Why Ideal?

Friendship Ideal’s early learning approach for students in grades pre-K3 to kindergarten is guided by the Reggio Emilia philosophy that our children are extraordinarily capable and the world is their classroom. Through art, nature, literature, dramatic play, language, writing and music, our Reggio-inspired program nurtures students’ innate curiosity, intellect, creativity and self-confidence. Filled with joyous exploration and guided by personalized pathways, students make discoveries, learn to solve problems and collaborate, while developing the building blocks that lead to lifelong learning. Named after the area in Italy where the concept was developed, Reggio Emilia is a highly- acclaimed early-learning model where children are encouraged to explore our ever-changing world.

Led by a community of seasoned and supportive teachers, Ideal builds on its early learning program in the elementary (1-4) and middle grades (5-8) to develop knowledgeable, caring, resilient and ethical young scholars. Our rigorous academic curriculum builds strong foundations in mathematics, science, social studies, English and language arts along with exposure to foreign language study. Project-based learning that takes students out of the classroom to investigate real-world problems is a critical component of the academic day.

One of our newest elementary and middle school campuses, Friendship Ideal’s early learning classrooms are colored by all forms of patterns and expression that spark creativity and foster student inquiry. A big picture window leads our littlest learners to their outdoor classroom and garden, where they plant and play as they investigate and learn. In 2021, the Ideal campus expansion will include new classrooms, a performing arts theater, gymnasium, innovation lab and digital library.

We are excited to consider your application for anticipated vacancies in the 2025-2026 school year. We are thrilled that you’re considering applying for openings expected in the 2025-2026 school year at Friendship Public Charter School. Our formal interview process will begin in January 2025, for our confirmed vacancies only. Non-vacant positions may still be posted during this time. 

Friendship Public Charter School operates a dynamic network of college-preparatory charter schools headquartered in Washington, DC. We proudly serve more than 4,800 preschool through 12th-grade students and support a growing network of alumni as they complete college. Our mission is to provide students with a world-class education that fosters ethical, literate, well-rounded, and self-sufficient individuals. We aim to inspire students to reach high academic standards, enjoy the learning process, succeed in their endeavors, and contribute actively to their communities. For 25 years, thanks to the dedication and expertise of our outstanding faculty, our students have excelled—achieving high graduation rates, college acceptance, and success both academically and socially.

We are seeking professionals who are responsible, confident, respectful, caring, committed, persistent, and patient to join our community for the 2025-2026 school year, starting in August 2025. At Friendship, we believe that every child has the potential to reach and succeed in college—and we invite those who share this belief to apply.

For more information about our Teacher Evaluation Method, see the Danielson Framework for Teaching.

For more information about our schools please visit the following Social Media pages: YouTube, Linkedin, Facebook, Instagram & Twitter! 

Please also see the available salary scales: FPCS Compensation

Excellent Teaching & Learning

• Demonstrate continued mastery of content area
• Lead students to high levels of academic success through rigorous, targeted, and differentiated instruction
• Design and deliver engaging instruction addressing a full range of student needs and learning styles
• Utilize literacy strategies across all content areas
• Develop formal and informal assessments to measure student mastery
• Use data to drive instruction

Environment Conducive to Learning

• Hold students accountable to high academic and behavioral expectations
• Align practices and routines to an achievement-oriented classroom culture
• Foster a safe environment that encourages curiosity, academic risk taking, accountability and collaboration.

Outstanding Leadership

• Reflect on classroom success and areas of improvement to continuously develop practice
• Contribute to the campus and Friendship-wide community by collaborating, seeking professional development, and sharing best practices

Organizational Strength & Viability

• Promote parent involvement through meaningful and consistent communication
• Maintain high professional standards in communication with students, teachers, parents and school administrators

• Commitment to providing a world-class education to students from historically underserved communities
• 2+  years of relevant PreK-3 urban teaching experience with significant academic gains strongly preferred
• Bachelor’s degree from an accredited university required.  Master’s degree preferred
• Undergraduate GPA of 3.0 and above required
• Ability to thrive in a fast-paced and rapidly changing environment
• Strong oral and written communication skills 
• 2 years experience with C.L.A.S.S - https://teachstone.com/class/ 
• Successful completion of the ETS PRAXIS II Exam: Early Childhood Education Content Knowledge
• Familiarity with the Science of Play

Curriculum Information

To learn more about our curriculum, consider the following links:

• Creative Curriculum - https://teachingstrategies.com/product/the-creative-curriculum-for-preschool/ 

FPCS’s policy is to provide equal employment opportunity to all qualified applicants and employees regardless of their race, color, religion, sex, age, national origin, disability, sexual orientation, gender identity or expression, marital status, genetic information, veteran status, status as a special disabled veteran, or any other protected criteria as established by federal, state, or local laws.  This policy applies to recruitment and hiring, training, promotion, compensation, benefits, transfer, layoff, termination and all other terms and conditions of employment.  Employment decisions at FPCS are based solely upon relevant criteria, including an individual’s capabilities, qualifications, training, experience and suitability.