Pros
This is an organization that does what it sets out to do: Improve the educational equity in LA. I love the people I get to work with on a daily basis. They're so passionate about our students and their futures. Collaboration is a key to your success at KIPP. If you're an independent operator, this isn't the place for you. This leads to the inclusion of ideas and innovation throughout our schools and regional office. The work that we do... requires rethinking about how we define what "work" really is. But in the end, this experience has been the most fulfilling I've ever had in my professional career thus far. Seeing the success of our students is what drives me. I'm so excited to wake up every day to experience the joy of our students achieving the best of what's possible in their lives.
Cons
If you're not compelled by the mission of the organization, the workload will burn you out very quickly. KIPP (not just LA) expects folks who are driven by the impact of its students. Promotions do not happen overnight. It's an extremely tedious process that is not clearly laid out to all employees, which leads me to believe office politics have a play into who gets promoted and who doesn't. If you're looking to be a leader, they expect you to do the work of a leader before even giving you the promotion. Of course, this also would mean you do the work of a leader with a low non-leader salary.