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DC Prep

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SY26-27 Middle School Special Education Teachers (4th-8th Grade)

Open 35d posting dated 2 weeks ago

Summary

Teach 4th–8th grade special education in a high-performing DC charter network, using data-driven instruction and inclusion models to support students with IEPs.

Middle School Special Education Teacher (4th-8th Grade)

Start Date: August 2026

Role Type: Full-Time, 10 month

Location: Washington, DC

FLSA Status: Exempt

Positions:

At DC Prep Kindergarten-3rd grade lead teachers lead ELA, Math and SEL instruction. There is a dedicated science teacher for each grade level. Starting in 3rd grade teachers are departmentalized in ELA and Math.

Special Educators are tied to a particular grade level and are departmentalized from 3rd-8th grade.

WHO WE ARE

DC Prep is a high performing network of public charter schools serving over 2,100 preschool through 8th-grade students across six campuses in Wards 5, 7, and 8. We’re proud of the high bar we set for ourselves to achieve results–our students deserve our best! We recognize that how we support our students to be successful is just as important as the results we achieve, which pushes us to reflect on questions such as:

  • How can we facilitate our students’ academic, social, and emotional development?
  • How can we support our team members’ professional growth and personal ability to do this work long-term?
  • How can we engage our students’ families as our own?

While this work is hard, it’s worth it – we believe in the transformative power of education, the can-do-itness of our students and staff, and the joy that comes from engaging in meaningful work with people we care about and trust!

Here’s how we drive results:

  • Rigorous academic focus. Our Preppies receive the highest level of academic preparation through standards-based instruction, daily targeted interventions, and meaningful assessments.
  • Social-emotional learning. We have always had a dual mission of academic and social-emotional skill development. Our research-based SEL curriculum is integrated into daily instruction, helping students leverage their personal values to strengthen their self-awareness, social awareness, and responsible decision-making skills and create a school-wide culture of empathy and reflection.
  • Commitment to reflection and refinement. Our results tell us that we are moving in the right direction, but there’s further to go to ensure that every student receives a transformative education. As a team, we regularly reflect on our programmatic model to see what’s working and where we can get better.

Are you interested in learning more about the DC Prep Way? If so, check out our website to find out more about what we’re working towards and how we’re doing it.

WORKING AT DC PREP

DC Prep's faculty and staff are passionate, talented, and uncompromising with a mission to make sure all students succeed at a high level. Every aspect of our organization and program is designed – and continually refined – to ensure that goal. DC Prep students spend approximately 25% more time in school than other DC public school students. DC Prep’s supportive, stimulating, and professionally rewarding learning environment continuously develops and motivates high-performing educators. DC Prep's staff and school leadership promote meaningful relationships between faculty and students, enable excellent teaching, and foster professional collaboration. The end result: great outcomes for students.

LEAD TEACHERS AT DC PREP

Our lead teachers lay the foundation for our Preppies’ academic success and social emotional development by:

  • Planning thoughtfully and teaching joyously. You’ll adapt our rigorous, standards-based curriculum to meet the particular needs of your students, thinking about both how to scaffold rigorous learning and how to infuse your kiddos’ day with joy. You’ll feel right at home, given your innate desire to spark a love of learning in your students!
    • This means planning both for grade level instruction–which ALL Preppies receive–and planning small group instruction to meet kids where they are so they can access grade level instruction
  • Using data intentionally. You are constantly thinking about how to help Preppies achieve ambitious goals. To track progress towards goals, you’ll analyze academic and classroom culture data to inform your instruction and target focus areas for your students.
  • Investing in their own learning. We support our teachers’ ongoing professional growth through weekly professional development opportunities, as well as weekly observations and feedback conversations.
  • Working collaboratively and flexibly. DC Prep teachers are focused on outcomes for students and understand the power of working together to ensure ALL students feel success in the classroom. This looks like taking time daily to plan together, troubleshoot problems, and adapt when an approach isn’t working. This collaborative and flexible approach ensures that every day is purposeful and intentional.
  • Building mastery. Starting in 3rd grade, our schools are departmentalized, supporting you to become an expert in one content area while working with a team of outstanding educators to provide our Preppies with strong instruction throughout every portion of their day. Preschool-2nd grade teachers build mastery in both ELA and math.
  • Embodying the DC Prep Way. We’ve built a strong culture of high expectations and student achievement at DC Prep. You are excited to contribute to this culture and eager to promote the DC Prep Way to students, families, and community members.

SPECIAL EDUCATION AT DC PREP

DC Prep provides support to students using a variety of models tailored to individual student needs based on assessment data. All students with Individualized Education Plans (IEPs) or ELL services benefit from our inclusion model as well as small group or one-on-one support and daily targeted interventions. Our goal is to help all students meet rigorous academic goals and feel successful in the classroom using the least restrictive form of intervention.

WHO YOU ARE

Few things in life give you more pleasure than helping a child realize his or her potential for growth and then actually making that growth a reality. You’re passionate about the need for students from underserved communities to learn without limits, the importance of addressing the intersection of race and public education in the U.S., and the transformational power of talented, mission-aligned people working together to advance a goal. You’re open to feedback, eager to grow, and bring your best to everything you do. You look for joy in your day-to-day and want to work with others who do, too!

QUALIFICATIONS

Educational background and work experience

  • 2+ years of lead teaching experience as a special education teacher in an urban public school with a record of high student achievement highly preferred
  • Bachelor’s degree from a competitive college or university required. Concentration or advanced degree in education preferred.

Skills and characteristics

  • Desire and willingness to support student achievement in traditionally under-served communities
  • Passion for connecting with students and families in support of student success
  • Extraordinary oral skills to effectively communicate with varied audiences
  • Comfort with and ability to write efficiently and effectively as part of a culture where curriculum writing, email communication, and documentation are critical
  • Superior analytical skills and sound judgment to make critical decisions autonomously
  • Capable of thriving in circumstances involving ambiguity and nuance
  • Meticulous organizational ability in order to set priorities, organize workload, handle multiple responsibilities and meet deadlines
  • Emotional constancy and extraordinary interpersonal skills to ensure purposeful and professional colleague relationships
  • Positive attitude, maturity, and personal stability sufficient for a demanding position
  • Deep belief in DC Prep’s mission, values and commitment to diversity

COMPENSATION AND BENEFITS

  • Highly competitive salary
  • Comprehensive benefits package including medical, dental, vision, short- and long-term disability insurance; maternity, paternity, and adoption leave; and a 403b retirement plan

ESSENTIAL FUNCTIONS

  • DC Prep teachers are on duty at their assigned campus Mondays through Fridays from 7:15 am to 4:15 pm and must be prepared to receive students in the classroom at 7:30 am. On Wednesdays, DC Prep staff report until 5:00 for Professional Development.
    • Occasionally, staff may be required to report to a different campus for professional development or all network event.
  • All DC Prep staff perform clerical duties related to instructional supplies, student reports and records, attendance reports, assessments, etc.
  • DC Prep staff regularly perform morning, lunch, and afternoon duties as assigned by their principal
  • Additional responsibilities may arise during the school year. This could include: attending staff and student field trips, after school events, family-teacher conferences, home visits, and other events involving parents and students, as needed. This list is not exhaustive. DC Prep will communicate mandatory events outside of school hours with ample notice.

PHYSICAL DEMANDS

The physical demands and environmental conditions described below are representative, but not exhaustive, of those that must be met by an employee to successfully perform the essential functions of the role. All of these physical requirements should be able to be performed with clarity, coherence and connectedness to DC Prep’s vision. Reasonable accommodations may be made to enable individuals with disabilities to perform these essential functions.

  • Must be able to sit and work at a desk/computer for extended periods of time
  • Must be able to spend the majority of the day standing or mobile throughout the classroom, as well as talk, hear, grasp, reach and lift up to 30lbs with or without accommodations
  • Ability to concentrate in active and noisy environments such as cafeterias and playgrounds, to more moderate situations such as classrooms or large group professional settings
  • Must be able to have repetitive wrist/hand/finger movement to work on computer and/or related office equipment
  • Ability to handle potential high stress conditions

JOIN US

Do you believe that Learning Has No Limits? Are you eager to join a supportive, innovative, and collaborative community of educators? Are you committed to growing your strengths as an educator through individualized professional development and coaching? Apply today!

We’re an equal opportunity employer and hire without consideration of race, religion, creed, color, national origin, age, gender, sexual orientation, marital status, veteran status, or disability. We strongly encourage diverse candidates to apply.

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What this application asks

greenhouse

First Name, Last Name, Email, Phone, Resume/CV

  • Do you have more than two years of full time experience as a Lead Teacher? choose one
  • How did you hear about this position? (If other, please specify below) choose one
  • Other: optional
  • Were you referred by a current teacher or staff member at DC Prep? choose one
  • If yes, please provide name of staff member. optional
  • Are you a current member or alumnus of any of the following programs? choose any
  • First available start date:
  • Current/Most Recent Employer
  • Current/Most Recent Supervisor Name and Email Address:
  • Dates Employed:
  • Reason(s) for leaving:
  • Can we contact this employer? choose one
  • Are you interested in any other roles at DC Prep? If yes, please list them. optional
  • Have you been convicted of, pleaded guilty to or nolo contendere to, or otherwise been found guilty of a felony or misdemeanor other than a minor traffic violation? (Do not include convictions that were sealed, erased, statutorily eradicated, or expunged.) choose one
  • If yes, please explain. optional
  • What makes you interested specifically in working at DC Prep? Which of our core values resonates with you most and why? written answer
  • As an organization, we create time and space to talk about race and equity, and consider how we can improve the work we do together to create an inclusive environment for our students, families, and colleagues. How have you promoted equity and inclusion in your current/previous roles? written answer
  • At DC Prep, we value a growth mindset and one of the things that you can expect is to get consistent feedback to work toward targeted goals. Upon reviewing the role and responsibilities of the position for which you've applied, what are two strengths you will bring to this role that will allow you to be successful? Conversely, what is one area where you will need coaching support in order to be successful? written answer
  • DC PREPARATORY ACADEMY DOES NOT DISCRIMINATE AGAINST ITS EMPLOYEES OR APPLICANTS BECAUSE OF RACE, COLOR, SEX, RELIGION, NATIONAL ORIGIN, HANDICAP, VETERAN STATUS, AGE, SEXUAL ORIENTATION OR MARITAL STATUS. I hereby certify that the facts set forth in the above Employment Application ("Application") are true and complete to the best of my knowledge. I authorize DC Preparatory Academy ("DC Prep") to verify their accuracy and to obtain reference information on my work performance. I authorize educational institutions, employers, law enforcement authorities, organizations, and individuals having relevant information concerning me to release such information. I release all concerned from all liability in connection therewith. I understand that the Application will be used only in conjunction with the position for which I am applying. I also understand that its completion neither assures me a position with DC Prep nor obligates DC Prep to me in any way. I understand that, if employed by DC Prep, falsified or incomplete statements of any kind or omissions of facts called for on the Application, other documents or my resume, shall be considered sufficient basis for dismissal. If an employment offer is extended to me and accepted, I will fully adhere to the policies, rules and regulations of employment of DC Prep. However, I further understand that neither the policies, rules, regulations of employment nor anything said during the interview process shall be deemed to constitute the terms of an implied employment contract. I understand that unless otherwise indicated in writing, any employment offered is for no definite duration and will be at will and that either DC Prep or I may terminate my employment at any time with or without notice or cause and for any reason or no reason at all. I further understand that if I am hired, I will be required to provide proof of identity and legal authority to work in the United States and that federal immigration laws may require me to submit certain forms in this regard. (clicking "I Accept" below is equivalent to a handwritten signature) choose one
  • Are you authorized to work in the United States on a full-time basis? choose one
  • Do you now (or will you in the future) require sponsorship for employment visa status? choose one