About KIPP DC Public Schools

By 2025, KIPP DC will build upon two decades of proven results to develop into a more impactful, innovative, and inclusive school system that provides joyful, identity-affirming learning experiences so that all students and alumni achieve extraordinary outcomes.

Our work is grounded in a commitment to excellence, equity, and justice. We believe all students have the right to rigorous, relevant, and joyful learning experiences led by exceptionally talented and diverse educators who promote student achievement and a sense of belonging. We believe students and teachers best succeed when surrounded by an ecosystem of supports, including our central headquarters team that supports KIPP DC’s 20 schools, 7,300 students, and 1,300 teachers, leaders, and staff members dedicated to this mission.

Position Overview

The Head of Schools (HOS) is a regional academic leader at KIPP DC, contributing to fulfilling KIPP DC’s ambition in meaningful ways. The HOS is an important and critical member of the Instructional Leadership team. In partnership with the Academic Team and cross-functionally with other regional leaders, the Head of Schools drives results for students through coaching and supporting school leaders to achieve ambitious goals, coordinating with network teams to support schools, and aligning along the entire pre-kindergarten through high school continuum to support student outcomes. A Head of Schools has instructional expertise and joyful, productive student engagement, understands academic operations, firmly believes in the importance of family engagement, and has experience building strong school culture with staff and students. 

The Head of Schools is an exempt position and will report to the Chief of Schools with frequent travel to our schools and local communities throughout DC. They will partner with the Chief of Schools to deeply work with a few select schools that would benefit from in-depth, continuous, in-person support. Additionally, they will be a conduit between various headquarters regional teams and school leaders. Heads of Schools may be called upon to support in a principal’s absence to ensure school continuity and to support the leadership team as needed. 

Key Responsibilities

• Ensure implementation of KIPP DC’s academic strategies - In partnership with the Instructional Leadership Team: 
  • Create and implement action plans at select schools, monitor progress on the plan, communicate about gaps, and support school leaders to achieve academic goals. 
  • Support curricular implementation, assessment administration, and on-going staff development on effective pedagogical practices, behavior management systems and student engagement strategies.
  • Effectively use data to understand school strengths and gaps to make plans for school improvement.
  • Ability to view the work from a PK - 12 perspective, and the impact of PK-12 decisions on postsecondary outcomes for kids

• Support school leaders through side-by-side coaching -Build trusting relationships with key school leaders to authentically coach and support them in some of the following ways:
  • Supports principals in prioritizing their time to engage in high-impact practices that lead to improved student outcomes, aligned with the arc of the year 
  • Problem-solve with leaders on real-time technical and adaptive challenges
  • Provide school leaders with development, feedback, and support that equips them with the knowledge and skills for success that is anchored in student achievement, staff culture, and family engagement
  • Support the learning and development of school leaders and leadership teams through such strategies as action planning, leadership huddles, data analysis, walkthroughs, check-ins, leading meetings, supporting Tier 2/3 students, etc

• Advise and support school leadership teams to develop strong systems for school culture and safety - Support school leadership teams to: 
  • Support school leadership teams to cultivate joyful, identity affirming environments that create the conditions that foster student academic excellence.
  • Help select school teams design, execute, and monitor critical school-wide systems including, but not limited to: arrival, hallway transitions, and dismissal. 
  • Work with principals and leadership team members to make sure that student discipline is appropriate, reasonable, and equitable.
  • Manage crisis and conflict when urgent situations arise, including coordinating with network teams, supporting stakeholder engagement, and facilitating communication. 

• Support high impact talent practices:
  • Lead and participate in equitable hiring processes for regional positions and school leadership program participants.
  • Support principals to lead equitable hiring processes for school-based positions and employ effective staff retention strategies.
  • Manage several teachers-on-assignment to provide coverage during vacancies
  • Collaborate with the talent and employee policy teams to support schools in complex staffing scenarios. 

• Support special education and MTSS programming- Collaborate with the Student Support and school teams to:
  • Help schools design supports for students with IEPs and ensure the strong performance of Tier 2 and Tier 3 systems.
  • Help schools meet the individual needs of diverse learners by observing individualized instruction, monitoring student progress, and adjusting intervention and instructional strategies to make content accessible to all students.
  • Create ongoing professional development for all teachers around special education and intervention. 

• Advocate for schools and collaborate across different regional teams
  • Manage and participate in special projects aligned to priorities including, but not limited to: enrollment, attendance, compliance projects, teacher development, enrichment programming, etc.
  • Elevate principal perspective and facilitate dialogue between school and regional leaders. 
  • Systems-orientation and thinking, builds from scratch and brings a vision to life

Qualifications

KIPP DC is looking for candidates who are committed to KIPP DC’s mission that all students can learn and achieve at high levels when given the opportunity, have a strong teaching background, a commitment to creating identity-affirming learning experiences, and are looking to develop the leadership skills necessary to lead great schools. Specifically, candidates should have:

• Bachelor’s degree (Required)
• Minimum of four years experience in an instructional leadership capacity [e.g. Principal, Academic Team Leader] (Required)
• Minimum of one year of experience as a Principal (Required)
• Minimum of two years of experience coaching, mentoring, and developing adults in a school setting (Required)
• Minimum of two years of people management experience (Required)
• Strong attendance record (Required)
• Experience leading professional development (Preferred)

Compensation and Benefits

KIPP DC offers an extremely competitive compensation and benefits package:

• The anticipated starting salary for this position is $123,246-$152,245. At KIPP DC we strive for clarity, equity, and to be highly competitive. When determining salaries we look at benchmarks in the education and non-profit sector.
• KIPP DC offers a robust benefits package including medical, dental, and vision insurances; various voluntary benefits; and employer paid benefits such as short term disability, long term disability, life insurance, and a membership to One Medical.

• KIPP DC also offers a 403(b) retirement account with a 3% employer contribution and a 3% match with vesting after three years.
• Currently, individuals in this role have up to 15 paid time off days, up to 10 paid sick days, and 12 paid holidays. This is subject to change and your exact schedule will be shared in your offer letter.
• As a headquarters team that is focused on being responsive to our schools and meeting the needs of our students and families, we approach our work in a way that reflects these priorities. Schools operate in person and our students and families rely on us for in-person support which requires this position to be fully on-site. This role is currently required to be on-site or in schools during regular work hours.

Equal Employment Opportunity Employer

​​KIPP DC Public Schools does not discriminate against, or tolerate discrimination against, employees or applicants for employment on any legally-recognized basis or protected class including, but not limited to, actual or perceived race; color; national origin; immigration status (except as necessary to comply with federal, DC, state, or local law); religion; sex (including pregnancy, childbirth, lactation, and related medical conditions); age; physical or mental disability; medical condition; sexual orientation; gender (including gender identity or expression); marital status (including domestic partnership status); genetic information; political affiliation; pregnancy; family responsibilities; personal appearance; veteran status; uniform service member status; status of being unemployed; status as a victim or family member of a victim of domestic violence, sexual offense, or stalking; matriculation; or any other protected class under federal, state, DC, or local law.

Click here or here to review KIPP DC’s non-discrimination policy and KIPP DC’s Title IX Coordinator’s contact information.