Organizational Overview

KIPP NC is 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. KIPP NC supports several thousand alumni on their journey to and through high school, college, and career.   

KIPP NC is building 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.

KIPP North Carolina is building 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 is engaging in direct, anti-racist work, and contributes meaningfully to the dismantling of structures of inequality within our organization, schools, and classrooms.We’re 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 Opportunity

The Head of Schools for KIPP NC will be responsible for the overall quality of school programming. They will maintain a laser focus on continually increasing the number of students who thrive in and graduate from the college of their choice. They pursue this work through excellent management and development of school principals and collaboration with other curricular, operations, talent, technology, and finance leaders. The Head of Schools will report directly to the Chief Academic Officer and serve as an integral member of the KIPP North Carolina academic leadership team, responsible for driving the overall direction and strategy for all KIPP North Carolina instructional and cultural programming. They are joined by a team of two other heads of schools.

This is an ideal opportunity for a dynamic and visionary organizational leader with significant people management experience to play a critical role in building and shaping a premier K-12 charter management organization committed to supporting students to graduate college and succeed in school and life.

Managerial Leadership and Team Development

• • Directly manage and serve as a thought partner to principals of select schools as they lead their respective teams including supporting the creation and implementation of effective professional development opportunities for each principal’s staff
  • Works in collaboration with the Chief Academic Officer and Talent Team to hire school principals and assistant principals and execute the organization’s talent strategy in schools, including providing standard-practice coaching and development, annual goal setting, succession planning, and annual performance evaluations of direct reports
  • With instructional team colleagues, help plan and implement professional development for school principals and assistant principals

Educational Leadership & Academic Support

• • Works with principals to implement academic strategies and talent strategies in support of strong classrooms and schools, and supports principals to implement their school long-term and annual priorities in alignment with KIPP North Carolina’s vision, mission, and strategic plan
  • Collaborates with other Heads of Schools and centralized academic team members to implement academic priorities
  • Works with principals to develop and implement long-term plans for curriculum, assessment, and school improvement of instruction and school culture
  • Supports the development of strong school operational systems and processes with a focus on data collection, scheduling, and EC programs and services, in partnership with their Regional Support Team colleagues (i.e., Director of Student Support, Director of Social Work, Director of Data & Assessment, and Regional Director of School Operations)

KIPP North Carolina Leadership

• • Participates in KIPP NC academic leadership team that oversees the strategy for all KIPP North Carolina programming
  • Works with KIPP NC academic leadership to develop a vision and comprehensive long-term plan for the design of integrated, scaffolded K-12 schools
  • Recommends to the KIPP NC Chief Academic Officer system-wide goals; monitors and reports back to the Chief Academic Officer on the progress toward achieving those goals
  • Works in collaboration with the Regional Support Team colleagues to ensure that all of the operations, technology, talent, and financial needs of the schools are met

KIPP NC’s Head of Schools candidates will have the following:

• A deep commitment to the mission of KIPP NC, including the unwavering belief in the potential of all our students and anti-racism, equity, and inclusion
• Dedicated to both racial equity and improving the lives of kids from low-income communities; experience working within predominantly Black, Brown, and/or low-income communities3-5 years of experience as a principal in a high performing school serving a similar student population to KIPP North Carolina; experience in North Carolina strongly preferred
• A strong desire to collaborate with school leaders and Regional Support teammates in service to a new KIPP region growing out of two exceptionally strong ones
• An understanding of the specific, unique characteristics of public charter schools, North Carolina charter specific knowledge is a plus
• 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
• Several years of Principal or equivalent experience
• High School Principal experience highly preferred
• Must live in North Carolina; Raleigh-Durham-Chapel Hill, ideal, given the area’s equal distance from our schools in Charlotte, Gaston, and Halifax

Note

This role requires travel in between our campuses in Charlotte, Durham, Gaston (Northampton County), and Halifax regularly.

Compensation

$125,000 annual salary. KIPP North Carolina offers a competitive benefits package. 

KIPP North Carolina does not and shall not discriminate on the race, color, religion, creed, national or ethnic origin, age, sex, gender identity, sexual orientation, marital or parental status, disability, source of income, or status as a veteran in any of its activities or operations.

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