KIPP Delta is part of the nationwide KIPP non-profit network of 275 college-preparatory, public charter schools educating early childhood, elementary, middle, and high school students. KIPP Delta currently serves more than 1,200 students across 5 schools in Helena and Blytheville, AR.

At KIPP, we believe that the School Leader is the most crucial lever for school performance. By strategically supporting School Leaders and developing the network-level leadership systems, pipelines, and development tools required to drive and sustain impact, we can drive transformational outcomes for students. The Director of Leader Development (DLD) plays a critical role in achieving this vision through the leadership, development, and support of School Leaders (principals) and establishment of network-wide leadership systems. 

The Director of Leader Development is a network-level position serving schools in Blytheville, AR and Helena, AR and reporting to the Managing Director of Academics (MDA). The primary responsibility of the DLD is to deliver elbow-to-elbow coaching, support, and management for KIPP Delta School Leaders while driving ambitious student outcomes. An expert in high-quality coaching, instruction, and professional development, the DLD has demonstrated experience achieving top-tier student outcomes as a School Leader and leading adults to achieve ambitious and measurable goals.

In addition to coaching, the Director of Leader Development serves as a critical visionary to set the network’s strategy for leader development. They oversee the in-region school leadership pipeline from Grade Level Chairs to School Leaders. The DLD leads implementation and evaluation of regional leadership pipeline talent systems, codifies instructional leadership best practices, supports leader hiring and selection, and analyzes development data to inform regional professional development strategy. The Director of Leader Development works closely with KIPP Delta’s Executive Director and Managing Director of Academics to ensure School Leaders and the systems and structures supporting them are effectively and measurably driving student academic performance. 

The Director of Leader Development will focus on:

Leader Development & Management (65%)

• Directly manage and support 5 School Leaders across elementary, middle, and high school campuses in Helena. AR and Blytheville, AR. 

• Coach School Leaders to effectively facilitate leadership team meetings, execute team coaching cycles, lead school walkthroughs, manage and rapidly respond to data, build and manage equitable academic and culture systems, and drive school-level professional development. 

• Analyze student achievement data to identify and target School Leader strengths and gaps; build capacity of School Leaders across instructional leadership, data analysis, intervention implementation, and culture domains.

• Conduct weekly formal and informal classroom walk-throughs aligned to student achievement targets, development targets, and network-level strategic goals.  

• Drive measurable, competency-aligned growth in School Leader performance via the KIPP Leadership Competency Model;  leverage tools including the Principal Manager Arc of the Year and KIPP Principal Core Skill & Competency Rubric to plan and deliver professional development through 1:1 coaching, side-by-side modeling/practice, and cohort-based Professional Learning Communities.

• Drive school performance and accountability by holding School Leaders accountable to achieving quantifiable outcomes related to School Improvement Plans, Academic Improvement Plans, and improving state-assigned school letter grades on the Arkansas School Report Card; ensure all schools meet or exceed data-driven performance targets

• Craft, deliver, and track feedback on specific leader practices and outcomes, including effective management of instructional staff, use of data, establishment of school culture, and aligning strategy directly to student outcomes. 

Professional Development & Leadership Pipeline (25%)

• Design and cultivate a network-wide Professional Learning Community for School Leaders; design and lead regular and comprehensive learning/development experiences for School Leaders and rising leaders aligned to the skills and competencies required for success in-role 

• Codify KIPP Delta’s leadership pipeline; build and implement regional systems and practices to drive leader development and leader retention to measurable targets

• Set vision and manage the in-region leadership pipeline from Grade Level Chairs to School Leaders; lead implementation and evaluation of regional leadership pipeline talent systems.

• Ensure a rigorous selection process is used to hire effective school leaders who embody the  mission and values of KIPP Delta.

• Partner with the Managing Director of Academics to ensure School Leaders establish staff professional development priorities and design effective, data-driven school-based professional development. 

Network Leadership (10%) 

• Partner with the KIPP Foundation Talent Team to support implementation of the One KIPP Leadership Development Practices; work closely with partner organizations that support school leader development

• Be visibly present on campuses; attend school-based meetings and events to foster a culture of engagement with staff, families, and community  

• Participate in staff and other district meetings to maintain alignment between all divisions and the work supporting the development of school leaders

Key Competencies

• Strategic  - The ability to develop and see the big picture vision while also considering and interweaving small details to drive long-term program development and sustainability 

• Achievement Orientation - The drive and actions to set challenging goals and reach a high standard of performance despite barriers

• Monitoring & Directiveness - The ability to set clear expectations and to hold others accountable for performance

• Impact & Influence -  Employing intentional strategy to motivate the investment, approach, and actions of others, often through multiple layers

• Developing Others: Strategically investing in comprehensive inputs to increase the short and long-term effectiveness of others

• 8+ years work experience, including 3+ years as a high-performing School Leader / principal leading teams of adults to drive measurable student achievement outcomes

• 3+ years experience coaching and developing leaders through layers (for example, coaching an Assistant Principal to coach a teacher) to drive measurable student outcomes

• Expertise in K-12 academic content area(s), curricula, data-driven instructional practices, and leader development.

• Demonstrated experience leading through layers of adults to achieve measurable results

• Visionary with demonstrated experience setting high-level vision, then backwards planning to build the systems, structures and shared investment tp bring that vision to life

• Strong influencing and motivating skillsHighly organized with a propensity for developing clear systems, structures, and routines. 

• Strong orientation to data and data analysis skills, with the ability to collect, analyze, and disaggregate data, identify trends, and use data to drive decision making.

• A deep commitment to the mission of KIPP Delta and an unwavering belief in the potential of all students. 

• An unwavering commitment to anti-racism, diversity, equity, and inclusion, with an ability to serve as an exemplar for the organization’s values and foster an inclusive and respectful workplace. 

• Outstanding communication and teamwork skills, including the ability to collaborate,  motivate and influence others to act.

• Must be able to be on-site in Helena and/or Blytheville, AR four days a week.

• Experience coaching and facilitating professional development for adults 

• Ability to communicate compelling feedback that motivates educators, impacts instruction  and accelerates student achievement. 

• Bachelor’s degree required; Master’s degree preferred.

Salary

The salary range for this role is $70,000 - $80,000. KIPP Delta offers competitive salary and benefits packages commensurate with experience.

As an equal opportunity employer, KIPP Delta does not discriminate on the basis of race, color, religion (creed), gender, age, national origin (ancestry), disability, marital status, sexual orientation, military status, or any other basis made unlawful by applicable federal, state, or local laws or regulations.