KIPP, the Knowledge Is Power Program, is a national network of free, open enrollment, college preparatory public schools dedicated to preparing students in underserved communities for success in college and life. There are 255 KIPP schools across the nation and the District of Columbia, serving more than 100,000 students. Nationally, KIPP students are graduating at 3x the national average for low-income students.

Founded in 2008 with 50 students in 5th grade, KIPP Columbus currently serves nearly 2,000 students in grades Kindergarten through twelfth. During the 2018-2019 school year, and for the third year in a row, KIPP Columbus had the highest amount of academic growth of any community school in Ohio.

The mission of KIPP Columbus is to create a system of schools where students develop the intellectual, academic, and social skills needed to understand and take action on issues they encounter in everyday life. By establishing a rigorous, safe, and personalized learning environment, KIPP Columbus will foster a culture of responsibility and service and empower all students to become active and engaged citizens. Our vision is to ensure that all students in our community will have access to a transformational education that empowers them with the knowledge, skills, and character necessary for success in college and life.

At KIPP Columbus, our greatest goal is to ensure that we provide an equitable and excellent education for all students, as well as developing a talented staff to support them.  We are seeking an Elementary School Leader (grades 2nd-5th) for the 2021-2022 school year to continue the success set in motion by the departing school leader.  

The Elementary School Leader’s primary job is to cultivate an excellent school for our students. We expect our School Leaders to focus 75% of their time on instructional leadership, specifically all of the activities involved in leading and developing teachers to improve their instruction and drive student achievement. 

School Leaders at KIPP Columbus receive:

• Professional development and personalized coaching tailored to individual needs,

• Access to a network of high-performing educators and support teams on our campus and across the KIPP network.

• Detailed career plan mapping and consistent analysis of Key Performance Indicators (KPIs) to ensure professional and personal growth. 

Key responsibilities include, but are not limited to, the following:

Coaching/Support

• Support teachers in planning and delivering high-quality instruction. 

• Observe teachers and share feedback in coaching sessions.

• Lead, coach, develop and manage a team of leaders (assistant school leaders and deans) in support of school-wide goals and initiatives. 

• Facilitate content  or department team meetings.

• Provide ongoing instructional support and step in as lead teacher, as needed, to ensure students receive high-quality instruction at all times.

• Analyze assessment data for action planning.

• Plan and facilitate professional development.

Positive School Culture

• Plan and lead school-wide events, celebrations, and gatherings.

• Lead the development student behavior systems.

• Embrace diversity, equity, and inclusion work.

• Lead teachers and students so that in all ways, we leave places, people and ideas better than we found them.

Strategic Project Initiatives

• Ensure alignment of school practices to school-wide priorities.

• Support day-to-day operations of the school, including regular data monitoring and progress towards goals.

• Model, promote, and coach others toward effective communication with families, cultivating engagement in their child’s success and the KIPP Columbus mission.

• Lead projects related to a specific content area or aspect of their school.

• Lead school-wide working groups to solve problems.

• Represent KIPP Columbus at external events and/or meetings.

The following is required of all School Leader candidates (unless noted as preferred):

• Four year Bachelor’s degree required, Master’s degree preferred.

• Minimum of three years of successful, full-time, lead teaching experience in low-income communities.

• Minimum of three years of experience leading and/or coaching teachers, including but not limited to, roles such as Assistant School Leader, Dean, Instructional Coach, Assistant Principal, etc.

• Strong track record of results and leadership in a school setting.

• Experience in analyzing student data and using data to inform instruction.

• Belief that outstanding school leaders, staff, and teachers can achieve excellent outcomes for all students.

• Ability to persevere with a sense of optimism, strong problem solving skills, and desire to learn and grow in a collaborative professional learning community.

• Willingness, and commitment, to go above and beyond to prove the possible with students.

• Ability to multi-task and work within an ambiguous, fast-moving, start-up environment, while driving toward clarity and solutions.

• Excellent written and oral communication skills.

• Extreme flexibility, with a strong work ethic and an entrepreneurial spirit to accommodate high levels of responsibility and multiple priorities.

• Model the values of KIPP Columbus (Imagine, Navigate, Seek, Persevere, Integrity, Responsibility, and Empathy).

• Administrative/Principal Licensure (strongly preferred).

Compensation and Benefits

KIPP Columbus offers a competitive salary and a comprehensive benefit plan including medical and dental insurance, as well as group term life insurance, retirement plan and paid time off. 

Statement of Non-Disclosure

KIPP Columbus is committed to a policy of equal treatment for all individuals applying to the school for consideration of any position (admission, employment, etc.). KIPP Columbus does not discriminate on the basis of disability, gender, nationality, race or ethnicity, religion, sexual orientation, or any other characteristic that is contained in the definition of hate crimes set forth in Section 4112.02 of the Ohio Revised Code.