So, you think you want teach at KIPP?

KIPP advertises three promotional points to recruit new teachers.

At KIPP you will :

1. have the FREEDOM to innovate and the SUPPORT to grow

2. never stop learning

3. be part of a NATIONAL NETWORK that works for underserved communities to get kids TO and THROUGH college.

These three recruitment points echo the KIPP programs discussed under the KIPP APPROACH; The KIPP Sharing and Collaboration Network, Leadership Development programs and KIPP Through College program are all offered as evidence that teachers will find truth behind these claims.

Is this KIPP’s way of showing us they are “accountable” for their claims?

On the “Careers” page, http://www.kipp.org/careers we also see the phrase, “Where will YOU take us?  When we put this together with the list of claims made by the organization we have the sense that there is a challenge on the table.  “You come and work for us, show us what you can do for us and you will be rewarded by..."

“Freedom” and “support” are big carrots for teachers.  At a time with ever increasing standardized testing and other state and federal curriculum mandates, teachers are feeling the crunch to follow scripted, over-loaded curriculum plans. Many feel as though they lost their “freedom to innovate” a long time ago.  The site suggests that through the sharing of lesson plans and collaboration with other KIPP teachers that one will find room to be free and have the support to do that.  The question is though, “freedom” from what? And, “support” to do what? Are KIPP teachers really “free” to do anything? How innovative are they allowed to be? What does KIPP consider to be “innovative”? Does KIPP disregard the mandates that everyone else is subject to and TRUST that their teachers will do great work as professionals, that they will be great teachers and not feel handcuffed to existing requirements? Does the KIPP model of accountability that allows them to fire, reward or penalize teachers based on their “Commitment to Excellence” pledge provide an environment of “freedom” and “support”?  Maybe it does. It is hard to know without actually teaching in the school how this all plays out. It certainly sounds great but I am wondering what it actually looks like.

WHERE IS EVERYONE GOING?

Under “Job Postings” http://kippcareers.force.com/ I noticed that on April 3^rd, 2014,  30 out of 158 jobs were “Immediate”. Almost 20% of current job postings.  15 of these jobs are “Leadership & Support Staff” positions. The other 143 are teaching positions. Two were for substitute teachers. I may not be seeing the whole picture but an “Immediate” hire date tells me that someone in that position either left or was fired. I don’t know of too many schools that open three-quarters of the way into the school year. None were listed as “long term substitute” which might lead me to think a teacher fell ill or is on maternity leave. If I was thinking about working for KIPP I would be concerned about these numbers.

Rebecca Radding is one former KIPP teacher who has spoken up about why she left her job teaching at the KIPP Foundation: 
http://edushyster.com/?p=4240

SHOW THEM THE DATA!

The application process for KIPP schools appears to be very transparent in that they lay out exactly what their expectations are, they provide multiple frameworks and information about what they are looking for in a quality teacher, including student test data.  To be considered for one of their school leader Fellowships, a candidate must submit “at least one full year of student achievement data”.  Candidates for teaching or administrative positions may submit up to three years of their most recent data, preferably state test data. Five of the Frequently Asked Questions about the application process are about submitting student achievement data which indicates that applicants have a lot of questions about this aspect of the process.  KIPP conveniently provides an answer and a solution to all of them.  In fact, this is what I am noticing most about the KIPP website. They have an answer for everything. The "brand" is set.  They have left no stone unturned in a sense. They seem to have a framework, policy or a theory about everything and anything that might come up. On one hand, I appreciate the thoroughness. On the other hand, it makes me wonder once again, how much room there is for innovation and freedom within a model that seems to already have all the answers. 

Jim Horn who writes for "Schools Matter" http://www.schoolsmatter.info/ offers some additional perspective on the KIPP model and a recounting of several former KIPP teachers' experiences:
http://www.schoolsmatter.info/2012/09/a-former-kipp-teacher-shares-her-story.html