KIPP DC reviews

The hours will make you feel insane and constantly exhausted, even though they are changing the school day hours next year the actual hours for employees will not be changing and it's hard to say whether that time you are at work when students are not will be used wisely. Class sizes are FAR too large and that coupled with the length of day and the academic schedule is a breeding ground for burnt out teachers and students. Inclusion classrooms in early childhood only have a lead teacher and an assistant, with support staff pushing in. The amount of students is also about the same size as other classrooms but with students that may have 20+ hour IEPs. The organization of your school will vary wildly depending on leaderships, but there's a lot of meetings that could've been emails, and not near enough planning time even though two days a week you are there until 5:00! Prepare to be micromanaged, observations from leadership happen at least once a week but often times more and this results in very small, not always useful feedback. This kind of hands on coaching is helpful for a new teacher but not one that has been teaching for 3+ years. Can easily turn into a toxic work environment - often school leadership will pit teachers against each other which leads to cliques and gossip. The teacher shortage is hitting KIPP just like the rest of country, but even on days when a school is out 3 or more teachers admin is not stepping in to teach, set up classrooms, etc which does not help the low moral. There's very little autonomy for teachers when it comes to planning - lots of pre-written lesson plans. All of these reasons are why I am leaving and why lots of other teachers are leaving as well.

I worked at KIPP DC Northeast Academy and it was hell students were fighting everyday LT did nothing about it they also let the students get away with basically EVERYTHING. This school is an ALTERNATIVE SCHOOL for students who are not allowed to attend regular public schools and kids who got kicked out of public schools due to there behavior. The students are out of control, the school is also in non compliance with Students with IEPS. So many staff members have left due to the stress and depression of this place. ADMINISTRATION is the worst part of this school they are so nasty and rude it’s unbelievable. They pick favorites all the time and those favorites which are teachers get away with everything they do. If LT does not like you or when you tell them NO to something they will fire you on the spot. They always say WE ARE A TEAM AND WE ARE A FAMILY in reality we are not. If you tell them that you are quitting or transferring or not returning for the following year they will treat you as an outcast. also this school is very hush hush they will not tell you about anything that is going on you will have to find out from some of there FAVORITES about what is happening. Be careful who you talk to because they have eyes and ears in each classroom that will go back and report what you said or what you did. The kids will also try and run you out the school to there best advantage. The students BASICALLY Runs this school. Do not ask the principal to write you a recommendation because they will lie on it and say BS stuff about you that is not even true.