Teacher Stories
I always knew that I wanted to be a teacher. I guess it was just kind of in my blood: my mother is a high school teacher and my father teaches some college classes. Teaching always sort of came naturally to me, whether it was leading a study group in high school and college or teaching my own seminar in college. I also always knew that I wanted to teach underserved students. I joined Teach for America because I was aligned with their mission of working to end educational inequality. I decided to come to KIPP because I wanted to work in a place where every single teacher, administrator, and staff member was also dedicated to ending educational inequality and working to get underserved students to college.
There are many things that I like about teaching at KIPP. First and foremost, it’s the students. They are intelligent, fun, and inquisitive. Each day, I’m excited to see them, observe their intellectual curiosity, and see their intelligence grow. I also love the administration. They are amazingly supportive and dedicated to this school and these students. Finally, it’s the feel of this place. Walking around campus, stepping into rooms, you feel the energy and academic rigor. You see the dedicated teachers. You observe the intellectual curiosity I spoke of earlier. It’s something very special and is not found in many places.
My students inspire me with their dedication and drive. I’ve seen students improve 2 years worth of reading in just 1 year. I’ve had students ask me questions about topics we’re discussing in class that I would have never thought of until I was in college. I’ve seen 6th graders engrossed in Greek mythology, knowing more about it than I do. I’ve seen students already preparing for their SATs. I’ve seen a student improve over 70 percentage points in their TAKS scores from the beginning of the year to the end. For all of these reasons, they push me to be better every day. They inspire me to want to help them in the best way possible and to never give up despite challenges. They push me to be creative and think outside of the box with lessons and curriculum. They are the reason I want to be the best teacher I can possibly be.
~Katie Shapiro, 5th Grade Reading Teacher and Grade Level Chair
I enjoyed an excellent education from elementary all the way through law school. After graduating I realized that it was a privilege to have learned from such great teachers. After graduating from college I headed to law school and assumed that it would lead to a career as an attorney. The most memorable part of my three years in law school, however, had nothing to do with the law, but everything to do with education. I got the opportunity to teach basic legal rights to Austin high school and middle school students. It was then that I realized how much I enjoyed interacting with students and passing on the information that I had been given from my teachers. After visiting KIPP, I knew that I wanted to teach there for several reasons, most of which had to do with the work ethic of the teachers and students. Simply put, at any given time at KIPP Austin College Prep you can look to your left or right and know that the teachers and students you see are working their absolute hardest to succeed. The consistent work ethic and high expectations led me to KIPP Austin and are why I enjoy working there everyday.
~Taylor Nichols, 8th Grade Social Studies Teacher and Grade Level Chair