21-22 High School Dean of Academic Progress

  • Full-time
  • Grade Level: High
  • Start Date: Next year opening
  • Department: School Leadership

Company Description

Founded in Houston in 1994, KIPP has become a national leader in partnering  with families and communities, to 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.

In 2018, KIPP schools in Austin, Dallas-Fort Worth, Houston, and San Antonio joined forces to become KIPP Texas Public Schools, a nonprofit public charter school network, accelerating student academic outcomes and impacting more students across Texas. As a unified, statewide organization, KIPP Texas can more effectively leverage the talent, resources, instructional expertise, financial strength, and advocacy in the public charter school movement, in order to have an even larger impact with educationally underserved communities across the state.

In the 2020-2021 school year, KIPP Texas Public Schools will educate more than 31,100 students in 59 schools, placing the district among the top 50 largest in the state. KIPP Texas will continue to prove what is possible for its students, communities, and state, with a goal of growing to educate 100,000 students and achieving a 75% college graduation rate for alumni.

The mission and vision of KIPP Texas is grounded in five Core Values as its cultural North Star:

As a Team & Family, we:

  • Champion Equity
  • Chase Excellence
  • Persist with Purpose
  • Bring Joy
  • Rise Together

KIPP Texas is part of the national KIPP network of 255 college-preparatory public charter schools educating early childhood, elementary, middle, and high school students. KIPP schools are part of the free public school system and enrollment is open to all students. Nationwide, KIPP students complete four-year college at a rate of 36 percent, comparable to the national average for all students and approximately three times higher than the average of students from low-income families.

Job Description

A KIPP Texas - Dallas Dean of Academic Progress will provide assistance to the School Leader and/or Leadership Team with the administration of systems related to high school matriculation and graduation. The Dean of Academic Progress (DAP) furthers the mission of KIPP Texas - Austin by supporting a school culture that empowers students to develop the knowledge, skills, and character traits necessary to pursue a college education and a life of value, joy, and integrity. The DAP will work to support KIPP Texas - Austin's regional mission and culture of achievement.

We are committed to establishing high-achieving schools that are diverse, equitable, and partnered strongly with the communities they serve. This is a leadership position for a person who is organized, detail-oriented, and always follows through. Additionally, this leader is warm and demanding with students and parents, ensuring that they always turn in required documents and always complete challenging academic courses. The Dean of Academic Progress is relentless with adults and students and holds herself/himself accountable for achieving excellent results.

This role has school-based priorities as well as regional priorities, which are related to the responsibilities and duties outlined below.

MAJOR RESPONSIBILITIES AND DUTIES:
The Dean of Academic Progress will be responsible for:

  • Academic Progress Management
    • More than 90% of eighth grade students from KIPP feeder schools attend their high school campus.
    • 100% of students graduate from high school with a coherent, state compliant transcript that prepares students for college and career (CTE, where applicable and Advanced Placement).
    • 100% of students own their high school progress by developing a Personal Graduation Plan (PGP) that includes electives, enrichment, credit recovery courses, and advanced placement courses related to their chosen endorsement(s).
    • Communication between the Data Quality Specialist and the school is 100% transparent and timely and that course codes and CTE information is correct.
    • Responsible for ensuing less than 15% of students fail one or more courses each grading period during the first five semesters in high school by coordinating teacher and advisor efforts.
    • Advisors understand and are executing on their responsibility to see that their advisees are making academic progress through high school through clearly defined roles and responsibilities.
    • Audit transcripts three times per year (August 9-12; January 9-12; May 12) along with a committee of assigned school administration to ensure accuracy of scheduling and progress toward graduation requirements.
    • Schedule student courses to meet state graduation requirements.
  • High School Transition Support
    • Teach and/or support 9th grade Seminar that supports students in building high school academic skills and college readiness achievement
  • Assessment Coordination:
    • Including the organization, rostering, training and administration of STAAR, PSAT, ACT, and other assessments related ot college going success
  • School Culture
    • Support leadership with building a student culture of achievement through investment, rewards, and activities
    • Support leadership with faculty reward programs and activities related to the culture of achievement
  • Faculty Management
    • Manage projects and people as determined by the school leader
    • Be a model for clear communication and follow through
    • Work with advisors/designated staff to create a clear and coherent program that leads to improved student progress in all areas
  • Student Management
    • Monitor overall academic progress for all students
    • Closely monitor 9th and 10th grade cohorts to ensure that cohorts are on track to meet HS blueprint GPA goals
    • Collaborate with designated staff to…
      • Intervene with support when students have challenges with academics, attendance, or discipline
      • Empower students to set goals and increase motivation
      • Ensure students can calculate their GPA and analyze their transcript
  • Parent Outreach
    • Host parent events such as workshops, student-led parent conferences, open houses, or other events that support academic transitions to and through college
    • Ensure parents know the benefits of attending a KIPP high school and how to best support their student
  • School Management
    • As directed, maintain and monitor compliance in areas such as Special Education, 504, LPAC, At-Risk, and CTE students
    • As directed, coordinate and manage state, district, and local testing

Qualifications

Education and Knowledge:

  • Minimum of a Bachelor’s degree from an accredited college or university
  • Prior experience as a highly effective teacher
  • Must be considered highly-qualified based on NCLB guidelines, if applicable
  • Previous leadership experience preferred
  • Valid Texas Driver license with appropriate insurance coverage

Skills:

  • Ability to establish rapport with families and children
  • Articulate, professional demeanor with strong self-confidence and initiative
  • Ability to work both on broad-based strategy and everyday details
  • Ability to exercise excellent judgment in decision-making
  • Ability to establish and maintain effective working relationships both internal and external to the district
  • Independent, self-starter with a strong focus on student development and a passion for working with underserved student populations and their families
  • Proven written and verbal communication skills with all levels of management, both internal and external to the district
  • Strong organizational and planning skills
  • Possession of a passionate and loving attitude toward all children
  • Possession of a belief in inquiry-based learning and constructivist methods
  • Possession of a sense of urgency to do whatever it takes to assure that every student gets to and through college
  • Commitment to the vision, mission, values and goals of KIPP Texas - San Antonio
  • Motivation to grow as an educational professional
  • Desire to implement curriculum, instruction, and assessment that is cutting-edge based on educational research
  • Willingness to be an active member of a professional learning community focused on action research within the school and the classroom
  • Responsiveness; Follow-up and follow-through with students, families, and faculty members is essential
  • Proficiency in Microsoft Office applications (Word, Excel, PowerPoint, and Outlook)
  • Proficiency using computers, printers, copy machines, and fax machines
  • Ability to travel throughout the district and the city

Additional Information

Compensation and Benefits:

In addition to a competitive salary scale, a part of KIPP Texas’ competitive benefits options, KIPP offers all employees an $0 HMO plan for the employee only. In addition to our $0 plan, KIPP provides a $600 employer contribution towards a Health Savings Account and a variety of other supplemental benefits such as Dental, Vision, Short and Long-Term Disability, Pet Insurance, Life, etc.

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