KIPP Nashville Public Schools is a network of high-performing, free, open enrollment K-12 schools that has been committed to positively affecting student outcomes in Nashville since 2005. KIPP Nashville is part of the acclaimed KIPP Network, which educates 100,000+ students nationwide and supports students from Kindergarten through college, career and beyond. Through the KIPP Forward program, our team helps students identify their career of highest aspiration and develop the skills and confidence to chase their dreams.
  
KIPP Nashville currently operates 3 elementary schools, 3 middle schools, and 1 high school and we are excited to open our doors to a 2nd high school in 2023. Our student community consists of nearly 3,000 students in North, East and South Nashville. 94% of our students identify as Black, Indigenous and People of Color (BIPOC) and 26% are identified as diverse learners. We are excited to continue our growth to ensure all students in Nashville have access to an excellent education and the resources necessary to push past any boundaries that may stand in their way.
 
The mission of KIPP Nashville is to, together with families and communities, create joyful, academically excellent schools that prepare students with the skills and confidence they need to pursue the paths they choose - college, career and beyond - so they can lead fulfilling lives and build a more just world. If you share in this belief, if you have a proven willingness to do what it takes for students to be their best, if you thrive in an environment that is both collaborative and entrepreneurial, then you are already a KIPPster.

Position Overview

The Director of School Culture leads the region’s efforts to create a positive, structured, safe, joyful, nurturing and academically focused school culture across KIPP Nashville’s seven K-12 schools. The Director of School Culture works closely with Heads of Schools, Principals, and Deans of Culture to set and drive a vision for productive and equitable school culture including systems, structures, routines, and traditions.  

Responsibilities of the Director of School Culture include, but are not limited to:

Design and lead the region’s culture vision and strategy across all schools

• Build out regional systems to codify and further define behavior systems across grade bands to ensure consistency of experience for students and families

• Develop, implement, and monitor a strategic multi-year regional healthy schools plan that includes positive behavioral interventions and restorative practices

• Analyze culture data and other regional data to inform plan and support schools 

• Research, develop and refine our metrics for evaluating progress on culture initiatives

• Disseminate information on current trends and research in classroom management, restorative practices, SEL, and other related discipline practices 

• Integrate culture-related systems in conjunction with the director of student support services in order to align these approaches with academic, special education, and mental health interventions.

Design and lead professional development for staff

• Plan and lead monthly leadership communities of practice 

• Curate and share professional development resources that will help deepen school teams’ skills around regional culture initiative

• Partner with Academic, Special Education, and Mental Health teams, as well as school-site culture leaders, to organize training opportunities for staff

• Coach, support, and develop leaders and staff on PBIS and restorative practices to implement with students and families

• Train staff in and coordinate the implementation of behavior interventions and programs

Lead our regional discipline policies and procedures

• Serve as the Regional point person for school based behavior escalations, including but not limited to expulsion and suspension meetings, discipline hearings, etc. 

• Proactively elicit feedback around discipline systems from families and other key stakeholders

• Serve as a liaison between KIPP Nashville and our local charter authorizers on discipline 

• Support school leaders, coaches, and their teams in developing effective systems and coaching practices to support teachers in implementing effective classroom management systems, building relationships and running effective routines

• Serve as a resource to school leaders and culture leaders in discipline, student social-emotional needs, student attendance, and student behavior intervention strategies utilizing PBIS and restorative practices

• Consult with school leaders on social-emotional health needs related to the entire student body and individual students, then coordinate follow-up strategies

• Partner closely with school leaders on whole-school issues, such as school climate, staff self-care, retention of teachers, attrition, suspension, and expulsion rates

• Demonstrate sensitivity and skills needed to work with families, students, and staff from diverse cultures and backgrounds

Desired Qualifications

• At least four years of team leadership and/or cultural leadership experience in a K-12 setting

• Knowledge of trauma informed practices, restorative practices, and other approaches to school-wide culture

• Ability to demonstrate broad knowledge of school systems functioning, classroom and behavior management, trauma informed practices, restorative practices, and models for working with diverse populations including students with disabilities. 

• Excellent organizational, planning, and implementation skills

• Strong project management skills, organizational skills and attention to detail

• Strong communication and relationship-building skills

• Demonstrated passion for the mission, vision and values of KIPP Nashville; comfort and willingness to actively participate in the KIPP Nashville community

• Experience leading professional development with a wide variety of stakeholders within a school community from small groups to regional sessions with multiple school teams (preferred)

• Knowledge of the Dean’s List platform (preferred) 

• Bachelor’s degree required

Our comprehensive compensation package includes life insurance and long-term disability coverage provided by KIPP Nashville, voluntary medical and dental plans, in addition to retirement benefits and an annual salary increase. Salary is commensurate with experience. To establish equitable salary practices, the compensation package is derived from the regional KIPP Nashville Public Schools pay scale. This position is exempt and will follow a 12-month schedule.

Apply directly online. Please contact [email protected] with any questions.

KIPP Nashville is an Equal Opportunity Employer and does not discriminate on the basis of race, color, religion, gender, sexual preference, national or ethnic origin, age, disability, pregnancy, or veteran status.

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