Chief of Schools

At KIPP Public Schools Northern California, we launch and operate joyful, academically excellent schools where all students learn, achieve and belong. 

About KIPP Public Schools Northern California

We are a thriving nonprofit network of 16 free, public charter schools open to all students. At KIPP, we believe all children should grow up free to create the future they want for themselves and that schools can and should be a critical factor in making that vision a reality. Together with families and communities, we create joyful, academically excellent schools that prepare students with the skills and confidence to pursue the paths they choose—college, career, and beyond—so they can lead fulfilling lives and build a more just world. 

Our student community consists of over 6,000 elementary, middle, and high school students in East Palo Alto, Oakland, San Francisco, San Lorenzo, San Jose, Redwood City, and Stockton. 79% qualify for free or reduced price lunch, 23% are English language learners, and 10% have special needs. We strive to cultivate a representative team of teachers and leaders that reflect our students’ diversity.

Our Vision: Every child grows up free to create the future they want for themselves and their communities.

Our Mission: Together with families and communities, KIPP Public Schools Northern California creates joyful, academically excellent schools that prepare students with the skills and confidence to pursue the paths they choose -- college, career and beyond -- so they can lead fulfilling lives and create a more just world. 

Our Theory of Action: KIPP Public Schools Northern California will disrupt the presence and impact of racial inequities within the organization, our practices, and in educational access and outcomes. Our ultimate aim is for empowered alumni to live fulfilling lives. We will achieve this aim by operating joyful, academically excellent schools, and amplify our impact through smart growth and a commitment to operational excellence, together with engaged families and communities. 

Our Vision for Diversity, Equity & Inclusion: Our mission and theory of action describe our belief in the transformative power of education to play a critical role in combating systemic racism and all forms of oppression. We know that we can’t succeed -- and that any perceived successes will ring hollow -- without an active and explicit commitment to diversity, equity and inclusion. We will hold ourselves accountable to continuous learning and improvement as we work together to implement our equity vision with courage and humility. 

ROLE OVERVIEW:

Reporting to the Chief Executive Officer, the Chief of Schools (CoS) is responsible for driving our regional priorities and ensuring robust and diverse leadership teams resulting in joyful and academically excellent schools. The CoS will manage the team of School Leader Managers to ensure all KIPP Northern California Schools are inclusive, community-focused, college-preparatory schools that empower students and parents. The CoS will support the implementation of our region-wide teaching and learning vision, drive student academic and social emotional growth, manage strategic planning, and progress monitor overall school performance. Committed to disrupting racial and socio-economic inequities in educational access and outcomes, the CoS will partner with the Chief Equity and Inclusion Officer to support students through college and to career by developing highly effective teachers and leaders. 

KEY RESPONSIBILITIES:

Set and execute regional leadership vision at all schools focused on diversifying, developing, and retaining top talent

• In collaboration with the human resources and talent teams, develop and align school staff performance management and credential compliance structures, processes, and tools
• Drive coherence among our Communities of Practice to ensure high quality execution of our regional priorities through intentional, research-based leadership development
• Lead the selection and endorsement of school leadership positions including Fisher Fellows, Successor Leaders, and Assistant Principals
• Standardize leadership team structures for elementary, middle, and high schools by determining the appropriate staffing to drive our regional priorities within our financial sustainability constraints

In collaboration with Chief Equity & Inclusion Officer (CEIO), lead strategic teaching, learning and leadership planning process for the region to set performance goals and priorities; regularly analyze data to drive decision making and progress monitoring throughout the school year

• Develop long-term (3-5 years) and annual goals and priorities
• Identify data sources, aligned with regional goals, for each stakeholder group to track and monitor on a regular basis
• Regularly review a variety of regional student performance data and teacher practice data to make immediate adjustments to implementation approach
• Use data in regional leadership team meetings and during check-ins with School Leader Managers team to quickly identify and address concerns
• Schedule and conduct a data stepback quarterly to make changes and adjust priorities if necessary

Support implementation of teaching and learning vision at all schools

• Communicate teaching and learning vision to School and Regional Leaders and hold School Leader Managers and School Leaders accountable for implementation
• Operationalize teaching and learning vision by using implementation plans, specifying areas of ownership and a timeline for each priority and collaborate with School Leader Managers and School Leaders to make sure that schools have an appropriate corresponding implementation plan
• Regularly co-observe with School Leader Managers and School Leaders to progress monitor implementation of teaching and learning vision and regional priorities
• Collaborate with CEIO to establish regional approach to professional development and determine what will be provided from region vs. schools

Manage School Leader Managers 

• Recruit, hire and develop regional School Leader Managers and manage their performance
• Coach and monitor the School Leader Managers 
• Regularly observe SLMs in action (e.g. providing coaching to School Leaders, leading data analysis, conducting O3s), and provide immediate feedback to develop his/her team members’ competencies
• Set goals and expectations to ensure that the entire School Leader Manager team shares implementation of the joyful and academically excellent school vision for success of the region
• Collaborate with SLMs on hiring of school leadership and future school leadership
• Hold SLMs accountable for development of School Leaders 
• Support SLMs in other challenges that arise in school management e.g. school climate and culture, community engagement, parent involvement, etc

Serve as a core member of the region’s senior leadership team

• Partner with First Team to ensure entire organization is leading for learning and organizational health and sustainability (e.g. regional office departments keep schools and students in mind as they are making decisions)
• Advocate for effective resource allocation (financial and human assets) across the region for maximum impact on student outcomes
• Develop regional priorities that integrate school and regional teams

QUALIFICATIONS:

• Unwavering commitment to our regional vision of diversity, equity and inclusion
• Values rooted in courage, compassion, equity and excellence
• Strong leadership abilities including an encouraging, motivating presence to help with conflict management, team building, mentoring and coaching, goal-setting, prioritization and strategic planning
• Deep experience in the design, integration, implementation and management of a school including knowledge of curriculum, instructional practices, school operations and management, and leadership development
• Minimum 4 years School Leader/ Principal experience
• Minimum 2 years School Leader Manager experience
• Ability to analyze and use data on a regular basis to drive decision making
• Demonstrated success leading school improvement initiatives that close student achievement gaps between racial, ethnic, and economic groups
• Expertise in instructional design and implementation, including curriculum and assessment
• Commitment to building relationships and trust with leaders, teachers, students, parents, and community
• A track record of leading, motivating, and developing diverse and high performing teams

COMPENSATION:

• We are dedicated to you and your family's well-being! KIPP offers a competitive salary as well as comprehensive benefits package including medical, dental, vision, and transportation benefits. Although KIPP does not post salary scales, we are happy to walk candidates through the compensation package.

QUESTIONS: Email Dave Bress at david.bress@kippnorcal.org