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 

Reporting to the Superintendent, the Senior Director of Student Services will play a critical role in leading our Special Education department at KIPP Columbus.  The Senior Director of Student Services will be charged with leading the work that ensures our Special Education teams are delivering on our promise to students and families to provide excellent and compliant educational services.   The Senior Director of Student Services will work directly with the Director of Special Education and provide oversight to the management and the leadership of all Special Education functions and programs.

Responsibilities include, but are not limited to, the following:

• Develop, manage and coach the Special Education teams towards school and regional goals
• Lead and uphold a vision for healthy and high-performing Special Education programming that aligns with the region-wide vision of offering a truly transformational education for student success in college and life
• Oversee and monitor progress towards a shared vision for KIPP Columbus schools and classrooms that is grounded in providing an excellent education experience for our student
• Provide guidance and support to the leaders with the Special Education department, school leaders, school leader managers, and others on all elements of running a high-performing Special Education program, including but not limited to excellent instruction, IEP/504 compliance and laws, monitoring of services, training and development of intervention specialists, and more. 
• Identify and leverage internal and external bright spots to continuously enhance our Special Education model and support practices
• Oversee the systems/processes to assess progress against our vision and establish new systems/processes, as needed
• Provide oversight to equitable implementation of these systems that serve diverse learners 
• Serve as a champion of a strong school and organizational-wide culture that reflects the Columbus community
• Ensure there is a positive culture among schools and teams that exhibits care, rigor, and expertise
• Create the conditions for an inclusive school environment that values and affirms all students and families within every KIPP Columbus school and special education team
• Serve as a key senior leader and steward for KIPP Columbus
• Serve as one of the regional leaders in our organization, helping us achieve our goals and exercising strong judgment in making critical decisions about what we prioritize and how we operate

• Bachelor's degree from an accredited college or university
• 10+ years of work experience, including 5+ years of experience as a high-performing Special Education Leader, who has proven success coaching other leaders and teachers
• Deep knowledge of Special Education, Section 504, Gifted and Talented, and Multi-Tiered Systems of Support (MTSS) compliance and instruction, with teaching experience and a proven track record of raising student achievement for exceptional learners
• Strong familiarity and expertise with College and Career-Ready standards, such as the Common Core State Standards (CCSS) or Ohio State Standards, including expertise in the Science of Reading
• Experience as a lead practitioner in a school system that has adopted the CCSS/Ohio State Standards and/or a deep conceptual understanding of the instructional shifts in ELA and Math, with demonstrated success in addressing the needs of students with disabilities within the standards and a cohesive approach to access to grade-level instruction and filling foundation gaps for students
• Systems builder with the ability to scale best practices across multiple schools
• Commitment to building relationships and trust with leaders, teachers, students, parents, and the community of Columbus
• Adept at thinking strategically, translating plans into action, and exhibiting excellent judgment
• Detail oriented with exceptionally strong follow-up and follow-through skills
• Demonstrated ability to multi-task and work within an ambiguous, fast-moving, start-up environment, while driving toward clarity and solutions
• 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
• 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.  

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.