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 285 KIPP schools across the nation and the District of Columbia, serving more than 175,000 students and alumni with more than 15,000 educators. 

Founded in 2008 with 50 students in 5th grade, KIPP Columbus currently educates  2,000 students in grades Kindergarten through twelfth.  With a mission to, together with families and the community, create joyful, academically excellent schools that prepare students with the skills and confidence to pursue the paths they choose -- college, career, and beyond --  KIPP has maintained excellence in its growth, and will improve upon that standard – proving what is possible in public education.

KIPP Columbus continues to rank as one of the top schools for academic growth of any school in the state of Ohio, and is a top performing urban school in the state for academic growth. In our first three graduating classes (in spring 2020, 2021, and 2022) 100% of students were accepted to college and/or military service  with nearly $40 million in merit scholarships from colleges and universities awarded.

In addition to academic excellence, KIPP Columbus also partners with nearly 100 community organizations to provide extracurricular activities, programming, health and wellness services, meals, and more to KIPP students, families, and the broader community. KIPP is also a member of the Ohio High School Athletic Association, offering more than 10 varsity sports. 

The KIPP Columbus learning campus will continue to advance student learning, expand partnerships, enable superior programming, and serve as a teaching and leadership lab for schools nationwide, reimagining education through a deeper lens of antiracism, excellence, and joy as we expand to educate nearly 4,000 students on our learning campus in the coming years. 

Interested in learning more about our school?  Please check out our website: https://www.kippcolumbus.org/

The Opportunity

Under the direction of the Superintendent, the Director of Diversity, Equity & Inclusion (DEI) is responsible for executing and expanding KIPP Columbus’ DEI strategic planning, providing direct training to teams throughout the organization, serving as a consultant to teams to build internal training capacity, and progress monitoring DEI indicators to ensure we are growing as an organization. This is a critical position requiring strong collaboration and communication skills, the ability to influence and develop productive partnerships, and to develop creative, innovative solutions. The Director of Diversity, Equity & Inclusion takes appropriate actions to support and create a respectful, inclusive, and welcoming work environment.

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

Strategic Planning

• Lead all KIPP Columbus' Diversity, Equity & Inclusion strategy and associated plans
• Develop communication strategies to support DEI awareness and engagement among staff at all levels
• Recommend policies, procedures and/or actions for the purpose of meeting the goals and objectives of the strategic plan
• Stay abreast of advances in the area of diversity through networking, research and benchmarking

Training and Consulting

• Design, coordinate, and deliver DEI learning opportunities including: workshops, training, on-boarding content, toolkits, etc. 
• Ensure all staff have opportunities for professional development on DEI topics
• Provide expertise and knowledge of DEI best practices effectively tailored to KIPP Columbus' needs and team
• Collaborate and serve as a subject matter expert for other departments to ensure all our services, systems and processes are culturally competent, inclusive, and reduce barriers to equity
• Ensure broad ownership of equity and inclusion goals through cross-functional partnerships
• Develop, collect, and disseminate resources and activities to support the development of inclusive mindsets, behaviors, and practices across the organization 
• Support development of people managers and DEI ambassadors, including their ability to effectively engage and educate others
• Provide coaching and consultation to individuals, managers and groups regarding cross-cultural interactions and conflicts
• Serve as a positive change agent and disruptor of processes, practices and policies that no longer serve the mission and intentions of a growing organization committed to diversity, equity and inclusion

Progress Monitoring

• Develop processes and systems to evaluate progress and measure the impact of diversity, equity, and inclusion efforts
• Research and benchmark world-class industry practices for approaches to advance diversity and inclusion within KIPP Columbus, using data driven practices that have proven results
• Partner with the Superintendent and KIPP Foundation to review and analyze data sources

• Master’s Degree in Education, or related field
• A minimum of 5 years of professional experience diversity, equity and inclusion related roles and responsibilities
• Experience creating and facilitating diversity, equity and inclusion workshops, professional development sessions and discussions
• Experience in strategic planning development, execution and progress monitoring
• Experience managing multiple complex projects simultaneously and/or projects involving cross-functional/team alignment
• Experience working in a non-profit or government agency 
• Excellent communication and influencing skills to interact effectively with all levels of the organization and the school network
• Exceptional strategic, analytical, and critical thinking skills
• 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
• Demonstrate 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)

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.  

Sign on Bonus:  Successful candidates for the 22-23 school year, who are new to the KIPP Columbus team, will receive a $5,000 bonus ($2,000 provided after the first 90 days of employment, and the remaining $3,000 upon the successful completion of the school year).

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.