Liberty Teaching Fellowship

Transition into teaching

High-Quality Teaching Begins Here

KIPP Philadelphia founded the Liberty Teaching Fellowship in 2010 to provide novice and aspiring instructors with a supportive, one-year pathway to teaching in an urban, high achieving, college preparatory environment.

Fellows are full-time teachers-in-training who are supported by an inclusive school culture, veteran teacher mentors, 1:1 coaching, professional development, and a cohort of fellowship peers.

Through a partnership with the Relay Graduate School of Education, fellows participate in coursework and earn Pennsylvania certification. After a successful Fellowship year, fellows transition into teaching positions at KIPP Philadelphia Public Schools.

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Support, benefits, Certification, and community

The Fellowship Experience

Training & Support

The Liberty Teaching Fellowship gives beginning teachers the development, mentorship, and experience necessary to grow into excellent lead teachers. Paired with a veteran mentor teacher, fellows teach a combination of whole class, small group, and individualized instruction, and their teaching responsibilities increase throughout the year.

Benefits

All fellows receive full-time positions with competitive teacher-in-residence salaries and $3,000 to $6,000 in tuition reimbursement to use toward their certification program. Fellows also have access to KIPP Philadelphia’s comprehensive health benefits package for themselves and their families (including employer-paid vision and dental), a 5% 403B matching program for retirement, free financial advising services, and more.

Certification & Masters

All fellows are eligible to enroll in a reduced-cost certification and Master’s program at a number of universities and are given a $3,000 tuition reimbursement to assist with costs.

Tuition Discount

For SY 24-25 we have entered agreements with multiple higher ed institutions to provide educator discounts.
Some institutions have also agreed to expand that discount to family members, spouses, and significant others. Click the link above for more information.

Community

Fellows are a part of a collaborative team committed to doing whatever it takes to help all students succeed. This community includes current fellows and fellowship alumni, including those who have gone on to become strong veteran teachers and school leaders.

Your Questions Answered

FAQs and Program Details

Do I need to be certified to be a Liberty Teaching Fellow?

Certification is not a requirement for admittance to the program. In fact, the majority of our fellows are not certified upon hire. All uncertified fellows spend this preparatory year working toward certification.

How does the Liberty Teaching Fellowship support certification?

In addition to continuing to provide resources, information, and guidance regarding the acquisition of stat required credentials, KIPP Philadelphia Public Schools is providing an increased level of financial support in the form of establishing relationships with multiple educational institutions for tuition discounts as well as adding social workers to the roles receiving Tuition Reimbursement support.

Role	Supports
All KIPP Philadelphia Employees	• KIPP Philadelphia provides a $3,000 tuition reimbursement per program year. • KIPP Philadelphia covers the cost of your first round of certification testing. • KIPP Philadelphia offers tuition repayment for Fellows enrolled at Relay GSE – we’ll pay your tuition upfront, then deduct the cost in even increments across up to 48 pay periods (essentially, a no interest loan).
Uncertified Fellows	• $3,000 in tuition reimbursement for uncertified fellows. • PRAXIS/PECT Voucher (covers cost of one test, $125-$150). • Emergency certification not required.

Teaching the future

Become the Spark of Inspiration to a Child

If you are inspired by KIPP’s mission and are passionate about providing transformational education outcomes to students in Philadelphia’s educationally underserved neighborhoods, we want to hear from you!

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