High School Principal - Far Northeast (2022-23)

Company Description

Important Employment Requirement: All employees of KIPP Colorado Public Schools must be fully vaccinated against COVID-19 by September 30, 2021. All persons offered a position will be required to provide valid proof of vaccination prior to starting employment or must be approved for a medical or religious exemption by submitting appropriate documentation.

About KIPP: Together with families and communities, KIPP 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 build a more just world. KIPP is a national network of tuition-free, public charter schools open to all students. There are 255 college-preparatory KIPP schools in 20 states and the District of Columbia, serving more than 100,000 students. Nationally, KIPP students are graduating four-year colleges at three times the national average for low-income students. 

Who we are:  KIPP Colorado Schools (KIPP CO) is a network of six high-performing, college-preparatory public charter schools. Our 300-person staff educates 2,500 students in grades 9-12 at KIPP Denver Collegiate High School and KIPP Northeast Denver Leadership Academy, grades 5-8 at KIPP Sunshine Peak Academy and KIPP Northeast Denver Middle School, and grades Early Childhood Education (ECE)-4 through 4th grade at KIPP Northeast Elementary. In 2019, KIPP Sunshine Peak Elementary became our newest elementary school educating students from ECE-3 through 4th grade. Our alumni community is supported by KIPP Forward, which is our comprehensive support program for our 808 high school alumni who are charting their own paths. Learn more about our student and family experience here. 

What we do: We believe in the unique gifts and brilliance of every student. We believe in setting a high bar for joy and academic excellence to ensure the infinite possibilities our students have before them become a reality. We aspire to create and reinforce a culture of achievement, belonging and support. We know that every student is different and we personalize learning based on a student's needs, skills, and interests. 

Job Description

Role Overview: Reporting to the Chief Academic Officer, KIPP Colorado is seeking an experienced leader who can set the instructional, academic, and cultural vision for KIPP Northeast Denver Leadership Academy and deliver outcomes for students through antiracist, equity-centered, and strong leadership, robust coaching, development, and support for teachers and authentic, inclusive, and community-informed leadership and engagement. The ideal candidate can set and execute on an ambitious vision aligned with KIPP Colorado’s early childhood through 12th grade vision that leads students on a path to and through college and to choice-filled lives. KIPP Northeast Denver Leadership Academy employs approximately 50 total staff, including 30 teachers, and has 561 students.

Instructional Leadership

• Lead instructional excellence by setting aspirational school goals aligned with KIPP Colorado Regional Goals and ensuring that teachers receive appropriate support to meet goals
• Expertise in school-wide academic standards and ability to translate student mastery requirements into instructional plans and strategies
• Deep understanding of application and differentiation of high-leverage instructional strategies for rigorous and deep thinking based on comprehension and application of child development and pedagogy
• Command of instructional design and the benefits and tradeoffs of school design decisions in driving student achievement
• Strength in leveraging ongoing data analysis to continually revise and improve the school’s instructional program

 Talent Development and Team Leadership

• Develop and coach instructional leaders to effectively build teachers’ capacity to provide rigorous and high-quality instruction
• Supervise, coach, develop, and evaluate instructional leaders via regular observations, feedback, and coaching 
• Implement systems and structures to cultivate, hire, develop, and retain diverse, highly-effective staff including school leadership team members
• Ensure instructional leaders can support teachers to collaborate, analyze their practice and their student data, and adjust instruction in content and grade-level teams
• Lead, and coach other school leadership team members and teachers to lead, whole-school professional development workshops that drive highest-impact improvements in teacher practice, culture, and community
• Demonstrate accountable student achievement results from teachers and leaders that he/she/they manage and coach
• Develop and support an effective instructional leadership team 

Authentic, Anti-Racist, Mission-Driven Leadership 

• Model self awareness and personal responsibility, and hold self and others accountable for the bar of authenticity
• A constant learner who seeks feedback to improve their practice and grow their leadership 
• Challenge the status quo and disrupt white dominant culture
• Create systems to identify and dismantle inequitable, biased, or oppressive practices
• Lead and communicate effectively across lines of difference 
• Center marginalized groups and ensure equity in all systems/processes for which they are responsible
• Create equitable, inclusive student, family, and adult environments that honor and support a diversity of backgrounds and perspectives through modeling and facilitating courageous conversations 

Organizational Health 

• Develop a work environment to retain and develop exceptionally talented staff
• Allocate the resources and supports necessary to maintain the school’s organizational health
• Ensure that all school functions (operations, electives, instruction, leadership, etc.) have systems to coordinate and communicate with one another 
• Comply with district and KIPP policies and state and federal laws and regulations affecting the schools
• Develop annual budget based on documented program needs, estimated enrollment, personnel, and other fiscal needs; keep programs within budget limits, maintain fiscal control; accurately report fiscal information
• Compile, maintain, all reports, records, and other documents required including accurate and timely reports
• Design systems, structures, and routines to ensure consistent school-wide implementation of expectations

School and Community Culture

• Set a vision and expectations for staff and student culture, grounded in equity and inclusivity
• Maintain a safe, inclusive, and positive school environment in which students thrive, develop and grow
• Foster an environment of deep collaboration with families and caregivers, building strong relationships and encouraging their direct engagement in their students’ school experiences
• Communicate the  school’s mission in a way that  inspires school based teams to accomplish the mission
• Create authentic opportunities to celebrate and integrate students and families’ cultures, backgrounds, and experiences into the culture and learning experiences of the school
• Define and model expectations for leaders, teachers, and students on school-wide practices to ensure an inclusive and positive learning environment

Qualifications

• Bachelor’s degree or higher from an accredited college or university.
• Spanish speaking (highly preferred)
• Minimum of 5 years K-12 classroom teaching experience 
• At least 3 years experience as a high school Assistant Principal, Principal,  Academic Leader, or equivalent in a school turnaround environment or high performing school
• Pass criminal background check

 THE STRONGEST CANDIDATES WILL HAVE/BE:

• A belief in and alignment with KIPP Colorado’s educational philosophy, the mission of KIPP Colorado, and an unwavering belief in the potential of all our students
• Possess a deep commitment to and experience working within predominantly Latinx, Black and/or low-income communities
• A proven track record of leading, managing, and coaching other educators to increase student achievement 
• Demonstrated experience working with diverse learners and leading differentiated instructional support in a turnaround environment
• Passionate about learning about the most current research and deep instructional expertise, including knowledge of Common Core-aligned instruction, developing student-centered classrooms, promoting personalized learning, and using instructional technology
• Excellent communication skills
• Strong interpersonal skills and ability to build and cultivate relationships with all stakeholders
• Excellent planning, goal setting, coordinating, problem analysis, and decision-making skills
• Ability to facilitate and lead change initiatives and embrace innovation
• Ability to manage multiple competing and sometimes conflicting priorities 
• Operates with humility and a growth mindset; receptive and responsive to feedback 
• Decisive leader able to make difficult decision with or without all necessary information 

Additional Information

 Compensation and Benefits

• Salary range for this role is $90,000 - $119,000  and is commensurate with experience.
• This position is open for a June 6 start date with some engagements as part of 22-23 school year planning and earlier onboarding opportunities. 
• Benefits package including medical, dental, and vision
• Employee Assistance Program
• Participation in PERA
• Paid family or medical leave of absence
• Paid time off
• Relocation reimbursement (when applicable)
• Stipend opportunities
• Wellness reimbursement
• Voluntary employee, spousal, and child life insurance
• Voluntary long term disability insurance
• Voluntary short term disability insurance
• Optional 401(k)
• Optional Basic Life and AD&D Insurance
• All staff members are issued a laptop computer and cell phone.
• Numerous professional growth and leadership opportunities within KIPP Colorado Schools.