DCPS is assembling the smartest, most innovative and best paid teacher force in America, and applicants from across the country can now begin competing for spots in this highly selective teacher pool.
The multi-step selection process includes a pedagogical assessment, an in-person interview, and a teaching audition in a DCPS classroom. DCPS believes this selection model – one of the most rigorous in the country, especially among traditional public schools – will help ensure that only the most talented teachers have an opportunity to teach in the district.
“We believe that teaching is the most important and the most difficult job in the world, which is why we are so selective about who we allow to teach our kids,” said Jason Kamras, chief of the DCPS Office of Human Capital. “We are looking forward to welcoming more outstanding teachers to join us for the 2012-13 school year.”
Those who make it through this lengthy selection process and perform well in the classroom will be rewarded handsomely through the IMPACTplus performance pay system.
At the end of the 2010-11 school year, 476 outstanding educators received annual bonuses ranging from $3,000 to $25,000. In addition to the bonus, 235 also received increases to their base salary of up to $27,000.
Research finds that teachers are the most important school-based factor in helping all students achieve at high levels. This means that an exceptional teaching force is an absolute necessity in places like the District, where there is a persistent achievement gap between low-income students and their more affluent peers.
DCPS’s comprehensive selection process and groundbreaking performance pay system are just two of the district’s initiatives aimed at attracting, identifying, and retaining more great teachers.
The selection process also has begun for other school-based positions, including principals, assistant principals, instructional coaches, master educators, social workers, counselors, and other related service providers.
Interested teaching candidates are encouraged to logon to to learn more or to begin the application process.
Contact: Melissa Salmanowitz | 202-535-1096