Join our Crew!
Here at DDES, we don’t just accept differences — we celebrate them, we support them, and we thrive on them for the benefit of our employees, our students, and our community. DDES seeks to recruit persons of diverse backgrounds and support the retention and advancement of black, Indigenous, and people of color (BIPOC) within the organization. DDES is inclusive of people regardless of their race, ethnicity, national origin, gender, sexual orientation, socio-economic status, marital status, age, physical abilities, political affiliation, religious beliefs, or any other non-merit fact so that all employees feel included, equally valued and supported.
Our Approach
- Students interact with their community through fieldwork and service-learning
- Students are able to connect their learning to real-world issues and needs
- We invite experts from our surrounding community to deepen instruction
- Students grapple with real-world problems through multi-subject learning expeditions
- Students produce high-quality work and present their work to authentic audiences
- Students regularly engage in cycles of reflection culminating in Student-Led conferences
- Social-emotional learning and character development is a core components of our curriculum
- Daily Crew block and closing circle promote meaningful relationships with peers and teachers
- Adventure trips for all grade levels (2-3/year)
- Robust Movement and Art programs
- In-house after-school program with no enrollment caps & financial assistance
- Focus on small classes with additional adult support
- Impactful intervention and special education teams
- Two full-time mental health professionals (psychologist and social worker)
- Auggie the therapy dog onsite each week
- Enrollment priorities are focused on DDES becoming a fully integrated K-5 public school, both racially and socio-economically
- Culturally responsive curriculum which intentionally includes traditionally marginalized perspectives
- Long-term partnerships with BIPOC professionals to provide expertise within Learning Expedition Units of Study
- Recruitment strategies aimed at diversifying educators to reflect our student population
- “Grow your own” teacher-assistant to teacher pipeline program which aims to train, develop and promote BIPOC educators from within DDES.
Our Culture
- Innovative and competitive compensation model
- Multiple pathways to salary increases, not solely based on advanced degrees.
- Step and lane system that rewards dedication, commitment, and mastery of knowledge/skills
- Stipended school leadership opportunities ( instructional, operational, and community-based).
- Comprehensive medical and dental plan, 100% paid by DDES
- PERA retirement plan with employer contributions.
- Short Term Disability, 100% paid for by DDES (long-term optional)
- Paid parking and/or commuter cost 100% paid for by DDES
- 10 days paid-time-off available immediately & 25 days paid-vacation/holiday during the school year
- Flexible Savings Account option for medical and childcare coverage
- Vision care & PERA 401k option, PERA life option
- Free on-site aftercare if your child attends DDES.
- Two-week PD summer institute
- Early release Fridays for weekly PD
- Weekly individual goal-oriented peer coaching
- Autonomy in lesson design and planning
- Pathways to leadership development
- Opportunities for outside PD, EL Education
- Restorative practices training and modeling
- Neurosequential Model in Education training
- Culturally Responsive Classroom training
- Highly trained and experienced Teaching Assistants
- In-house guest teachers
- Guided curriculum and instruction available
- 60 minute daily planning periods
- No-contact teacher planning days (4/yr)
- Teacher budget for classroom beautification, experts & fieldwork ($1000 total)
- Intervention team (SpEd, Mental Health, Literacy & Math)
- Accolades & regular celebrations of success
- Staff celebrations (paid for by DDES) & accolades
- Lounge stocked with snacks, coffee & treats year-round
- Appreciation breakfasts, lunches & dinners
- Regular staff outings and self-care initiatives
- High-quality staff swag
- Macbooks for all staff