KIPP New Orleans

Alumni Teaching Force

At KIPP New Orleans, we believe in investing in our students not just during their time in the classroom, but far beyond.

Alumni Teaching Force Building the Future of Education in New Orleans

Through our Alumni Teaching Force program, we’re creating a powerful pipeline of educators who grew up within our schools and are now returning to teach the next generation. Our Alumni Teaching Force is a unique “grow your own” program that recruits current KIPP high school students to explore careers in teaching and prepares them to return to our schools as educators after college. This program reflects our deep commitment to building local talent and solving Louisiana’s teacher shortage by cultivating future teachers from within our community.

Key Highlights

  • Homegrown Talent

    KIPP New Orleans has launched an innovative program where former KIPP students return to the classroom as teachers, using their personal experiences to relate to and inspire the next generation of learners.

  • Early Exposure to Education

    High school students at Booker T. Washington, Frederick Douglass High School, and John F. Kennedy High School gain firsthand teaching experience in classrooms twice a week, offering a clear pathway to the teaching profession.

  • Guaranteed Job After College

    Students in the program are guaranteed a teaching position at KIPP after they complete their college degrees, ensuring that passionate and dedicated teachers return to the schools that shaped them.

  • A Growing Pipeline

    Since its inception, the program has grown from 17 participants in 2019 to over 50 high schoolers actively pursuing teaching pathways in 2024, with 36% of program participants expected to return to KIPP as full-time teachers after graduating from college.

  • Creating Long-Term Impact

    Our alumni-turned-teachers, like Ashira Jones, serve as living examples of the power of education and community. They come full circle—giving back to the schools that nurtured their growth and continuing the cycle of educational excellence.

By focusing on local talent, KIPP New Orleans is tackling the teacher shortage head-on, ensuring that every child in our city is taught by someone who not only believes in the power of education but has experienced firsthand the impact of a KIPP school. These alumni teachers bring an unmatched connection to our students, fostering an environment where young minds can thrive and achieve their dreams.

Hear from alumni teachers

“I wanted to give back to the community that shaped me. Teaching here feels like coming home.”

Fostering Local Talent

  • 50+

    High school students currently enrolled

  • 36%

    Alumni expected to return as teachers

Alumni Teaching Force Join Us in Building the Future

Our Alumni Teaching Force program is just one of the many ways KIPP New Orleans is investing in the future of education. We are proud of the impact our alumni are making, and we invite you to learn more about how we are growing the next generation of educators.

Learn More About Our Alumni Teaching Force