---
title: 'Elementary Teacher - ELA & STEM | $8,000 Stipend at Rocketship Public Schools'
canonical: 'https://feeny.ai/job/elementary-teacher-ela-stem-8-000-stipend-rocketship-public-schools-washington-0qa107tztw3e'
type: 'job'
last_seen: '2026-11-10'
---

# Elementary Teacher - ELA & STEM | $8,000 Stipend at Rocketship Public Schools

- **Company:** Rocketship Public Schools
- **Location:** Washington, DC
- **Compensation:** $68k–$88k
- **Employment:** full-time
- **Work type:** onsite
- **Posted:** 2026-11-06
- **Last confirmed live:** 2026-11-10
- **Apply:** https://jobs.lever.co/rocketship/616ae680-a989-4a28-9b88-ff3ad8a73f4a

## Job description

At Rocketship Public Schools, we believe in the infinite possibility of human potential. We believe that every student deserves the right to dream, to discover, and to develop their unique potential and it is our responsibility and our privilege to unleash the potential inside every Rocketeer we serve. Our non-profit network of public elementary charter schools propels student achievement, develops exceptional educators, and partners with parents who enable high-quality public schools to thrive in their community. We are a collective of parents, teachers, leaders, and students working together to transform the future for underserved communities across our country. At Rocketship Public Schools, we are unleashing potential.

Our Ideal Teacher

- Instructionally Versatile: Confident in delivering rigorous, engaging instruction across both ELA and STEM, with the ability to make meaningful connections between content areas.
- Strong Classroom Leader: Establishes clear routines, consistent expectations, and positive relationships while implementing effective Tier 1 classroom management practices and proactive behavioral supports.
- Data-Driven and Results-Oriented: Uses student achievement data to identify learning gaps, differentiate instruction, and accelerate academic growth across multiple content areas.
- Coachable and Growth-Oriented: Actively seeks feedback, reflects on instructional practices, and applies coaching to continuously improve student outcomes.
- Adaptable and Solutions-Focused: Demonstrates flexibility, strong organizational skills, and sound judgment when balancing instructional priorities and responding to diverse student needs.
- Collaborative and Equity-Driven: Builds authentic partnerships with families, colleagues, and school leaders while maintaining high expectations and a commitment to educational equity.

Essential Functions

The essential functions of this position include, but are not limited to, the following:

Instruction & Classroom Culture

- Plan and deliver rigorous, standards-aligned instruction in both English Language Arts (ELA) and STEM using Rocketship's adopted curricula.
- Assume responsibility for instructional planning, delivery, assessment, and student academic growth across both content areas.
- Build and maintain a classroom culture of excellence, belonging, and high expectations through consistent routines, positive relationships, and effective classroom management practices.
- Implement proactive Tier 1 classroom management strategies and targeted Tier 2 supports to address students' academic and behavioral needs.
- Differentiate instruction to meet the diverse learning needs of students, including multilingual learners and students with disabilities.
- Submit lesson plans for feedback and collaborate with instructional coaches to continuously strengthen instructional practices across both content areas.
- Regularly analyze student achievement data in ELA and STEM to identify learning gaps, adjust instruction, and accelerate academic growth.
- Partner with special education staff to ensure students with additional needs are fully included and appropriately supported.
- Support the whole child through intentional Social-Emotional Learning (SEL) instruction and collaboration with Rocketship's Wellness team.

Family & Community Engagement

- Build authentic, trusting relationships with students and families through consistent, proactive communication and shared accountability for student success.
- Conduct annual home visits and maintain ongoing communication with families throughout the school year.
- Partner with families to establish academic and behavioral goals, communicate student progress, and collaboratively address challenges.
- Participate in school events, family engagement activities, and community gatherings to strengthen school-family partnerships.

Rocketship Professional Culture

At Rocketship, teachers are part of a professional community grounded in collaboration, continuous growth, accountability, and a shared commitment to student success. Our teachers:

- Embrace Coaching and Development: Actively engage in weekly coaching, real-time classroom feedback, and ongoing professional development to strengthen instructional practices and improve student outcomes.\
- Demonstrate Ownership and Accountability: Take responsibility for student learning, professional commitments, and continuous improvement, using both successes and challenges as opportunities for growth.
- Lead with Urgency and Adaptability: Respond proactively to student needs, navigate changing priorities, and approach challenges with flexibility, sound judgment, and a solutions-oriented mindset.
- Communicate with Transparency and Respect: Maintain open, professional, and constructive communication with colleagues, school leaders, students, and families.
- Contribute to a Collaborative School Culture: Work across teams and content areas to share effective practices, support colleagues, and ensure students receive consistent, high-quality instruction.
- Pursue Excellence and Impact: Maintain high expectations for themselves and their students while striving for measurable academic growth and instructional excellence. Teachers are recognized for their contributions, including eligibility for performance-based pay tied to student growth and impact.

Required Qualifications

- Hold a B.A./B.S. degree from an accredited institution.
- Demonstrate knowledge of elementary instructional practices in both English Language Arts (ELA) and STEM.
- Possess strong classroom management skills, including the ability to establish consistent routines, maintain high expectations, and implement positive behavioral supports.
- Demonstrate the ability to differentiate instruction and use student achievement data to inform instructional decisions.
- Possess strong organizational, communication, and collaboration skills to effectively manage instruction across multiple content areas.

## Preferred Qualifications

- Prior elementary teaching experience in diverse school communities.
- Experience teaching both ELA and STEM or working in a self-contained elementary classroom.
- Demonstrated success improving student academic outcomes in literacy and mathematics.
- Experience implementing Tier 1 classroom management strategies and targeted behavioral interventions.

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 position. Reasonable accommodations may be made to enable individuals with disabilities to perform the functions. While performing the duties of this position, the employee is regularly required to talk, hear, and communicate with both adults and children. The employee frequently is required to use hands or fingers, handle or feel objects, tools, or controls. The employee is frequently required to stand; walk; sit; and reach with hands and arms. The employee must occasionally lift and/or move up to 50 pounds and occasionally climb ladders. Specific vision abilities required by this position include close vision, distance vision, and the ability to adjust focus. The noise level in the work environment is moderate to high.

Compensation: Commensurate with qualifications and experience, plus excellent health and wellness benefits, 403b retirement plan, flexible spending account (FSA), and generous paid time off.

Rocketship Public Schools provides equal employment opportunities (EEO) to all employees and applicants for employment without regard to race, color, religion, gender, sexual orientation, national origin, age, disability, genetic information, marital status, amnesty, or status as a covered veteran in accordance with applicable federal, state and local laws. Rocketship Public Schools complies with applicable state and local laws governing non-discrimination in employment in every location in which the company has facilities. This policy applies to all terms and conditions of employment, including, but not limited to, hiring, placement, promotion, termination, layoff, recall, transfer, leaves of absence, compensation, and training. Rocketship Public Schools expressly prohibits any form of unlawful employee harassment based on race, color, religion, gender, sexual orientation, national origin, age, genetic information, disability, or veteran status. Improper interference with the ability of Rocketship Public Schools’ employees to perform their expected job duties is absolutely not tolerated. Click here for our Sexual Harassment Policy.  For questions, concerns, or complaints, please contact Human Resources.

## About Rocketship Public Schools

## Company Overview
- **One-liner**: Rocketship Public Schools is a national nonprofit network of high-performing public charter elementary schools serving underserved communities, focused on closing the achievement gap through personalized learning, talent development, and community partnerships.
- **Entity Type**: Private (nonprofit charter school network; not publicly traded)
- **Headquarters**: Redwood City, California, USA
- **Founded**: 2006
- **Founders**: John Danner and Preston Smith

## Core Business
- **Primary industry**: K-12 public education (charter schools)
- **Target customers**: Students and families in low-income communities (pre-K through 5th grade), B2C (publicly funded, tuition-free)
- **Mission or purpose**: "To catalyze transformative change in underserved communities through a scalable and sustainable public school model that propels student achievement, develops exceptional educators, and partners with parents who enable high-quality public schools to thrive in their community."

## Products & Services
- **Public Charter Elementary Schools**: A network of high-performing, tuition-free public elementary schools (pre-K to grade 5) operating in California, Wisconsin, Tennessee, and Washington D.C. The model includes personalized learning, content-specialized teachers (STEM/Humanities), Learning Lab (adaptive technology), enrichment classes, and family engagement. [rocketshipschools.org](https://www.rocketshipschools.org/en/about/our-mission-and-model/)
- **Teacher Residency & PD Launchpad**: Professional development programs offering real-time coaching, instructional frameworks, and dedicated weekly PD for teachers. [rocketshipschools.org](https://www.rocketshipschools.org/en/join-our-team/)
- **Career Pathways**: Clear advancement opportunities from teacher to school leader, with roles in integrated special education, school support, leadership, and network support (HR, IT, finance, strategy, etc.). [rocketshipschools.org](https://www.rocketshipschools.org/en/join-our-team/)

## Market Standing
- **Valuation/Market Cap**: Not applicable (nonprofit organization)
- **Key Metric**: 33,567 total lifetime students served (as of 2023-2024); network of 23+ schools across four regions
- **Notable Investors/Partners**: Not publicly listed as a funded startup; funding comes from public per-pupil revenue, grants, and philanthropic donations. The network is recognized as a "gap busting" charter network by the Stanford CREDO study (2023).
- **Growth Signals**: The 2023 Stanford CREDO study found Rocketship students gained the equivalent of 5–7 months of additional learning in a single school year; expansion beyond California into Wisconsin, Tennessee, and Washington D.C.; ongoing hiring for 2026-2027 school year with signing bonuses (e.g., $5,000 for 5th Grade Math Teacher). [rocketshipschools.org](https://www.rocketshipschools.org/en/) and [jobs.lever.co](https://jobs.lever.co/rocketship)

## Competitive Advantages
- **Proven academic impact**: Data from Stanford CREDO shows outsized learning gains for low-income students, positioning Rocketship as one of the charter sector's most effective networks.
- **Specialized teacher model**: Teachers focus on either STEM or Humanities, enabling deeper expertise and collaboration, unlike traditional elementary generalist model.
- **Strong family engagement**: Home visits before each school year, parent input on school naming and enrichment, and a culture of partnership that increases accountability and support.
- **Personalized learning at scale**: Combination of whole-group instruction, small-group tutoring, and adaptive online learning, driven by real-time data on student mastery.

## Strategic Focus
- **Scaling model**: Expanding to serve more students across current regions and potentially new markets, while maintaining high fidelity to the Rocketship model.
- **Talent development**: Investing heavily in teacher coaching, residency programs, and clear career ladders to retain and grow educators.
- **Community power**: Deepening parent and community organizing to advocate for high-quality public school options and policy change.
- **Whole-child education**: Integrating social-emotional learning, character values (persistence, empathy, responsibility, respect), and enrichment classes alongside core academics.

## Why Work Here
- **Mission-driven culture**: Join a team committed to educational equity in low-income communities, with a strong sense of purpose and partnership among teachers, parents, and leaders.
- **Career growth**: Clear pathways from teacher to school leader, with internal promotion and support for leadership roles; network support roles offer diverse functions (HR, IT, finance, strategy).
- **Professional development**: Weekly coaching, real-time feedback, instructional frameworks, and dedicated PD time through programs like Teacher Residency and PD Launchpad.
- **Exceptional benefits**: Competitive health, dental, and vision coverage; retirement plans; signing bonuses for certain roles (e.g., $5,000 for 5th Grade Math Teacher in Tennessee).
- **Work environment**: Hybrid/onsite roles depending on position (e.g., school-based roles are onsite; some network support roles may be hybrid). Emphasis on collaboration, data-driven instruction, and a supportive school community.
- **Locations**: Schools in California (Bay Area, Sacramento), Wisconsin (Milwaukee), Tennessee (Nashville area), and Washington D.C.

## Sources
1. [rocketshipschools.org - Join Our Team](https://www.rocketshipschools.org/en/join-our-team/)
2. [rocketshipschools.org - Homepage](https://www.rocketshipschools.org/en/)
3. [rocketshipschools.org - Mission & Model](https://www.rocketshipschools.org/en/about/our-mission-and-model/)
4. [jobs.lever.co - Rocketship Careers](https://jobs.lever.co/rocketship)

## Other roles at Rocketship Public Schools

- [Senior Director of Organizational Effectiveness](https://feeny.ai/job/senior-director-of-organizational-effectiveness-rocketship-public-schools-remote-xpaf0wxct3zf)
- [Office Manager (Spanish Bilingual)](https://feeny.ai/job/office-manager-spanish-bilingual-rocketship-public-schools-antioch-x2n2kneb0jj2) — Antioch, TN
- [School Nurse - LPN or RN](https://feeny.ai/job/school-nurse-lpn-or-rn-rocketship-public-schools-antioch-w9qncb81asbr) — Antioch, TN
- [Special Education Teacher](https://feeny.ai/job/special-education-teacher-rocketship-public-schools-concord-2624abem50xt) — Concord, CA
- [Special Education Teacher: Mod/Severe](https://feeny.ai/job/special-education-teacher-mod-severe-rocketship-public-schools-washington-wcgjj695mx60) — Washington, DC
- [Special Education Teacher](https://feeny.ai/job/special-education-teacher-rocketship-public-schools-washington-r17k2ka1fw6p) — Washington, DC
- [Special Education Assistant Principal](https://feeny.ai/job/special-education-assistant-principal-rocketship-public-schools-washington-a7pgwmkqypn6) — Washington, DC
- [PreK Teacher](https://feeny.ai/job/prek-teacher-rocketship-public-schools-washington-hnypmyattvef) — Washington, DC
- [Elementary Teacher](https://feeny.ai/job/elementary-teacher-rocketship-public-schools-washington-32ezhzpz1fye) — Washington, DC
- [Business Operations Manager](https://feeny.ai/job/business-operations-manager-rocketship-public-schools-washington-9dc772thveat) — Washington, DC