Middle School: Team Lead - Lynn, MA (2023-2024)

Our Mission

The mission of all of KIPP Massachusetts schools is to create an environment where students develop the academic skills, intellectual habits and character traits necessary to maximize their potential in high school, college and the world beyond. Our program is based on:

• A focus on high-quality instruction supported by rigorous professional development to ensure that our students develop the academic skills necessary to pursue the life they choose.
• A high regard for character development to ensure that our students and staff celebrate and develop their character and identity strengths.
• An emphasis on family engagement, because we believe that our students are most likely to be able to maximize their potential when we work in partnership with our students and their families.
A focus on college readiness for all students so that all students can make choices about their post-secondary education and future.

What We Do

We seek to provide a world-class education for students from educationally underserved communities in Lynn and Boston. Our student demographics mirror those of neighborhood schools in terms of race, socioeconomic status, English Language Learners, and students who receive special education services.

Our promise to families is that their children will enter college and the professional world able to thrive academically due to their literacy, numeracy, and core knowledge in science and social studies. We also promise that our students will develop the zest for learning and grit necessary to persevere as they climb the mountain to and through college and career. Our graduates will be prepared to return to their community as teachers, leaders, and architects of continued growth in Lynn and Boston.

Our Diversity, Equity and Inclusivity Vision

At KIPP Massachusetts, we believe that Knowledge is Power. Every day, our team and family have the opportunity to either perpetuate systems of oppression or disrupt them. We are compelled by the ideals of diversity, equity, and inclusivity. Therefore, we continuously commit to operating as an anti-racist organization. Read more at Diversity Equity Inclusivity Vision.

Who We Are

KIPP Massachusetts began enrolling students in 2004. We currently hold two charters, operating two “districts.” Our first district, KIPP Academy Lynn Charter School, is based in Lynn, MA. Our second district, KIPP Academy Boston Charter School, is based in Mattapan, MA. Each district is housed on one or more “campuses,” which we use to refer to different grade spans, for example, elementary grades, middle school grades, or high school grades.

In Lynn, KIPP Academy Lynn Elementary (serving grades K-4), KIPP Academy Lynn Middle (serving grades 5-8), and KIPP Academy Lynn Collegiate (serving grades 9-12), are all under our Lynn charter. Admission to any grade in the Lynn district is admission to all remaining grades in the Lynn district K-12. 66% of our students in Lynn are Hispanic, 23% are African American and 11% are other races/ethnicities.

In Boston, KIPP Academy Boston Elementary (serving grades K-4), and KIPP Academy Boston (serving grades 5-8), are both under our Boston charter. Admission to any grade in the Boston district is admission to all remaining grades in the Boston district, K-8. 68% of our students in Boston are African American, 30% are Hispanic and 2% are other races/ethnicities.

Across both districts, in school year 2020-21 KIPP Massachusetts will serve over 2,100 students.

KIPP National

KIPP Massachusetts partners with the KIPP Foundation, or KIPP National, which is a non-profit national network of college-preparatory public charter schools serving elementary, middle and high school students. KIPP National has a 25-year track record of preparing our students in educationally underserved communities for success in college and life.

There are 242 KIPP schools in 20 states plus the District of Columbia educating over 100,000 students on their path to and through college and career. We believe that excellent academic, safe and structured schools, empowered teachers, an emphasis on character development and support through college are the foundation for student success, and we strive to provide this for every student.

All KIPP schools, whether they are in Massachusetts or in other states, are part of the free public school system in their respective states and enrollment is open to all students. KIPP public charter schools are given more academic and budgetary flexibility than traditional public schools, and in exchange commit to deliver high-quality academic results for students.

Team Lead Teacher

KIPP MA is looking for talented, committed, and culturally competent Team Leads who have the power to amplify our children’s potential by contributing to creating a school experience that affirms, values, and challenges students each day. The role of a Team Lead is essential in creating a school that is consistent and predictable for students and staff. A Team Lead teacher’s day-to-day roles and responsibilities may vary based on campus, but the position itself is designated to help support schools with unplanned and planned vacancies and absences throughout the school year while also supporting student learning through targeted instruction. The Team Lead will provide immediate coverage for educators during daily absences and may also assume the role of Lead Teacher during long-term absences or vacancies. In doing so, the Team Lead helps ensure that our students get the consistency and valuable education they deserve all school-year long. When Team Leads are not providing coverage, they will support students by providing targeted instruction, depending on the grade level or content area they are supporting.

KEY RESPONSIBILITIES

Classroom Responsibilities

• Ensure that all children feel affirmed, valued, and challenged every day
• Create and foster a positive and safe learning environment
• During a short-term absence, provide coverage and lead instruction for classrooms based on assigned grade-level or content area
• During a long-term absence, assume all roles and responsibilities of a Lead Teacher in the classroom. These include but are not limited to:
  • Create and internalize rigorous and engaging unit and daily lesson plans leveraging provided curricula/resources
  • Create and internalize academically aligned lesson plans, unit plans, rubrics, and assessments
  • Set specific, ambitious growth goals with all students and identify and leverage all necessary resources to ensure they meet them
  • Use best practices, including differentiation, to execute engaging instruction at a level rigorous for all students
  • Infuse core values into daily lessons and every school practice, implementing school-wide culture systems and positive classroom management strategies
  • Regularly analyze student work and academic data to modify lessons, refine curricula, and inform instructional practice
  • Maintain accurate student grades/records and strong lines of communication with students and families regularly regarding students’ growth and progress
• Role and responsibilities of Team Leads not providing coverage support may vary based on campus, but generally include:
  • Provide additional academic support to assigned grade-level and content-team teachers; including small group instruction, analyzing student work, and/or co-teaching instructional support

School and Professional Responsibilities

• Participate in school-wide and individual professional development, including pre-service training over the summer and weekly during the academic year
• Take ownership for the development of your craft and seek feedback from your coach (meet 1x/1-2 weeks with coach, implement feedback, engage in co-planning and active practices, participate in live coaching, etc.)
• Perform necessary support duties including (but not limited to) coverage, bus, lunch, and dismissal duties
• Develop strong relationships with families through participating in school events and consistent phone calls home
• Be willing to offer support and receive constructive feedback from colleagues in order to create a professional working atmosphere that is conducive to accountability, change, and improvement
• Collaborate with grade level and content teams to tackle common challenges and implement grade-wide systems, sharing responsibility for all students
• Dependable attendance according to our school calendar

Regional Responsibilities

• Embody KIPP MA’s Code of Conduct by acting with integrity, leading with humanity, centering self-awareness and critical consciousness, taking personal responsibility, and engaging productively
• Obtain required MTEL and SEI endorsements with financial support from KIPP MA within the first year of employment in addition to free study support (please review this doc to see requirements)
• Participate and engage in regional professional development and community events as required

KIPP MA 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.

In addition to the responsibilities listed above, there will occasionally be other duties as assigned that teachers will engage in to help promote a positive and safe learning environment and culture

QUALIFICATIONS

• Love and unwavering belief in the high potential of all students
• Commitment to anti-racism and equity
• 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
• 1 years of teaching experience
• Bachelor’s Degree required
• KIPP MA requires that all staff be fully vaccinated with an FDA or WHO authorized vaccine (or approved by KIPP MA for an exemption as a reasonable accommodation due to a medical reason or sincerely held religious belief).
• Pass Criminal Background Checks

KIPP MA is an Equal Opportunity Employer. We believe in the importance of being a diverse, equitable, and inclusive organization that enables all of our students and staff to thrive. We are committed to building an exceptional team that reflects the diverse backgrounds and experiences of our students. We also strive to ensure an inclusive community by creating a space for meaningful dialogue about issues of race and identity for our staff and students. We hire without consideration to race, religion, creed, color, national origin, age, gender, sexual orientation, marital status, veteran status, or disability.

What We Offer

The starting base salary for this exempt position is $55,000 (per 1.0 FTE/45 hours per week), depending on years of experience after your Bachelors degree ( $3,000 for 1st advanced degree and $1,500 for 2nd advanced degree) with a $1,000 signing bonus—and retention and longevity bonuses in subsequent years. For more about what we offer, how to apply and more about KIPP MA, please visit this link HERE