties submitting your application or fail to receive a confirmation email after applying, kindly reach out to Danica Cunningham at danica.cunningham@kippdc.org. Please include your name, resume, and specify the role you are applying for in your email. We appreciate your understanding and apologize for any inconvenience caused.
