KIPP SoCal School Leader Fellow Program
Los Angeles, CA
School Leadership – Fellowship /
Full-Time 2025-2026 School Year /
On-site
Who We Are
KIPP SoCal Public Schools is a nonprofit organization that operates 20 tuition-free, open-enrollment charter public schools, within 20 Local Education Agencies (LEA), educating more than 10,000 students and supporting 6,800 alumni to and through college and beyond.
What We Believe
KIPP SoCal believes that the purpose of education is for liberation. This means that we see, develop, and inspire the limitless potential in each and all of our KIPPsters.
What We Do
At KIPP SoCal we build trusting relationships that are strengthened by high expectations and collaboration alongside laughter and joy. We set ambitious goals and hold each other accountable for students achieving their greatest potential. We work together with each other and in partnership with families and communities in the active pursuit of a more equitable world. We do the right thing, even when it's not always comfortable standing up and speaking out against anti-blackness, racism, oppression, and injustice. We persevere through obstacles and treat failure as an opportunity to learn and grow.
About the School Leader Fellow Program
KIPP SoCal Public School’s School Leader Fellow Program is a one year residency program designed for aspiring school leaders. The program will include a focus on leadership development within a placement school, followed by a transition period to serve as a successor school leader. Through targeted development, coaching and mentoring, and formal learning, fellows will develop and deepen the instructional and adaptive skills to prepare them to successfully lead a school with KIPP SoCal. A total of 4 quarterly evaluation checkpoints are held to assess progress towards meeting program outcomes and school leader readiness.
Application Deadline: Wednesday, January 31, 2025
Please note: If your candidacy progresses, you will be invited to pre-interviews currently planned for February 10-12, 2025. If you progress to the final selection event, we will invite you to approximately 1.5 days of interviews currently scheduled for March 27 & 28 or April 3 & 4, 2025. Pre-interviews will be completed via Zoom, and the final selection event is will be an in-person event. Specific school-site placement for the program will be determined following the selection process.
The fellowship year(s) will be comprised of the following components:
- Residency: Fellows will be full-time members of their residency school leadership teams, which will provide them with daily opportunities to practice the skills and competencies required to lead high-performing schools. In their role, program participants will coach and develop teachers through the instructional leadership cycle and contribute to the overall academic and cultural vision of the school. Fellows are committed to and actively contribute to the success of their placement school and act in alignment with the school leadership team's vision and priorities.
- Individual Development Plan: Fellows will have individual development plans aligned to the KIPP Leading for Learning Actions and KIPP Leadership Competency Model. These development plans will create a scope and sequence for their learning.
- Progression Checkpoints: Fellows will be regularly evaluated on the skills and competencies of an effective school leader. Progression checkpoints are scheduled throughout the duration of the program. To be formally considered for a school leadership role, the Fellow must demonstrate proficiency on all program benchmarks.
- Coaching: One-on-one coaching from a mentor school leader and Director of Leadership Development.
- Coaching: One-on-one coaching from a Regional Academic Leader and/or Mentor School Leader.
- Professional Development: Fellows will engage in cohort learning aligned with the program’s development roadmap to support their learning. This PD will come through a combination of region-led and externally-led workshops, individual text studies, and case studies.
- School Launch/Transition Plan: In preparation for school leadership, Fellows will complete either a School Launch Plan or a School Transition Plan. These plans ensure the Fellow is ready to either found a new school or take over an existing school.
Desired Qualifications and Experience
- Bachelor's Degree
- Be in a dean, assistant school leader, or equivalent school-wide instructional leadership role at the time of application.
- Possession of a valid California preliminary or clear teaching credential or out of state credential equivalent is strongly preferred
- Evidence of significant and consistent personal and professional achievement within the public charter school space in California is highly desirable
- Worked in a school in which >50% of students qualify for free or reduced-price lunch
- Commitment to equity and anti-racist practices
At the time of beginning the fellowship, applicants must have:
- 3+ year(s) of teaching experience with demonstrated student performance results
- 1+ years(s) of experience in an instructional school-wide leadership role, such as an assistant school leader or dean with demonstrated impact and results.
Compensation
- Applicants selected to be a School Leader Fellow will be placed on KIPP SoCal's Assistant School Leader salary table.
- KIPP SoCal School Leader Fellows also receive a stipend worth up to $10,000 based on completion of key milestones during the program.
- External to KIPP SoCal candidates can receive up to 3 years past experience credit from equivalent leadership roles counted toward their placement on the Assistant School Leader table. That salary table placement is determined by the KIPP SoCal Talent Team using evidence gathered in the application and interview process.
- Additionally, all travel expenses and coursework associated with the fellowship are paid for by KIPP SoCal and/or the KIPP Foundation.
- KIPP SoCal provides equal employment opportunity for all applicants and employees.
Application and Selection Process
- If you are a current KIPP team member, you are highly encouraged to discuss this opportunity with your manager before applying. The application deadline to apply to the School Leader Fellow program is Wednesday, January 31, 2025.
- If you are interested in applying to Fellowships or Principal-in-Residence programs with other KIPP regions, please check their job listings carefully, as deadlines between regions vary.
- Please note that if your candidacy progresses, you will be invited to pre-interviews currently planned for February 10-12, 2025. If you progress to the final selection event, we will invite you to approximately 1.5 days of interviews currently scheduled for March 27 & 28 or April 3 & 4. Pre-interviews will be completed via Zoom, and the final selection event is will be an in-person event.
- Specific school-site placement for the program will be determined following the selection process.
Application Components
- Resume and Cover Letter
- Current Student Achievement Data
- Short Response Questions (written response)
- Three Professional References (current supervisor mandatory)
- *Current KIPP SoCal team members: Letters of reference from your School Leader and Director of Schools must be submitted directly to our Director of Leadership Development, Adriana Rodriguez (arodriguez@kippsocal.org). Please have your SL/DOS complete the following forms:
- SL Reference Form
- DOS Reference Form
- (*Note: If you move past the initial stages of our interview process, we will contact your references and request they complete a recommendation form on your behalf. If you have questions or concerns about your references being contacted, please contact Eric DeSobe, Director of Talent Acquisition at erdesobe@kippsocal.org as early as possible in the process)
KIPP SoCal Public Schools is an equal opportunity employer and does not discriminate on the basis of race, color, religion, sex, age, national origin, veteran status, disability, sexual orientation/gender identity, or any other characteristic protected by applicable law.
KIPP SoCal strives to ensure that our careers website is accessible to all, including individuals with disabilities. If you require reasonable accommodation for any part of the application or hiring process due to a disability, please contact us. You can find our contact information on our website, http://www.kippsocal.org/. Information will be sent to a talent acquisition representative who will provide assistance to ensure appropriate consideration in the hiring process.