[2024 - 2025] KIPP Durham Middle ELA Master Teacher Grades…

Job Description
ESSENTIAL DUTIES
 
Preparing and Delivering Instruction
Thoroughly review, deeply internalize, and meticulously prepare KIPP NC adopted curricula every single day. KIPP NC has selected the following curricula for its middle schools:
Math: Open Up Resources, focused on problem solving and developing student thinking
ELA: KIPP Wheatley
8th Grade Science: Amplify & supported Science materials to match NC Standards
State-aligned intervention: i-Ready
Practice—and then practice some more—lesson delivery to execute curricula at an exceptionally high level
Work to learn the students in the room—working to learn their data and individual needs, including those addressed by IEPs, multilingual language plans, and other individualized plans
Create exemplar responses and documents for work to hold students accountable and to facilitate collaboration with colleagues
Use assessment data (i-Ready data, IA data, EOG data, DIBELS data, curricular data, exit tickets, student quizzes and work) to drive instruction, make hard pivots when necessary, and make individualized learning plans for every student in their care
Set clear, high expectations, and hold students accountable for performance—all of which requires taking personal responsibility and doing everything required to reach challenging goals
Embrace and incorporate the gift of feedback from wherever it comes—colleagues, principal, assistant principal, regional coaches, students, wherever—in the spirit of Pursuing Excellence, one of KIPP NC core values
Do all the operational things that support great instruction, like maintaining an accurate and timely gradebook, keeping records, and completing tasks for data tracking systems
 
Building Positive Classroom and Schoolwide Cultures
Develop positive relationships with students, families, teachers, and staff through regular positive phone calls to families, routine curbside check-ins with families at arrival and dismissal, weekly newsletters from the classroom, and attendance at all school events, including Back-to-School Night, family conferences, report card conferences, and all other school celebrations
Leverage those relationships to induce behaviors and instructional habits from students that are significantly different from those previously exhibited; pinpoint and tap the needs, wants, and underlying motivations of students
Participate fully in the daily routines of a school that form the foundation of culture, like arrival/dismissal, advisory/circle time, lunch, hallway transitions, and the 1,000 other moments that make up a day
Embody, nurture, and build KIPP NC’s core values (Pursuing Excellence, Building Knowledge, Fighting Injustice, Sparking Joy, and Rising Together) and the school’s student and staff cultures
Assume personal responsibility for student achievement, all the students in the school, and the success of staff colleagues
Create and maintain a joyful classroom space that exudes love, builds a sense of belonging, and celebrates learning, which includes displaying current student work and grade level/content- appropriate and identity-affirming decorations
 
Exemplifying a Growth Mindset
Collaborate with leaders and coaches to identify areas of strength and areas of growth for professional development throughout the year, some of which will be leader-led, and some of which will happen in the quiet after-school moments in classrooms with colleagues in the routine preparation for the next day
Attend practice clinics to hone and sharpen pedagogical skills and lesson delivery
Participate in Teacher Work Days, Regional Data Days, and Professional Development meetings after school; satiate their hunger to learn and grow as a professional
 
Taking Care of Yourself 
Use the many benefits the organization offers employees (health benefits, generous school holidays, etc.) to relieve stress after the workday is done or over school breaks and holidays, as the job of turning a school around is tough—teachers will experience stress and emotional challenges associated with all the essential duties enumerated above, and self-care will be a priority