DC Prep·Washington, District of Columbia
Junior Teachers will work alongside a veteran lead teacher to facilitate small group instruction and support classroom community development. They will also participate in professional development and a graduate program to build their teaching craft.
Start Date: August 2026
Role Type: Full-Time
Location: Washington, DC
FLSA Status: Exempt
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-it-ness of our students and staff, and the joy that comes from engaging in meaningful work with people we care about and trust!
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 [http://www.dcprep.org/] to find out more about what we’re working towards and how we’re doing it.
The Junior Teacher Program is an opportunity to join DC Prep through a teacher pipeline pilot program. Through this program, we select talented, values-aligned individuals who are excited to learn the craft of teaching in a strong network of schools, in the classroom of a high-performing veteran teacher, and with a combination of on-the-job coaching and formal professional development via participation in a graduate program leading to a master’s in education.
Junior Teachers will be paired with a high-performing, veteran lead teacher.
For the first six to nine weeks of school, the Junior Teacher will work alongside the lead teacher five days a week to establish a strong and thriving classroom community.
Junior Teachers will learn how to plan and lead strong small group instruction to support academic interventions.
Once a strong foundation is in place, the veteran teacher will be out of the classroom one day per week to work on other projects that benefit the school community (e.g., program development, curriculum design, small-group academic intervention).
This will give the Junior Teacher the opportunity to lead instruction one day a week.
Upon successful completion of the program, Junior Teachers may interview for a lead teaching position with DC Prep.
At DC Prep, we use our hearts, minds, and actions to achieve great results for students. The Junior Teacher Program is an excellent opportunity to:
“Aim High” Junior Teachers will receive multi-faceted development opportunities through weekly professional development and coaching alongside their DC Prep colleagues as well as participation in a program leading to . Successful Junior Teachers will implement learning and feedback to grow in their craft and help students’ achieve their goals.
“Belong Together” DC Prep teachers are full people and support one another to bring their individual best to help achieve our shared goals. As a member of the DC Prep Team, a growth mindset and flexibility are key for success in this role as we are constantly working to support the needs of our students.
“Be Brave” The program year will provide you with opportunities to both support behind the scenes and to lead a classroom. You may feel failure many times, but what is important is that you are eager to learn from your mistakes and come back stronger for your students, colleagues, and self every day.
“Do the Work” We are deliberate in our efforts to further inclusivity - in our mindsets, systems, and team. Junior Teachers will be part of a diverse community of passionate and prepared adults who are united in their commitment to being responsive to students’ needs and reflective about how to better work in service with students and their families.
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.
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!
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
This job description is not an exhaustive list of duties or responsibilities that are required of the employee. They may change, or new ones may be assigned at any time with or without notice.
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.
Candidates must hold a bachelor's degree from a competitive college or university. A strong interest in pursuing a teaching career in a public charter school and a commitment to serving underserved communities are required.
Market context
In the District of Columbia, classroom teacher openings are often shaped by ongoing demand in public charter schools and schools serving underserved communities. These roles are competitive because employers look for candidates with a bachelor’s degree, a clear commitment to teaching, and alignment with the school’s mission; benefits may include medical, vision, dental, prescription drug coverage, and graduate tuition support. Review the AI-summarized requirements and benefits here to save time, then tailor your application to show experience or interest in serving diverse student communities.