School Transformation Leader

KPA - KIPP Philosophers Academy
School Leadership – School Leadership /
Full-Time Temporary /
On-site
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Who We Are
KIPP SoCal Public Schools is a nonprofit organization that operates 20 tuition-free, open-enrollment charter public schools, within 17 Local Education Agencies (LEA), educating more than 10,000 students and supporting 8,300 alumni to and through college and beyond. Our award winning schools are part of the national KIPP (Knowledge Is Power Program) network, dedicated to meeting the needs of all learners and providing the social, emotional and academic support for success in high school, college, and life.

Mission
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 create a more just world.

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.

You Should Apply If:

You want to lead urgent, sustainable transformation at a designated KIPP SoCal school by rebuilding trust, strengthening systems, developing talent, and ensuring high-quality instruction during a fixed 18-24 month assignment. The School Transformation Leader holds full accountability for school outcomes and is charged with creating the academic, cultural, and operational conditions necessary for long-term excellence, while preparing the school for successful transition to permanent leadership.

This role is full-time, temporary with an end date of June 30, 2027.
The priority deadline for this role is September 1, 2025.
This role is located at a specific site. It is not a regional team role.

Desired Outcomes

    • Drive comprehensive school improvement by achieving a School Health Score of 3 or higher in all domains by the end of Year 2, with demonstrated growth of at least one level in a minimum of three categories during Year 1.
    • Develop and implement a data-driven transformation plan aligned to KIPP SoCal's strategic priorities
    • Establish regular progress monitoring systems to track improvement across all domainsCommunicate progress transparently with all stakeholders
    • Accelerate student achievement by significantly improving academic outcomes across all student groups, with measurable growth in Year 1 and substantial gains by the end of Year 2.
    • Increase proficiency rates in ELA and Math SBAC assessments by at least 10% annually from baseline
    • Meet or exceed school-specific regional goals for literacy, math, and specialized populationsEnsure 100% of teachers engage in weekly coaching cycles focused on instructional improvement
    • Achieve at least 50% of classrooms meeting/exceeding expectations on the KIPP SoCal Teacher Practice Rubric by Year 1, increasing to 80% by Year 2
    • Establish a safe, joyful school culture that fosters high levels of student belonging, attendance, and engagement.
    • Implement and maintain Tier 1 PBIS systems in Year 1, expanding to Tier 2 systems in Year 2
    • Increase student belonging and safety metrics to ≥85% favorable scoresImprove average daily attendance by at least 1% in Year 1, reaching ≥96% by Year 2
    • Align suspension and referral data with school culture vision and KIPP SoCal policies and practices
    • Build sustainable leadership capacity by identifying, developing, and preparing future leaders to ensure long-term school success.
    • Identify and coach 3-4 teacher leaders annuallyIdentify successor School Leader by end of Year 1 and develop throughout Year 2
    • Develop at least 2 "ready now" Assistant School Leader candidates by end of Year 2Ensure ≥80% staff retention through effective talent management
    • Strengthen family and community partnerships to rebuild trust and increase engagement.
    • Achieve ≥85% family survey participation each quarter
    • Attain a Net Promoter Score (NPS) of ≥30 each yearEstablish regular, transparent communication systems with families and community leaders
    • Ensure operational excellence and compliance by addressing gaps and implementing sustainable systems.
    • Meet enrollment and budget targetsAddress any compliance gaps by end of Year 1
    • Ensure operations, MTSS, SPED, and multilingual programs meet all compliance and quality standards

Role-Specific Skills and Competencies

    • Instructional Leadership: Models and drives excellent instruction through strategic coaching systems. Leads data-driven instructional improvement cycles, ensures curriculum implementation with fidelity, and builds teacher capacity to deliver rigorous, culturally responsive instruction.
    • Culture Leadership: Fosters anti-racist, joyful, safe environments grounded in student identity and agency. Creates systems that promote belonging, establish clear expectations, and build positive relationships among all stakeholders while effectively addressing behavioral challenges.
    • Strategic Execution: Sets vision, aligns actions to outcomes, and tracks progress with urgency. Prioritizes high-leverage initiatives, allocates resources effectively, and adjusts course when needed to ensure transformation goals are met within the fixed timeframe.
    • Talent Development: Builds capacity in teachers and leaders for lasting impact beyond their tenure. Creates systems for regular feedback, professional development, and career advancement while addressing performance issues promptly and effectively.
    • Systems Thinking: Strengthens sustainable structures to meet student needs. Analyzes root causes of challenges, implements coherent solutions, and ensures systems will outlast their tenure by effectively coordinating across departments and stakeholders.
    • Change Management: Navigates complex change processes with transparency, empathy, and determination. Builds stakeholder buy-in while maintaining focus on non-negotiable outcomes and balancing quick wins with long-term improvements.
    • Crisis Response: Demonstrates composure under pressure, makes sound decisions with limited information, and supports community through challenging circumstances while maintaining focus on transformation goals.

Qualifications

    • Required Experience:
    • Minimum of 5 years in school leadership roles
    • Demonstrated success in driving significant academic improvement, with evidence of year-over-year growth and/or outperforming comparable schools
    • Proven ability to develop effective school leaders
    • Experience building positive school cultures with strong student support systems
    • Track record of effective team management in educational settings

    • Education & Credential:
    • Valid administrative credential (or eligibility to obtain one)

    • Highly Preferred:
    • Previous experience in school turnaround or transformation contexts
    • Experience working with multilingual learners and students with disabilities
    • Knowledge of PBIS implementation and restorative practices
    • Experience in crisis management and community healing
    • Understanding of charter school operations and compliance requirements

    • Personal Attributes:
    • Unwavering belief in the potential of all students
    • Commitment to anti-racist education and equity
    • Resilience and persistence in the face of challenges
    • Ability to build trust quickly with diverse stakeholders
    • Comfort with ambiguity and willingness to make difficult decisions
    • In addition to the above competencies and skills, all team members are expected to uphold, demonstrate, and practice KIPP SoCal values, standards of conduct, and anti-racism standards.

Compensation

    • KIPP SoCal Public Schools offers a competitive salary commensurate with experience in a similar position. The salary range for this position is $145,000 to $175,000.
    • 100% of healthcare premium costs covered by employer, dependents added at 50% of the cost
    • Employer-paid life insurance
    • 401(k) plan with up to 6% match by KIPP SoCal
    • Voluntary Benefits (Pet Insurance, Supplemental Life, Accident, Short Term Disability, etc.)
    • Generous time off program includes 22 holidays, sick leave and vacation
    • Other great benefits (Flexible spending account, EAP, etc.)
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.
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