25-26 Middle School Special Education Teacher

About Us

KIPP Public Schools is a national network of free, open-enrollment, college-preparatory public schools committed to working alongside students and families to disrupt systemic educational inequity and create a future without limits.  Over 100,000 students attend one of the 270 KIPP schools that operate in 28 regions across the United States.  KIPP Philadelphia Schools Public Schools (KPPS) is a part of the national KIPP Public Schools network and currently leads six schools serving approximately 2,400 students in North and West Philadelphia. This fall, we will found our seventh school. By 2030, KPPS will lead ten schools serving approximately 4,000 students.

Our Mission

Together with families and communities, we create joyful, academically excellent schools that prepare students to pursue the paths they choose—college, career, and beyond—so they can lead fulfilling lives and build a more just world.

Life at KPPS

We know that talented, committed, culturally competent teachers and leaders have the power to amplify our children’s potential by creating a school experience that affirms, values, and challenges them each day. We seek to create a professional environment full of joy, candor, care and community where excellent educators can make a long-term home. Educators at KIPP –

• Are committed to anti-racism, equity and inclusion
• Are part of a close-knit, diverse community of educators
• Show up as themselves, inspiring our children to do the same
• Access resources and affinity spaces that support well-being and sustainability
• Lead with care and candor and take ownership of our children’s learning and growth
• Evolve their craft via 1:1 coaching and quality professional development
• Have access to leadership pathway programming and opportunities to grow their career
• Enjoy a competitive, equitable, transparent approach to compensation, comprehensive health benefits for employees and their families, a 403B matching program, and free access to financial advising services

The Special Education Teacher will manage a caseload and provide direct support for students with special needs to help them fulfill their potential for intellectual, emotional, physical and social growth. This teacher will demonstrate professional leadership through collaborative case management with general education teachers, para professionals, and related service providers.

Classroom Responsibilities

• Plan and use appropriate instructional and learning strategies, activities, materials, and equipment that reflect understanding of the learning styles and needs of individual students, including Functional Academics, Daily Living Skills, Transition Skills, and Social Skills.

• Use progress monitoring-tools to analyze student results for the purpose of modifying and adjusting strategies, programming and IEPs

• Use data to inform instructional decisions

• Provide students with daily feedback on mastery performance in character and academics and plan for individual learning needs

• Demonstrate strong pedagogy

• KPPS classroom responsibilities

Special Education Responsibilities

• Develop, monitor, and evaluate the effectiveness of individualized education plans

• Meet with general education teachers, para professionals, and related service providers to review IEPs, answer questions, collaborate on strategies and supports as needed to implement IEPs for students with fidelity

• Liaise with parents via trainings, meetings, and consultations

• Provide case management for Special Education caseload and provide instruction to students receiving special education supports

Professional Responsibilities

• Take ownership for the development of your craft (meet 1x/1-2 weeks with an instructional coach, implement feedback, engage in active practice, etc.)
• Actively engage in all school-wide professional development
• Serve as a positive, contributing member of a grade team, collaborating with colleagues to tackle common challenges and implement grade-wide initiatives
• Share candid, solutions-oriented feedback with peers and school leadership on a regular basis
• Embody KPPS core values: Children First, Cultural Competence, Ownership, Community
• Enroll in/complete a teacher certification program (if applicable)

School Responsibilities

• Arrive at school by 8:00 a.m. and stay until 4:30 p.m. Monday through Friday
• Attend designated school functions outside of school hours (Back to School Night, Report Card Conferences, Community Events, etc.) 
• Contribute to the planning and execution of all school-wide events
• Develop strong relationships with the families of students through home visits, participation in school events and phone calls home
• Perform necessary support duties including (but not limited to) bus, lunch, and dismissal duties
• Chaperone field lessons/field trips
• Additional responsibilities may arise during the school year. They will be communicated to all employees with as much notice and flexibility as possible.

Qualifications & Credentials

• Love and see the high potential of all children
• Demonstrated ability to drive student growth and achievement and to create a warm, inclusive, rigorous learning environment
• Passion for subject/content area and demonstrated commitment to professional learning
• Demonstrated ability to contribute positively to a school team
• 2+ years of full-time teaching experience (outside of substitute teaching) in an urban setting strongly preferred
• Bachelor’s degree
• Pennsylvania State certification Level I or II strongly preferred. If uncertified, must be –
  • committed to working toward certification by enrolling in a PA-approved certification program 
  • able to submit transcripts upon hire (required for emergency permit application)
• Complete all required criminal and child abuse background checks:
• PA State Police Clearance
• PA Child Abuse Clearance
• Cogent Federal Fingerprinting

Compensation

• Teacher salaries at KPPS are competitive, equitable, and transparent. To maintain equity, teacher salaries are determined by a combination of years of teaching experience and certification status. All candidates are welcome to ask their recruiter how their experience and credentials will translate to their salary.
• All full-time team members at KPPS enjoy a comprehensive health benefits package (including vision and dental, a telehealth option, and flexible spending accounts) for themselves and their families as well as a 403B matching program for retirement savings.
• Uncertified teachers have access to $2500 in tuition reimbursement to pursue certification at a Pennsylvania-approved certification program.

Note To Applicants

KIPP Philadelphia Schools is an equal opportunity employer.  Employees are selected on the basis of ability without regard to race, color, religion, sex, national origin, disability, marital status, or sexual orientation, in accordance with federal and state law.