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 Director of Support Services will provide instructional, operational, and administrative leadership to school-based Exceptional Children (EC), Multilingual Learners (ML), Social Work (SW) and MTSS professionals across all our schools in North Carolina. They pursue this work through excellent vision setting and project management expertise. The Director of Support Services will report directly to the Chief Academic Officer and serve as an integral member of the KIPP North Carolina Teaching and Learning Leadership Team, which will be responsible for driving the overall direction and strategy for all KIPP North Carolina instructional and cultural programming for student support services. The Director of Support Services will work with school-based EC and ML professionals and related service providers to ensure that all of our EC and ML teachers are implementing high-leverage instruction, that all of our students are receiving high-quality support that meets their needs, and that we operate in full compliance with state and local regulations governing special education. The Director of Support Services will collaborate with the Director of Social Work to ensure that there are seamless academic and SEL supports provided to students across 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 all our students to graduate college and succeed in school and life.

Key Responsibilities

Managerial Leadership and Team Development

• Informally manages and offers exceptional support to all school-based EC and ML professionals 

• Manages the Regional Support Services Team, which includes the MTSS Coordinator, the EC Facilitator, the Director of Social Work, and related services providers. 

• Serves as a thought partner and source of expertise to these professionals and school leaders as they offer best-in-class EC, ML, and intervention services to our students; coaches and supports these professionals to address their key roles and responsibilities

• Builds a strong, cohesive Support Services Team culture that reflects the core values of KIPP NC

• Works in collaboration with the Chief Academic Officer and school-based teams to provide exceptional instructional models to principals and schools

• With instructional team colleagues, helps plan and implement professional development for school principals, assistant principals, and teachers

• Helps complete annual performance evaluations of school-based EC and ML professionals

Ensure Academic Progress

• Drives the vision for EC, ML, and Intervention services for all schools across KIPP NC

• Collaborates with the EC Facilitator to ensure EC staff abide by IDEA and local regulations 

• Oversees academic, compliance, and clinical tracking systems maintained by school-based staff 

• Monitors data reported by EC and ML professionals and related services staff; monitors service delivery in Inclusion classrooms (ICS) and resource settings; monitors service delivery in any extended content standards classrooms across the state

• Coaches EC and ML professionals, working with them to identify and provide/secure relevant professional development and training for EC and ML staff in the areas of special education and ML instruction

• Meets with school leadership teams regularly to set and monitor goals by campus; updates school leadership teams quarterly (or on a more frequent basis) on progress towards campus goals

• Monitors performance of and supports for school-based EC and ML staff, teachers/case managers, and related service providers

• Promotes integrated service delivery in inclusion classes and resource settings

• Stays abreast of best practices in EC, ML, and Intervention services

• Manages the EC Facilitator to create systems to support the IEP process in school, ensuring there are school-based systems in place to initiate the process, file and retain all necessary records, and maintain compliance with all appropriate stakeholders; ensures IEPs are standards based, relevant for the individual student, and complete

• Creates school-based systems and practices around Student Support Teams, weekly meetings involving EC and ML professionals, school leaders, Social Workers, and other relevant staff members

• Receives and reviews quarterly reports from EC and ML professionals on status of outstanding evaluations, attendance, and discipline

• Supports in complex case analysis

• Collaborates with EC Facilitator and Finance Team colleagues to determine funding for EC and Title III

• Manages the EC facilitator to complete regular indicator reports, EC headcount, and other compliance related documentation

• Collaborates with Talent Team colleagues to ensure all EC and ML teachers and providers are properly certified and licensed

• Collaborates with their Academics Team and Operations Team colleagues to ensure EC and ML students have the instructional supports they need to be successful

• Advocates for EC and ML services in KIPP schools across the state; marshals additional resources for EC and ML services, forging statewide relationships with service providers, curricula experts, and other thought leaders, all in service to the students of KIPP NC

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

KIPP NC’s Director of Support Services candidates will have the following:

• 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, equity, and inclusion

• A strong desire to collaborate with school leaders and Regional Support Team teammates in service to a new KIPP region growing out of two exceptionally strong ones

• 5+ years of experience as an EC/ML teacher + experience in a leadership role (department chair, grade level team person, dean, or assistant principal); experience coaching special education teachers preferred; experience chairing IEP meetings also preferred 

• Experience with instructional coaching, and a record of high academic results for all students

• NC Educators License in Special Education or ability to seek reciprocity 

• An understanding of the specific, unique characteristics of public charter schools, NC-specific knowledge a plus

• Outstanding leadership and management skills, particularly as it relates to building teams, working through others, promoting collaboration, managing conflict, goal setting, and holding people accountable

• An entrepreneurial spirit and demonstrated success in building a program, department or organization

• The flexibility needed to accommodate the breadth and depth of responsibilities and priorities

• Outstanding written, speaking, and organizational skills including excellence in backwards planning long-term goals and accountability and progress monitoring systems

• Ability to interact with a broad range of stakeholders with different interests and needs

• Possess a deep commitment to both racial equity and improving the lives of kids from low-income communities; experience working within predominantly Black, Brown, and/or low-income communities

• 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

• Must live in North Carolina; Raleigh-Durham-Chapel Hill, ideal, given the area’s equal distance from our schools in Charlotte, Gaston, and Halifax, though, for this position, this location is not required

Compensation

Compensation is commensurate with experience and includes a generous 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.