About KIPP North Carolina

In 2020, KIPP Eastern North Carolina (KIPP ENC) and KIPP Charlotte took the first steps to begin to merge and form KIPP North Carolina Public Schools (KIPP NC). Starting in July of 2021, KIPP NC will be a network of eight high-performing, college-preparatory public charter schools providing an academically rigorous and joyous school experience to more than 3,500 students in grades K-12 in Charlotte, Durham, Gaston, and Halifax. Additionally, KIPP NC will support several thousand alumni on their journey to and through high school, college, and career.   

Our History

KIPP NC will build on a rich tradition of academic excellence and relentless fight for social justice present from the founding of both KIPP ENC and KIPP Charlotte. KIPP ENC is the second oldest KIPP region in the nation. In its 20 years of operation, KIPP ENC has been a cornerstone for students and families in rural Gaston and Halifax, operating two primary schools, two middle schools, and one high school. Over the past five years, it grew to serve even more students by opening up a middle school in Durham, an urban center in the center part of the state. KIPP Charlotte, which grew out of the strong traditions and academics of KIPP ENC, has supported students and families for the past 13 years, operating one primary school and one middle school in the largest city in North Carolina.

Our Commitment to Anti-Racist and Inclusive Schools

KIPP North Carolina will build upon the successes and experiences of KIPP ENC and KIPP Charlotte to provide inclusive school environments and an educational program that will enable our students to lead full lives and equip graduates to be future leaders and agents of change in North Carolina and beyond. KIPP NC also will continue to engage in direct, anti-racist work, and it will contribute meaningfully to the dismantling of structures of inequality within our organization, schools, and classrooms. KIPP NC will be committed to expanding our efforts to embed anti-racism in all of our activities and engagements within our classrooms and schools, across our organization, and throughout the State of North Carolina. All of this will be in a tireless effort to create classrooms that are homeplaces for our students, places where they feel safe, loved, validated, seen, and heard, places where all their beautiful identities will be affirmed and celebrated, and places where they will learn the academic knowledge and skills needed for college, career, and beyond.

The Founding Chief Academic Officer will report to KIPP North Carolina’s Executive Director and serve as a member of the region’s leadership team. The Chief Academic Officer (CAO) is responsible for creating and driving, in partnership with the ED, Heads of Schools, School Leaders and the academic team, the academic vision for the region. The CAO is ultimately accountable for the region-wide academic results through an anti-racist and equity lens. The ideal candidate will design a regional instructional model, establish academic goals, drive results through others, and progress monitor school performance that is informed by KIPP NC’s overall shared strategic vision and priorities. The CAO will manage the regional academics team, including heads of schools and director of curriculum and instruction, a director of data assessment, a director of social work, a director of special education and oversight of the KIPP Through College team. The Heads of Schools (HoS) are the primary school leader managers who ensure successful implementation of the academic vision and drive student achievement.

KEY RESPONSIBILITIES:

1.       Academic Vision and Systems - In close collaboration with regional and school-based instructional staff, design a comprehensive instructional model for KIPP NC that is focused on KIPP NC’s vision of achieving breakthrough student results and promoting a culture focused on excellent teaching and learning, as well as equity for all students

• Observe, diagnose and establish academic and character vision and goals for schools, taking ultimate responsibility for academic alignment at all levels, ensuring instructional quality and academic performance across the region
• Demonstrate expertise in instructional research that informs curricula choices and instructional practices
• Lead schools through turnaround efforts with a record of results in improving student outcomes
• Ensure that the designed instructional model meets the needs of all students, particularly in EL and EC
• Align resources and distribute funding, staff, and tools to ensure that key priorities of the instructional model are accomplished successfully

2.       Implementation and Measurement of Teaching and Learning - Provide support to Heads of Schools and regional academics team to successfully deliver a uniform instructional model across KIPP North Carolina

• Develop implementation of the KIPP North Carolina instructional model and all of its enabling systems, ensuring that it is implemented to achieve desired student outcomes
• Offer support to Heads of Schools in school management, including planning, staff hiring and retention, culture, curriculum and assessments, instruction, and continuous improvement
• Make decisions considering contextual factors (e.g., local politics, and community considerations) that may arise; effectively consider trade-offs and their implications; and continually seek input from key stakeholders in decision making
• Support and retain academic talent by building relationships, encouraging them to seek out challenging roles and providing ongoing coaching
• Provide ongoing measurement and improvement of teaching learning in the following areas:
  • Define and monitor key metrics to determine success of KIPP North Carolina’s teaching and learning
  • Benchmark KIPP North Carolina’s schools against other schools at the district, state, and federal levels
  • Continually improve instructional model and professional development systems to drive improvement
  • Create a data-driven culture in curriculum, instruction and KIPP Through College programming
  • Actively contribute to and seek best practices in teaching and learning in K-12

3.       Effective Talent Strategies - Ensure KIPP North Carolina is committed to developing and retaining highly effective academic talent

• Help set organizational standards of excellence in instructional performance and articulate standards for both instructional and non-instructional staff
• Ensure clear performance evaluations systems for instructional staff, including clear performance frameworks, timely evaluations and accessible data
• Set vision for instructional staff professional development program and ensure that professional development for instructional staff supports implementation of the KIPP North Carolina instructional model
• Mentor and coach Heads of Schools and regional curriculum and instruction team; develop a clear career path in schools and for the regional academics team to drive retention and growth of high-performing staff
• Partner with the Heads of Schools to attract, develop and retain school leaders and emerging school leaders; gives vision to and runs leadership selection events to identify future leaders

4.       Regional Leadership - Serve as a member of the region’s leadership team

• Partner with Executive Director to ensure entire organization is leading for learning (e.g. regional office departments keep schools and students in mind as they are making decisions)
• Support the merger of KIPP ENC and KIPP Charlotte by building strong relationships and coalitions (with students, families, stuff and communities) across each KIPP region for the purpose of developing a shared academic vision that reflects both the common and unique needs of students in rural and urban settings
• Advocate for effective resource allocation (financial and human assets) across the region for maximum impact on student outcomes

5.       School Culture - Build a school culture that values joy and rigor, that prioritizes observation and feedback, that drives lessons with data, and results in exceptional achievement gains for children

• Establish and promote a clear vision of educational equity as a guiding principle across all schools, and ensure it is reflected in curriculum, instruction, and program offerings
• Collaborate with schools to develop instructional programs and to implement reform models designed to improve achievement of all students; develop a two-way feedback loop from school sites to the Chief Academic Officer
• Actively listen to others, understands nuance, and effectively interprets motivations/perceptions and data (both quantitative and qualitative); able to integrate feedback from others and additional data points to achieve better results.

QUALIFICATIONS:

• A deep commitment to the mission of KIPP NC and an unwavering belief in the potential of all our students
• An unwavering commitment to anti-racism, diversity, equity, and inclusion, with an ability to serve as an exemplar for the organization’s values and foster an inclusive and respectful workplace
• A strong desire to collaborate with school leaders and Central Office teammates in service to a new KIPP region growing out of two exceptionally strong ones
• 10+ years of work experience, including 5+ years of experience as a high-performing principal and/or principal manager, who has experience closing the student achievement gaps between racial, ethnic and economic groups; experience as a principal manager or principal advisor strongly preferred
• 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 curricula, instructional practices, school operations and management, and talent development
• Ability to analyze and use data on a regular basis to drive decision making
• Expertise in instructional design and implementation, including curriculum and assessment
• Possess a deep commitment to both racial equity and improving the lives of kids from low-income communities; experience working within predominantly African-American and low-income communities; required
• Understanding and willingness to work in both rural and urban communities, including exhibiting resourcefulness and willingness to travel up to five hours within North Carolina multiple days per week based on need; required
• Must live in North Carolina; Raleigh-Durham-Chapel Hill, ideal
• Commitment to building relationships and trust with leaders, teachers, students, families, and community
• A track record of leading, motivating, and developing diverse and high performing teams
• Values rooted in high expectations, going above and beyond, and deep humility

Compensation

Compensation is commensurate with experience and includes a generous benefits package.

All your information will be kept confidential according to EEO guidelines.