KIPP is a network of charter schools started in 1994 that focus on extended learning time and teacher excellence. Today, there are 209 KIPP schools across the country creating statistically significant educational gains for its students.
Strengths
One of KIPPs strengths is the underserved community it is addressing: low income and minority students who are not reaching their full potential in traditional public schools. Nationally, KIPP contains 95% African American or Latino and 11% Special Education students. Additionally, 88% of their students qualify for Federal Free or Reduced Lunch.
Research has shown that the number one school influence on student achievement is teachers. KIPP makes hiring excellent teachers a priority through selective hiring practices and training programs. Teachers provide homework help to students after school by phone, and reach out to parents to encourage engagement. KIPP also ensures teachers are set up for success through continual guidance. Teachers are given access to instructional ‘toolkits’ that cover key classroom practices such as Instructional Coaching. Furthermore, KIPP fosters collaborative learning among their teachers through regularly scheduled teacher group meetings. To ensure teachers are maintaining high quality teaching, instructional coaches conduct classroom observations, videotape teachers, and provide feedback.
KIPP’s decentralized organizational model is another strength. KIPP is broken up into 31 regional
During the months of September and October this semester I spent time at two different schools in four different classrooms. Being able to observe different classes and teachers at Westside Junior High and South Live Oak Elementary was a very new and exciting experience for me since I can’t say I’ve always wanted to be a teacher. My experiences at these schools gave me a better insight into the differences between schools, classrooms, and teachers. The purpose of this field experience was to get 10 observation or tutoring hours in an elementary or junior high setting. I chose to observe a
One way students could benefit is that this schooling could provide them with an increased student centered instructional strategy during a year-round school year. These could be activities that activate prior knowledge, hands on projects, in depth discussions, and multiple intelligences. These learning experiences are highly effective, but they are also time consuming. On a multi track schedule, students could also be exposed to smaller classroom sizes, which could benefit the student giving them more time to themselves, and to their assigned teacher for extra instruction.
Teachers are able to target the learning gaps by developing a plan of action based on the needs for our students. Verbiest (2014) and Hershkovitz (2015) argue data is used to tailor (how we sever students, how we offer support, types of support, what resources we need to invest on, whether we take a student to students needs with our school psychologist) instruction for students in all content areas in an effort to increase student achievement. As a result, the school can provide specific professional learning, support, and resources to teachers based on the needs and areas of weakness of our students (Fox, 2001). As lifelong learners, teachers recognize that their professional practice continues to evolve as they reflect and act on new information. If teachers have information that helps them confidently identify the root of educational challenges and track progress, they can more readily develop action plans that will have a positive impact on their students’ achievement (Halverson et al.,
KC is a public charter school located in Kennesaw, GA that employees approximately 62 full time teachers for 870 students. The grade levels range from K-4, which gives the school, a significantly lower than national average, teacher-student ratio of 14:1. The school has a good balance in male versus female attendance with male attendance at 49% and females at 51%.
There are many ways KIPP academy benefits students. One of the many reasons how KIPP Academy benefits students is in the KIPP school program seventh graders started taking high school algebra.84% of students test at or above a grade level in 8th grade
Rhonda Haus started her career in the secondary school system where she has seen and been a part of many changes. She gave a unique perspective into Regina Public Schools and highlight the systems specific goals along with their successes and failures. Underlining it all was her message to put the students and to provide the best education for all kids. These goals were measurable and attainable. Kaylan Gazda spoke about the elementary school system and her experience in a variety of grades and schools. Her time in an experimental classroom and in another country provided many challenges. However, those challenges and obstacles made her a better teacher for her current job in a split classroom. Jordan McFarlan was able to provide insight in process of building a new program in a high school from the ground up. He was able to list challenges he faced and ways to respond to those challenges. Jesamy Unger presented what is was it is like to be a student taking education and the lessons she learned throughout her journey. She gave us useful advice for our field experiences and the tip that not everything you need to know about being a teacher will be taught in school. Every member of the panel highlighted you need to make relationships and networks with students, colleagues and even
Mentoring KTIP interns and students teachers has allowed me to foster professional relationships to improve teaching and increase student learning. My coaching centers on building upon the mentee’s
Just like in any other profession or aspect of life, there are many myths that threaten education in public schools. Many people believe that teachers are the most important influence in a student’s academic achievement. In reality, educators have a very little influence in student achievement compared to other influences in the students’ lives that is out of the teachers control. It has been proposed that teachers don’t need to go to school to learn how to educate, they just need knowledge of the subject matter. This could be extremely destructive to student learning because they would not have the proper skills to instruct a classroom. Another common misconception is that instructors in
The Washington County School District organizational strategies that are in place for teachers has increased academic student growth in my classes. Throughout year, I participate in professional development activities that enhance my teaching skills and increase student learning. During the summer, I collaborate with district data analysis and colleagues to disaggregate student data, correctly identify the lowest benchmarks that students scored based on FSA performance and Washington County School District Progress Monitoring Program (three assessments from the previous year). After which, we develop an "Order of Instruction” for content areas based on data from various student measures that have been assimilated throughout the school year.
For a little over 20 years the Knowledge is Power Program has consistently grown. Many under privileged kids have become very successful due to the growth of KIPP Academy. The academic scores of KIPP academy and many other charter schools have rocketed, while public schools have fallen flat. KIPP academy has focused on helping their students grow and giving them the opportunities to succeed. Public schools differentiate from schools like KIPP academy through techniques in curriculum, rules of enrollment, and opportunities through stages of education, resulting in a lack of academic success for public schools.
The issue of teacher shortage today is continuing to grow. The effects of the achievement gap are reaching the teachers, not just the students: “...good administrators and teachers, who are doing their best under difficult circumstances, will be driven out of the profession…,” (Boyd-Zaharias 41). The achievement gap is part of the reason teachers feel they are underpaid, which happens to be one of the leading cause in teacher shortage considering, “Teachers were paid two percent less [than comparable workers] in 1994, but by 2015 the wage penalty rose to 17 percent,” (Long). Being a teacher requires passion in order to stay in the field, especially if the money in teaching is decreasing. Money is an important aspect for people when it comes to their careers, therefore, fewer people want to become teachers. This lack of teachers and the lack of college students studying to become a teacher leads to unqualified teachers and larger classroom sizes (Ostroff). Both of these causes are eventually affecting students’ learning environments. I chose this issue in education for my project because I have personally felt these effects, and I know others who have as well. As a future educator, I want to see better wages and better benefits, but this can only happen with qualified, passionate teachers. I plan on being one of them, and I plan on sparking a change. I am a future educator fighting to end teacher shortage.
The first route (on the left of figure 1), which is applicable to any school, new or well-established, is based on the theory that increased motivation and work satisfaction will lead to better teaching − happier employees produce better work. In addition, it can also improve teacher retention rates. Schools can expect to observe lowered teacher attrition rates, lowered hiring costs and less teacher replacement training.
I learned quickly that being an effective teacher is an art that takes time and devotion. Many times, teachers are not provided with the necessary materials in order to maintain the various learning styles in a classroom. It is up to the teacher to create an environment where students can succeed. This is a full time job, meaning that a teacher’s work is not done once they leave the school. A teacher must contribute a significant amount of time and effort in order to see positive results in the school and in his or her own classroom. After observing my cooperating teacher’s strategies and learning more about the profession, I knew that I was going in the right direction with my life. I took a significant amount of knowledge away from this experience and have continued to strive to be the type of educator that I was blessed to work with during this experience. .
I am attending Concord College to further my education. After graduating with an Elementary Education Degree, I would like to teach in an elementary school in Southern West Virginia. Preferably, I would like to teach in a kindergarten environment. While teaching I plan to further my career with a Master’s degree. I would like to be able to reach those children that aren’t as fortunate as others. As a teacher I will not only teach the children, but they in turn, will teach me. Education is one of the most important aspects to the success of the country. It is important for everyone to feel a part of that success; therefore, I feel strongly about teaching students to succeed.
An effective school leader possesses skills to create, implement, evaluate, improve and share a staff development plan. I met with Ben Rhodes, Sandy Creek Middle School’s principal, to interview him on the specific elements of his yearly staff development plan. We began with the design process focusing on the district and school goals. District goals include improving literacy across the content areas in reading and writing, Guaranteed and Viable Curriculum (GVC). Guaranteed and Viable Technology (GVT), and Closing the Achievement Gap (Equity in Excellence). Using a variety of assessments to focus on specific needs, Ben Rhodes and Mary Sonya, our Pupil Achievement Specialist, examined CSAP, Explore, MAP, and RAD data. They use the