WELCOME TO INDIANAPOLIS PUBLIC SCHOOLS!
At IPS, we believe in the transformative power of education. We work collectively every day to prepare our students for success in the classroom and in life by providing equitable, high-quality educational experiences across our family of schools. IPS is a place to make an impact, grow your career, and ensure every student has access to a high quality education, all while earning a good living in a district on the move. While the work is challenging, it is deeply meaningful and impactful. We seek innovators and trailblazers who bring varying experiences and expertise and share our belief that every child deserves access to an exceptional education. As part of TeamIPS, you’ll create lasting connections, find a sense of belonging, and feel supported to make a meaningful difference in students’ lives.
In return, no matter your role here, we expect a commitment to excellence and accountability. You’ll be held to high standards. Resilience and passion are key—you must be adaptable, handling adversity with flexibility while putting students at the heart of everything you do. Ethical conduct, clear communication, and mutual respect are fundamental. Being a dependable, collaborative team player who builds meaningful relationships is essential.
Together, we are Proving What’s Possible by building a community where everyone belongs and each student has the opportunity to fulfill their potential.
A TEACHING CAREER IN IPS OFFERS…
Purpose and Impact:
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Students First: Teaching for IPS is a rewarding opportunity to support bright, curious students as they shape their futures. We hold ourselves to the highest expectations of excellence, focusing on students’ holistic needs during their educational journey with us.
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Community: Working in a school means it is your home away from home, and you have a school family who supports you and leads with empathy and vision.
Professional and Personal Growth:
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Grow Your Career: We offer professional development and career advancement opportunities, including dedicated mentorship programs for early career teachers.
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Generous Compensation: We’re proud to offer the highest teacher starting pay in Indianapolis and one of the most competitive in the state, with teachers starting at $55,600 depending on experience, plus a generous benefits package. Our teacher salaries are continually on the rise, as IPS regularly advocates for stronger teacher compensation.
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Access to Financial Benefits: Working in IPS makes it possible to benefit from federal programs such as Public Service Loan Forgiveness (PSLF) or Teacher Loan Forgiveness (TLF), helping reduce the financial burden of student loans.
Work-Life Balance and Well-being:
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Comprehensive Health Insurance: Access top-tier health plans covering medical, dental, and vision needs, plus IPS offers a private clinic for staff and their families through our partners at Ascension St. Vincent.
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Flexible Wellness Leave: Take the time you need to care for yourself and your family with our generous leave policies. Teachers receive 70 hours of sick leave in their first year (56 hours annually after) for illness, family, or mental health, plus three personal days, two floating holidays, and school breaks. Unlimited accumulated sick leave adds flexibility, supporting teachers’ health and work-life balance.
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Incentivized Discounts through IPS Wellness Program: Opportunities to earn hundreds of dollars off your medical premium by participating in proactive and simple health screenings, plus discounted group fitness classes, health and fitness assessments, personal training, and more.
Commitment to Excellence:
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High Standards: Strive for the very best in all you do, maintaining high standards for yourself, your students, and your colleagues. Embrace lifelong learning and adapt to new teaching methods and challenges.
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Educational Equity: IPS is deeply committed to breaking down systemic inequities. We do this by “walking the walk” on new policies and practices, building diverse and inclusive classrooms and staff teams, and ensuring our environments are grounded in our values of respect, inclusivity, and educational equity.
Resilience and Passion:
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Dedication to Students: Put students at the heart of your work. Be passionate about their success and well-being.
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Adaptability: Handle adversity with resilience and flexibility. Be prepared for a dynamic work environment.
Professional Integrity:
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Ethical Conduct: Uphold the highest standards of professionalism and integrity. Act responsibly and respectfully toward all individuals, communicate with candor and care.
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Team Player: Be dependable, punctual, and collaborative, contributing positively to our supportive work environment.
Indianapolis Public Schools is more than a workplace; it’s a community where purpose, impact, and belonging come together to help Prove What’s Possible – in your career and in your school. If you’re ready to embrace challenges, strive for excellence, and make a meaningful impact, IPS is the place for you.
SUMMARY OF ESSENTIAL JOB FUNCTIONS:
All MYP students engage in MYP Design as one of the eight required subject area courses that must be taken each year. This expectation aligns with the Exploring College & Careers Middle level course that provides opportunities for students to explore their personal goals, interests,and aptitudes as they relate to career concepts and type of training needed for a variety of careers and occupations. Students build good study habits and expand their technology skills. Along with the current academic standards for this subject, the Science/Technical Studies Content Area Literacy Standards are incorporated with the expectation of a continuum of reading and writing skills development. MYP students learn about various traditional and nontraditional careers and gain an awareness of the level of education and type of training needed for a variety of careers and occupations. Virtual and real life opportunities are provided for students to observe and explore various careers.
International Baccalaureate defines MYP Design as "the link between innovation and creativity, taking thoughts and exploring the possibilities and constraints associated with products or systems, allowing designers to redefine and manage the generation of further thought through prototyping, experimentation and adaptation. It is human-centered and focuses on the needs, wants and limitations of the end user.
Inquiry and problem-solving are at the heart of MYP Design, which incorporates the design cycle as a methodological tool that "[structures] the inquiry and analysis of problems, the development of feasible solutions, the creation of solutions, and the testing and evaluation of
the solution."; Additionally, IB recognizes that " Design is carried out by a community of people
from a wide variety of backgrounds and traditions." ; MYP Design teachers apply this methodology to a variety of contexts, with or without the use of technology.
MYP Design challenges all students to apply practical and creative thinking skills to solve design problems; encourages students to explore the role of MYP Design in both historical and contemporary contexts; and raises students'; awareness of their responsibilities when making design decisions and taking action. As a multidisciplinary course, MYP Design provides students with continuing opportunities to develop basic skills including: Reading, Writing, Listening, Speaking, Note-Taking, and Study and Organizational Skills.
WHAT YOU'LL DO:
The following outlines what your core duties and responsibilities will be for this position and
provides a sample overview of what your day-to-day may look like.
CORE DUTIES AND RESPONSIBILITIES:
The MYP Design teacher may also teach one unit of Project Lead the Way (PLTW) throughout the year. The teacher will be responsible for classroom instruction in the International. Baccalaureate Middle Years Programme Design and a PLTW module (specific modules will vary based on school selection). This is a full time position at one building. This includes planning and executing the MYP Design course and planning, carrying out, evaluating, and supervising instructional activities for all classes.
"DAY IN THE LIFE" OVERVIEW
On a regular day, as the MYP Design Teacher, you might:
1. Maintain a model classroom environment supportive of student inquiry and aligned with the Middle Years Program of the International Baccalaureate Organization (IBO)
2. Establish an educational environment with an international focus that provides opportunities for students to develop leadership skills and positive self-images
3. Work with each of the other teachers in the CFI Magnet Program to plan themes and projects for interdisciplinary instruction aligned with IB
4. Actively encourage parent involvement in the educational process
5. Actively seek and use community resources to enhance the instructional program
6. Willingly participate in innovative instructional and assessment activities including the
design and preparation of proposals and reports
7. As part of a demonstration site, graciously accept visitors and observers to the classroom and mentor university interns
8. Participate in IB training, which includes traveling to regional sites
9. Participate in all staff and curriculum development workshops, and professional reading
groups, sometimes held during the summer and/or outside of the regular instructional day
10. Other duties as assigned by the Principal
WHAT YOU'LL BRING: SKILLS AND MINDSETS
To perform the job successfully, the ideal candidate should demonstrate the following competencies:
- ADAPTABILITY: Adapts to changes in the work environment; Manages competing demands; Able to deal with frequent change, delays, or unexpected events.
- ATTENDANCE/PUNCTUALITY: Is consistently at work and on time.
- DEPENDABILITY: Follows instructions; Responds to management direction; Takes responsibility for own actions.
- DIVERSITY: Shows respect and sensitivity for cultural differences; Promotes a harassment-free environment; Address multicultural, racial, gender, and economic diversity and support an international focus within the curriculum.
- ETHICS: Works with integrity and ethically.
- INNOVATION: Displays original thinking and creativity; Meets challenges with resourcefulness.
- INTERPERSONAL: Focuses on solving conflict, not blaming; Maintains confidentiality; Listens to others without interrupting; Keeps emotions under control; Remains open to others' ideas and tries new things.
- JUDGMENT: Exhibits sound and accurate judgment.
- ORGANIZATIONAL SUPPORT: Follows policies and procedures; Completes administrative tasks correctly and on time; Supports organization's goals and values.
- PLANNING/ORGANIZATION: Prioritizes and plans work activities; Uses time efficiently; Use an interdisciplinary curriculum to provide appropriate and motivating educational experiences; Proficiency in the development and writing of the curriculum; Evaluate students using alternative forms of assessment.
- PROFESSIONALISM: Approaches others in a tactful manner; Treats others with respect and consideration regardless of their status or position.
- SAFETY AND SECURITY: Observes safety and security procedures.
- TEAM WORK: Balances team and individual responsibilities; Gives and welcomes feedback; Contributes to building a positive team spirit; Collaborate with a variety of people, as well as other CFI IB Magnet Program teachers to coordinate curriculum development, instruction and student support services; Ability to work in an inclusive environment; Experience with or willingness to engage in co-teaching.
- TECHNICAL SKILLS: Pursues training and development opportunities.
- WRITTEN COMMUNICATION: Writes clearly and informatively; Effectively communicate with a variety of audiences.
COMPUTER SKILLS: To perform this job successfully, an individual must be proficient in Microsoft Office, Student Data software (eSchool), and electronic communication systems (Outlook).
- LANGUAGE SKILLS: Ability to read and comprehend simple instructions, short correspondence, and memos. Ability to write simple correspondence. Ability to
effectively
- MATHEMATICAL SKILLS: Ability to add, subtract, multiply, and divide in all units of measure, using whole numbers, common fractions, and decimals. Ability to compute rate, ratio, and percent and to draw and interpret bar graphs.
- REASONING ABILITY: Ability to apply common sense understanding to carry out detailed written or oral instructions. Ability to deal with problems involving a few concrete variables in standardized situations.
- SUPERVISORY RESPONSIBILITIES: No responsibilities with supervising other personnel. Instructors are expected to carry out supervisory responsibilities related to
monitoring student behavior and activities both in and out of the classroom during the assigned working day and on field trips.
EDUCATION, CERTIFICATION, AND LICENSURE REQUIREMENTS:
To perform this job successfully, an individual must be able to perform each major responsibility effectively. Candidates must be willing to complete and attend MYP Design training within two years of hiring date. If Project Lead the Way (PLTW) is to be included in the course, the candidate will complete Gateway training for the unit to be taught during the school year.
Candidates should have a minimum of 3-5 years of successful classroom teaching experience and experience working with other teachers. Familiarity with the design cycle or design thinking from any number of contexts are preferred.
Candidates must hold a Bachelor's Degree from an accredited college or university and hold or be eligible for an Indiana Teacher's license. Various valid Indiana licenses may be considered.
FLSA CLASSIFICATION:
Exempt
ELIGIBILITY FOR REMOTE WORK:
None
SUPERVISORY RESPONSIBILITIES: None.
LANGUAGE SKILLS: Ability to read and comprehend simple instructions, short correspondence, and memos. Ability to effectively present information in one-on-one, small group, and large group situations.
MATHEMATICAL SKILLS: Ability to add, subtract, multiply, and divide in all units of measure, using whole numbers, common fractions, and decimals. Ability to compute rate, ratio, and percent and to draw and interpret bar graphs.
REASONING ABILITY: Ability to apply common sense understanding to carry out detailed but written or oral instructions. Ability to deal with problems involving a few concrete variables in standardized situations.
CERTIFICATES, LICENSES, REGISTRATIONS: Must hold a valid Indiana State Teacher's License in Elementary Education (K-6). Must be deemed Highly Qualified in accordance with the Indiana Department of Education
PHYSICAL DEMANDS: The physical demands described here are representative of those that must be met by an employee to successfully perform the essential functions of this job. Reasonable accommodations may be made to enable individuals with disabilities to perform the essential functions.
While performing the duties of this job, the employee is regularly required to sit and use hands to find, handle, or feel. The employee frequently is required to talk or hear. The employee is required to stand; walk; reach with hands and arms; climb or balance; and stoop, kneel, crouch, or crawl. The employee must frequently lift and/or move up to 20 pounds and occasionally lift and/or move up to 50 pounds. Specific vision abilities required by this job include close vision, depth perception, and ability to adjust focus.
WORK ENVIRONMENT: The work environment characteristics described here are representative of those an employee encounters while performing the essential functions of this job. Reasonable accommodations may be made to enable individuals with disabilities to perform the essential functions.
While performing the duties of this job, the employee is occasionally exposed to wet and humid conditions and outside weather conditions. The noise level in the work environment is usually moderate.
DISCLAIMER:
The above job description is designed to denote the general nature and level of work performed by employees within this classification. It is not designed to contain or be interpreted as a comprehensive inventory of all duties, responsibilities, and qualifications of employees assigned to this job.
