Company Description

KIPP is a national network of free, open‐enrollment, college‐preparatory public schools in under‐resourced communities throughout the United States. There are currently 281 locally‐run KIPP regions in more than 25 states and Washington, DC; nationally, KIPP serves approximately 120,000 students. More than 80 percent of KIPP students come from low‐income households, and more than 95 percent are African American or Hispanic/Latino. Through high expectations for students and staff, world‐class teachers and principals, more time in school, autonomy over budget and curriculum, and a focus on results, KIPP schools prepare traditionally underserved students for success in college and in life. KIPP schools have been widely recognized for their success in doing so, and today, nearly 85% of KIPP alumni nationally have matriculated to college.

All KIPP schools share a core set of operating principles, known as the Five Pillars, that KIPP believes help to lay the foundation for students to perform at the highest academic levels: High Expectations, Choice & Commitment, More Time, Power to Lead, and a Focus on Results.

KIPP Minnesota Overview

KIPP Minnesota Public Schools is one of 28 regional locations in a national network of high-performing college-preparatory schools across the nation. KIPP Minnesota was established in 2008, serving grades Kindergarten through 8th on our North Star campus in Minneapolis. KIPP MN vision is that every child grows up to create the future they want for themselves and their communities. Our mission is together with families and communities, we create joyful, academically excellent schools that prepare students with the skills and confidence to pursue the paths they choose —college, career, and beyond—so they can lead fulfilling lives and build a more just world.

Job Description

POSITION OVERVIEW

The School Leader/Principal is the school’s leader and responsible for driving strong academic outcomes and a healthy school community. We expect our School Leader to focus the majority of their time on instructional leadership, specifically all of the activities involved in leading and developing leaders and teachers to improve their instruction and drive student achievement. School Leader’s also play the leading role in building lasting and sustainable organizations by developing a pipeline of future leaders and creating systems for the ongoing retention and development of school staff.

PRIMARY RESPONSIBILITIES

Our next Principal should be a team leader with a proven track record of driving student achievement results across a large team while leading a highly effective team culture.

• Student Performance: Motivate and unify staff to set high standards for student performance and meet rigorous student growth and achievement goals.
• Organizational Leadership: Develop organizational goals and objectives consistent with the mission and values of KIPP Minnesota Public School. Lead teachers in developing a healthy school culture aligned with the mission, vision and values of the school and the region. Create a culture of excellence, teamwork and collaboration amongst the staff, teachers, students and families.
• Instructional Leadership: Manage, evaluate and develop a team of teachers to improve student achievement results. Consistently use effective, research-based teaching methodologies and implement data-driven instruction. Work with teachers to improve their teaching practice through coaching, professional development, modeling, and collaborative planning.
• Talent Leadership: Recruit, select, hire and retain school staff, including teachers and school-based support staff. Continually monitor progress on all measures of school and staff performance. Provide for adequate supervision, training, and evaluation of all staff and volunteers. Create an effective team of people jointly responsible for the attainment of school goals and committed to achieving excellence.
• Community Relations: Serve as liaison between teachers, parents, and the community in creating a welcoming and full school community. Exhibit a high degree of professionalism in all elements of this position, while serving as a contributing member of the KIPP Minnesota team and a dedicated role model for other employees.
• Cultural Leadership: The commitment to driving cultural relevance, diversity, equity and inclusion and sense of belonging in a homogeneous community.

Desired Competencies

• Student Focus: Belief that all students, regardless of background, have the ability to go to and through college; demonstrated commitment to the school’s unique community
• Direction Setting: Ability to set direction for a team and motivate others to action
• Achievement Orientation and Performance Management: Demonstrated student achievement results in own classroom and from teachers that he/she manages
• Cultural Competence: Demonstrated ability to create inclusive environments that honors and supports a diversity of backgrounds and perspectives
• Instructional Leadership: Adept at data analysis; ability to extract meaningful insights across school-wide data
• Instructional Leadership: Expertise in what the school-wide academic standards and state assessments require of students’ knowledge and skills to demonstrate mastery; able to translate student mastery requirements into instructional plans and strategies
• Instructional Leadership: Deep understanding of appropriate application and differentiation of high-leverage instructional strategies (e.g. student rigor, pacing, stretch it, etc.) based on comprehension of child development and pedagogy
• Relationship Building: Expertise in cultivating relationships and managing a diverse group of stakeholders
• Achievement Orientation: Demonstrated resilience and focus on student outcomes

Desired Characteristics

• Unwavering commitment to KIPP Minnesota’s mission, students, families, and community
• Firm belief in affirming the identity of students, families and staff
• Demonstrates excitement in growing students into their highest selves
• Passionate about data-driven instruction
• Passionate and committed to being a leader for racial justice and equity, and working in an organization committed to anti-racism
• Excellent communication skills with diverse constituents; clear writer, facilitator and speaker and eagerness to collaborate
• Demonstrate commitment to continue their professional development individually, eager to offer and respond positively to feedback
• Ability to tackle multiple projects and initiatives at once with a strong sense of organization, prioritization, follow through and results orientation
• Possess an entrepreneurial spirit, flexible, and willing to go above and beyond to meet the varied needs of students
• Familiarity with North Minneapolis is desired but not required

Qualifications

DESIRED EXPERIENCE
Required

• Bachelor’s degree in Education, Leadership, related fields, or other advanced degree.
• Two (2) - four (4) years of school leadership experience, including instructional coaching, curriculum development, and managing others.
• Two (2) - four (4) years of teaching experience (Primary School and/or Middle School)
• Demonstrated success in raising the achievement levels of traditionally under-served students as a teacher and as an instructional coach
• Record of exceptional student achievement.
• Agility to adapt in ever-changing and fast-paced environments.
• Substantial personal flexibility with demonstrated self-development, self-knowledge, and personal learning.
• Demonstrated strong verbal and written communication.
• Has firm conflict resolution, creative problem-solving, and decision-making skills.
• Business acumen and adaptive skills in the education industry.
• Has proven ability to develop and maintain a positive, diverse, creative, high-performing team and culture.

Highly Preferred

• Master’s degree
• Valid Minnesota teaching license (or ability to obtain one before start of the school year)
• Experience working in historically educationally underserved communities and communities of color

Additional Information

COMPENSATION

Salary Range: $100,000 - $130,000 DOQ

*To establish equitable salary practices, the compensation package is derived from the Regional KIPP Minnesota pay scale and benefits package, which includes medical, dental, life, long & short-term disability, and retirement benefits and an annual salary review and revision.

How to Apply

We are committed to hiring a diverse, multicultural leadership team and encourage applications from traditionally under-represented backgrounds. Please apply online here. Applications will be accepted on a rolling basis.

KIPP MN is an Equal Opportunity Employer and Prohibits Discrimination and Harassment of Any Kind: KIPP MN is committed to the principle of equal employment opportunity for all candidates and employees and to providing employees with a work environment free of discrimination and harassment. All employment decisions are based on our business need, job requirements and required qualifications, without regard to race, color, religion or belief, national, social or ethnic origin, sex (including pregnancy), age, physical, mental or sensory disability, HIV Status, sexual orientation, gender identity and/or expression, marital, civil union or domestic partnership status, past or present military service, family medical history or genetic information, family or parental status, or any other status ​​protected by federal, state or local laws. KIPP MN will not tolerate discrimination or harassment based on any of these characteristics.”

This policy applies to all terms and conditions of employment, including recruiting, hiring, placement, promotion, termination, layoff, recall, transfer, leave of absence, compensation and training.