Join DC Public Schools

At DCPS, your impact starts in your classroom – but doesn't end there. Together, our team of passionate educators is defying expectations about what DC's students can achieve and changing the path of public education.

JOIN THE NATION'S BEST TEACHERS – AND BECOME EVEN BETTER. We’re looking for dynamic teachers who insist on excellence and are passionate about honing their craft. At DCPS, you’ll get the feedback you need to do your best work, colleagues who share your high standards, and opportunities to lead without leaving the classroom.

WE PAY OUR TEACHERS LIKE PROFESSIONALS AND CELEBRATE THEM LIKE ROCKSTARS. Top teachers can earn up to $100,000 in salary and bonuses by their fourth year and win awards of up to $10,000 for classroom excellence. Every year, we recognize the very best with an annual Standing Ovation gala at the Kennedy Center.

WE'RE MAKING HISTORY. We’re setting an ambitious standard for great teaching and making it a reality across the district. With your help, we’ll transform education for our 46,000 students and become the first urban district to close the gap between students from low-income backgrounds and their more affluent peers.

JOIN US. We accept applications in all subjects and grade levels. We are particularly interested in candidates with a track record of success in the classroom. Watch our video about teaching in DCPS, view our deadlines and start your application today.

"I think I would have been lost without my instructional coach. The first day she came up to me and said, 'Hi. I know you are a first year teacher and I just wanted to let you know that I am here to support you.'"

–Vivian Secaida, Dual Language Teacher at Oyster Adams Bilingual School

There's nothing DCPS takes more seriously than helping teachers reach their professional peak. Here's how we help teachers grow:

A GROUNDBREAKING TEACHER EVALUATION SYSTEM (IMPACT). At DCPS, you'll finally have real conversations about teaching that help you get better every day. IMPACT sets a high bar for great instruction, gives all teachers a clear understanding of how they can grow, and provides useful feedback that helps them do their best work. Watch the video on IMPACT.

INNOVATIVE PROFESSIONAL DEVELOPMENT. Forget one-size-fits-all. In DCPS, professional development happens on the job with coaching from instructional experts. Teachers can also access a rich set of tools tailored to their needs and put those tools to work directly in their classrooms. Watch Reality PD, a video library of excellent instruction, or browse online resource collections aligned to DCPS's teaching standards. Watch the video on professional development.

AN UNPRECEDENTED TEACHER CAREER LADDER. Through the Leadership Initiative For Teachers (LIFT), great teachers can extend their reach – for example, leading subject area meet-up groups and shaping district decisions – without leaving the classroom. Watch the video on LIFT.

"Teachers have the opportunity to make more than $130,000 a year. It's not that money should drive this work, but it most certainly makes me feel respected as an educator that somebody recognizes the work I do is just as important as a lawyer or doctor."

–Camia Hoard, master educator and 15-year veteran teacher

At DCPS, you don't have to choose between doing what you love and making a great living. We believe teachers are highly skilled professionals and should be compensated accordingly.

Our progressive salary scale is the first in the nation to reward excellence in a real way. Top teachers can earn up to $100,000 in salary and bonuses by their fourth year and win awards of up to $10,000 for classroom excellence.

Simply put, great teachers can earn more in DCPS than in any other district.

"What happens in DC Public Schools has national implications."

–Arne Duncan, U.S. Secretary of Education

No traditional public school district in the nation has closed the achievement gap between students from low-income backgrounds and their more affluent peers.

Individual schools have done it. Some charter school networks have done it. But DCPS is going to be the first large urban school system to do it.

Today, we're at the cutting edge of education reform, doing the work that most districts are just talking about.

It all starts with a simple idea: make great teaching the priority. We can't control whether students come to school hungry or what other challenges they face outside of school. But for eight hours each day we can give every student the chance to learn from an excellent teacher – and defy expectations about what our students are able to achieve.

Every student can excel academically. We're on a mission to show that traditional public school districts – where 95 percent of our nation's students are educated – can succeed at the very highest levels. You can help make it happen.

Capital Commitment Fellowship

The Capital Commitment Fellowship (CCF) is a selective cohort of experienced educators who are motivated to continue their teaching careers in a high-needs classroom within DCPS. Our Capital Commitment Fellows are individuals who have taught for at least two years and have demonstrated a track record of success with students. Fellows will enter the district as Advanced on LIFT, have quarterly meetings with district leadership, and be eligible for additional leadership opportunities.

To apply, complete our online teacher application. Individuals interested in the Capital Commitment Fellowship are encouraged to submit supplemental application materials with their initial application.

“I was very impressed with the hiring process. This was the first time that a school system had ever asked me to demonstrate my skills as a teacher.”

– Frank Medley, Spanish Teacher at Whittier Education Campus

We take teacher hiring seriously, and we do it thoughtfully. Our teacher application process generally takes between six and eight weeks. First, teachers apply to the district, and then they have the opportunity to meet with principals and hiring teams at specific schools. Applications are reviewed on a rolling basis. Our next deadline is May 24, 2013, and our final deadline is June 7, 2013. 

To apply, complete the steps below.

1. ONLINE APPLICATION. Upload a resume, answer two essay questions and complete a content knowledge assessment, if applicable (3-4 hours). You’ll hear back regarding the status of your application within 15 business days.

2. PHONE INTERVIEW. Interview with the DCPS recruitment and selection team (30 minutes).

3. TEACHING SAMPLE. Upload a video of your own classroom (20-30 minutes).

4. ADVANCE TO THE RECOMMENDED POOL. Interview with principals for individual school vacancies.