KIPP Public Schools is a national network of public charter schools that prepares students with the skills and confidence to create the future they want for themselves, their communities, and us all. We are a network of 275 schools, nearly 16,500 educators, and more than 175,000 students and alumni.  

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

The KIPP Foundation is a nonprofit organization that supports KIPP schools across the country. The KIPP Foundation trains and develops outstanding educators to lead KIPP public schools; provides tools, resources and training for excellent teaching and learning; promotes innovation; and facilitates the exchange of insights and ideas across KIPP and other public schools and organization.

About Our Values: 

Focus on Excellent Results: Winning for Children and Families – Denying people of color and people experiencing economic hardship excellent outcomes from public organizations is longstanding and only perpetuates inter-generational racism and poverty.  We pursue excellence at a world-class level because our children and families deserve nothing less.  We focus on excellent results, generated by excellent daily action, because intentions alone will not enable our children to lead fulfilling lives. 

Courageous Action: We do Hard Things All day, Every Day – Our work is centered on reversing the impact of generational racism and poverty on children of color from low-income families.  This work is inherently challenging and will never be easy.  Our mission requires that, through concerted action, we embrace, confront, and overcome adversity. 

Resilient Solutions Focus – Find a Way or Make One – We doggedly pursue solutions to every problem we confront.  For every problem, we find or invent a solution.  We are smart, optimistic, and thoughtful in crafting solutions, but also timely, recognizing that our children only have one life to live.  We embrace a growth mindset, believing that simply because we have not achieved our ultimate aims today does not mean that we cannot tomorrow.  We chase the continuous improvement of ourselves, our interpersonal relationships, our teams, and our organization. 

About The Position 

The Vice President of STEM leads the K-12 math and science vision for all KIPP schools and oversees the Math and Science Teams. Additionally, the Vice President of STEM collaborates with the Teaching and Learning Leadership team, including the Vice President of Literacy and Humanities, Vice President of School Support, Chief of Staff, and Content Directors to lead student growth and achievement. The Vice President of STEM reports directly to the Senior Vice President of Teaching and Learning. 

Responsibilities 

Vision Setting  

• Develop the K-12 math and science vision for all KIPP schools, including the execution of national curriculum, assessment, and instructional initiatives strategy. 

• Identify opportunities to improve current instructional practices, in collaboration with regional leaders and academic directors, using rigorous student growth and achievement data 

• Invest KIPP Foundation and regional leaders in national academic and student success goals and oversee implementation plans to ensure student success 

Curriculum & Instruction 

• Oversee implementation of the curriculum and assessments across math and science content areas for all KIPP schools, including K-4, 5-8, and 9-12 grade bands, in collaboration with KIPP Foundation team members, regional and school-based academic leaders 

• Manage and lead curriculum-expert directors responsible for supporting Common Core aligned curriculum and professional development across elementary schools, middle schools and high schools 

• Manage and forge external relationships with curriculum and teacher development partners 

• Develop, lead and oversee innovative learning initiatives, including learning management systems, online assessment and student achievement benchmarks. 

Team Management 

• Lead a team of match and science program directors as they work with regional content leaders to implement shared curriculum, assessment, and key pedagogical practices with fidelity. 

• Manage the growth and development of all team members and cohesive collaboration across all academic content areas, including regular team meetings and semi-annual individual performance reviews  

• Collaborate and plan with KIPP Foundation leadership team members and the School Support Team to coordinate implementation of instructional vision in schools. 

Professional Development 

• Oversee strategic coaching and support to KIPP Foundation Content Directors and regional academic leaders to address student data and student outcomes. 

• Oversee national math and science professional development to ensure implementation of unified curriculum and best practices to improve classroom instruction and drive student achievement 

• Design and implement national professional development and professional growth strategy for teachers and leaders

Skills  

• Mission and Student Focus: a passion for KIPP’s mission; desire and ability to uphold KIPP’s values (Focus on Excellent Results, Courageous Action, and Resilient Solutions Focus) 

• Team Leadership & Talent Development: Set a tone and culture that enables team leadership to maximize individual strengths and address areas for development; foster a talent culture that plans for succession and retention of key players and communicates an employee value proposition to promote performance, sustainability, and engagement. 

• Instructional Expertise in STEM: Demonstrates a track record of results in advancing student outcomes in the math and science content and is well versed in the curricular and pedagogical practices that drove that results along with the research base behind those practices. 

• Relentless Focus on Solutions and Results: Set culturally competent and ambitious goals with team to achieve measurable outcomes; create an environment in which all systems and processes support high levels of efficiency to ensure that chief priorities are accomplished successfully; champions the ongoing spirit of improvement and professional growth across the organization while holding teams accountable to results. 

• Critical Thinking and Strong Judgement: Strong racial justice analysis, critical thinking, strategic planning, and restorative practice experience; ability to problem solve and to navigate and lead through complexity; effectively leverages data effectively for strategic decision-making and driving improvement; can make courageous yet necessary decisions in the interest of students and families with experience working with and in the interests of communities of color; Systems-level thinker who can co-develop and execute on a vision for how KIPP should continue to approach school culture work 

• Stakeholder Management and Influence to Impact: Has the interpersonal, diplomatic, relationship building, and communications skills necessary to develop successful working relationships with diverse constituents, including region school leaders and senior leaders; ability to engage and drive senior leadership and key stakeholders toward target outcomes without direct authority; can effectively share complex information and translate for end users; responds promptly to concerns and ensures that stakeholders are aware of actions that are being taken and explains the rationale for decisions and/or outcomes to the stakeholder 

• Process & Project Management: Can effectively manage complex projects with multiple stakeholders to deadlines while balancing multiple short- and long-term projects; demonstrates disciplined, independent, and innovative approach to translating strategy into priorities and project plans, even in unstructured spaces; continually applies strong attention to detail to the execution of all projects and constantly looks for ways to improve and to scale learning quickly.  

Experience and Qualifications 

• Bachelors’ degree required; Master’s degree in education or related education field, preferred 

• Minimum 10 years exemplary teaching experience with strong student achievement results  

• Minimum  7 years exemplary coaching and leading effective professional development for adults 

• Minimum 7 years effective team management and leadership experience

Work Conditions 

• Travel requirements: 30%

• Full-time exempt role 

Location 

It is preferred, but not mandatory for this role to be based out of a KIPP Foundation office.  This role also offers the option of working from a remote office full-time. KIPP Foundation offices are in NYC and Chicago.    

Compensation and Benefits.    

In compliance with local law, we are disclosing the compensation, or a range thereof, for roles in locations where legally required. Actual salaries will vary based on several factors, including but not limited to external market data, internal equity, and relevant experience.  The salary range for this position is $190,000-$235,000. In addition, KIPP Foundation provides a variety of benefits to employees, including:  

• 25 holidays for + 18 days additional flexible PTO days (flexible PTO increases to 23 days for years 3 and 4 and to 28 days for years 5+). 

• 100% paid parental leave 

• 100% coverage of the premium for employee and 75% for employee + family’s medical/dental/vision plans. 

• Wellness benefits such as fitness reimbursements, discounted tickets to theme parks/attractions, backup care support for children and adults/elders, and our employee assistance program 

• Finance Security benefits include such as a 401K retirement plan with 4% match, employer-sponsored legal plans, life/disability insurance, and flexible spending accounts 

KIPP Foundation embraces the opportunity to build a workforce that reflects the diversity of the students and communities with whom we work and the world that around them. Being an equal opportunity employer means that we take seriously our responsibility to consider qualified candidates on the basis of merit, without regard to race, color, religion, national origin, gender, sexual orientation, gender identity or expression, age, mental or physical disability, and genetic information, marital status, citizenship status, military status, protected veteran status or any other category protected by law.