[2026-2027] Middle School Music Teacher

KIPP • Philadelphia, PA

5h • Onsite

About The Position

The Middle School Music Teacher at KIPP Philadelphia Public Schools (KPPS) is responsible for creating a joyful, academically excellent, and inclusive learning environment for students. This role involves ensuring all children feel affirmed, valued, and challenged daily, developing rigorous and engaging lesson plans, and implementing school-wide student culture systems. The teacher will regularly analyze student data to adjust instruction, provide accommodations, and maintain strong communication with families. Professionally, the teacher is expected to take ownership of their craft through coaching and professional development, collaborate with colleagues, and embody KPPS core values. School responsibilities include adhering to specific work hours, attending school functions outside of hours, contributing to school-wide events, building relationships with families, and performing support duties like bus, lunch, and dismissal supervision, and chaperoning field trips. The ideal candidate loves and sees the high potential in all children, has experience driving student growth, a passion for professional learning, operates with cultural competence, and believes in high expectations for students and teachers.

Requirements

• Love and see the high potential of all children
• Experience driving student growth and achievement and to create a warm, inclusive, rigorous learning environment
• Passion for facilitating professional learning, including a desire to continuously grow and learn as a leader
• Operate with cultural competence and a commitment to inclusion, anti-racism, and the eradication of anti-Blackness
• Believe that teachers are the primary drivers of student growth, learning and achievement
• High expectations for students and teachers; and the ability to motivate, inspire and hold others accountable
• Solutions-orientated and an eagerness to adapt in order to solve problems
• Bachelor’s degree required
• If uncertified, must enroll in a PA-approved certification program within one year of hire
• Submit transcripts upon hire (required for emergency permit application)
• Complete all required criminal and child abuse background checks prior to start date: PA State Police Clearance, PA Child Abuse Clearance, Cogent Federal Fingerprinting

Nice To Haves

• 2+ years of full-time teaching experience (outside of substitute teaching) in an urban setting strongly preferred
• Pennsylvania State certification Level I or II strongly preferred

Responsibilities

• Ensure that all children feel affirmed, valued and challenged every day
• Create rigorous, engaging unit and daily lesson plans leveraging provided curricula/resources (in most cases)
• Infuse core values into daily lessons and every school practice, implementing school-wide student culture systems and positive classroom management strategies
• Maintain a productive, organized, safe, neat and focused learning environment
• Regularly analyze student work and academic data to adjust lessons, refine curricula and inform instructional practices
• Provide necessary accommodations and modifications for growth and success of all students
• Maintain accurate student grades/records and strong lines of communication with families regarding students’ growth and progress
• Model and implement all school policies within the classroom
• Serve as a role model for students
• Take ownership for the development of your craft (meet 1x/1-2 weeks with an instructional coach, implement feedback, engage in active practice, etc.)
• Actively engage in all school-wide professional development
• Serve as a positive, contributing member of a grade team, collaborating with colleagues to tackle common challenges and implement grade-wide initiatives
• Share candid, solutions-oriented feedback with peers and school leadership on a regular basis
• Embody KPPS core values: Children First, Cultural Competence, Ownership, Community
• Enroll in/complete a teacher certification program (if applicable)
• Arrive at school by 8:00 a.m. and stay until 4:30 p.m. Monday through Friday
• Attend designated school functions outside of school hours (Back to School Night, Report Card Conferences, Community Events, etc.)
• Contribute to the planning and execution of all school-wide events
• Develop strong relationships with the families of students through home visits, participation in school events and phone calls home
• Perform necessary support duties including (but not limited to) bus, lunch, and dismissal duties
• Chaperone field lessons/field trips
• Additional responsibilities may arise during the school year.

Benefits

• Competitive & Equitable Compensation
• Performance-based bonuses that recognize meaningful contributions
• High-quality development – including coaching, workshops, and tailored leadership opportunities
• Whole-person support through coaching, mental health resources, wellness initiatives, and team-building experiences
• Comprehensive health benefits package (including vision and dental, a telehealth option, and flexible spending accounts) for themselves and their families
• 403B matching program for retirement savings
• Free access to financial advising services
• $5,000 in tuition reimbursement to pursue certification at a Pennsylvania-approved certification program (for uncertified teachers)

What This Job Offers

• Job Type: Full-time
• Career Level: Mid Level
• Number of Employees: 251-500 employees