School Principal

This is a general posting. We are accepting applications for elementary, middle and high school principals. Please specify your grade level & region preference in your application.

About the Principal role: We expect you to focus the majority of your time leading, steering, coaching, and developing your leadership team to ensure strong instruction and a school culture conducive to learning. KIPP Colorado Principals invest in leading and developing leaders and teachers to create a culture of belonging and academic excellence that supports the realization of our graduate profile for ALL students: 21st century readiness, emotional intelligence, and direction. At KIPP, we trust and expect that our Principals build schools that are built to last by developing a pipeline of future leaders, creating systems to maximize impact, and coordinating the ongoing development of school staff. Principals are expected to develop a successor leader in partnership with regional leadership and to build the leadership capacity of the school staff. This role reports directly to a Managing Director of Schools.

About KIPP: Together with families and communities, KIPP creates 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. KIPP is a national network of tuition-free, public charter schools open to all students. There are 255 college-preparatory KIPP schools in 20 states and the District of Columbia, serving more than 100,000 students. Nationally, KIPP students are graduating four-year colleges at three times the national average for low-income students.

Who we are: KIPP Colorado Public Schools is a network of six free college-preparatory public charter schools open to all students. Our 350-person staff educates 2,600 students from ECE to 12th grade. At KIPP Colorado, we partner with our KIPPsters, educators, families, and communities to ensure that we are all united around the goal of a choice-filled future for our KIPPsters. Our KIPP Forward Team supports our 1,000+ high school Alumni as they create their own paths. Our core values of excellence, belonging, belief, advocacy, and courage are central to who we are and how we operate at all levels of our organization.

What we do: We believe in the unique gifts and brilliance of every student. We believe in setting a high bar for joy and academic excellence to ensure the infinite possibilities our students have before them become a reality. We aspire to create and reinforce a culture of achievement, belonging, and support. We know that every student is different and we personalize learning based on a student's needs, skills, and interests.

About the School Principal Role: As a School Principal, your primary role is to drive exceptional student experience and academic outcomes that equip all 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.

Role Responsibilities and More About How You’ll Spend Your Time in this Role

Professional Responsibilities

• Believe deeply in the mission, values, and Race, Inclusion, Diversity, and Equity (RIDE) commitments of KIPP Colorado Schools and that all children can and will learn.
• Assume personal responsibility for student achievement.
• Read, internalize, and adhere to the KIPP Colorado Policies and Procedures manual and guidelines.
• Provide an active presence, strategic supervision, and intentional monitoring to ensure student safety and engagement in rigorous learning.
• Take ownership for the development of your craft (meet 1x/1-2 weeks with a manager, implement feedback, engage in active practice, etc.).
• Commit to being prepared for lessons, coaching, meetings, etc.
• Meet professional obligations including and not limited to meeting deadlines and honoring schedules.
• Consistently leverage existing professional tools, including but not limited to Google Suite and Microsoft Suite.
• Maintain strong attendance each day and be on time to all responsibilities.
• Collaborate with colleagues and seek feedback in the spirit of continuous improvement.
• Reflect on professional practices to meet individual professional development goals.
• Actively participate in professional development, grade level, and department meetings.
• Assist with both student and staff recruitment and engagement.
• Your role may require you to travel around Denver to other KIPP Campuses or events.
• Other duties as assigned.

How We Work: The Principal works in close partnership with the Home Office to create a cohesive, coherent experience for our students and families and to realize the goals and priorities of our Strategic Plan.

• Aligning the school vision, strategy, and goals to KIPP Colorado’s organizational vision, mission, strategy, priorities, and scorecard.
• Investing in and leading change management as we shift operating models and increase organizational alignment across KIPP Colorado.
• Partnering deeply with the Home Office Team to execute strategy and develop staff.
• Implementing and progress monitoring organizational priorities and initiatives at the campus level.
• Championing and stewarding KIPP Colorado’s vision, values, RIDE Commitments, and strategy.

Key Outcomes: KIPP Colorado believes in the importance of equitable experiences and outcomes for all students. To fulfill our mission and strategic plan, we must clearly establish benchmarks for excellence and align our practices, decisions, and resources to meet these ambitious performance targets.

• Partner with the Home Office Team to set ambitious targets and metrics for campus goals aligned with the KIPP Colorado vision and strategic plan scorecard.
• Plan and prioritize time, talent, and resources to achieve campus goals.

Academic Excellence: The School Principal is an Instructional Leader

• Build own and school staff’s knowledge and expertise in effective instructional design and academic standards.
• Develop teachers’ conceptual understanding of what students must know and be able to do.
• Lead analysis of, and develop teachers’ ability to analyze, student data to identify strategies that will move students toward mastery.
• Regularly observe and coach instructional leaders.
• Build and develop own and all staff’s capacity to support learning for all students.

Thriving Talent: The School Principal is a strong People Manager and Cultivator of Talent

• Cultivate a diverse, high-potential school leadership pipeline.
• Implement systems and structures to hire and retain diverse, highly-effective staff.
• Ensure teachers can collaborate, analyze their practice, and adjust instruction.
• Cultivate School Leader’s own success and sustainability.

Culture of Belonging: The School Principal is a Strong Culture Leader for Families, Students, and Staff

• Actively promote the representation of students and families’ cultures.
• Define and model expectations for leaders, teachers, and students on school-wide practices.
• Make considerable efforts to engage with families.

Outstanding Operations and Sustainability: The School Principal Leads in all areas including Operations and Compliance

• Ensure that all school functions have systems to coordinate and communicate.
• Comply with district and KIPP policies and state and federal laws.
• Develop annual budget based on documented program needs.
• Articulate the school’s mission to the community.

RIDE Commitments: The School Principal is a Leader of Racial Equity

• Highly values diversity, equity, and inclusion in all aspects of work.
• Leads and communicates effectively across lines of difference.
• Centers marginalized groups and acts to ensure equity.

About the skills and qualifications you will bring to this role:

• Bachelor's degree (required).
• At least 7-8 years of relevant and aligned experience (required).
• At least 6 years of K-12 teaching experience (required).
• Past experience (2 years) of leading adults in a school environment (required).
• Outstanding organizational skills and high attention to detail.
• Strong work ethic coupled with an enthusiastic and passionate approach to one’s work.
• Strong communication, feedback and facilitation skills.
• Strong analytical and problem-solving skills.

Compensation and Benefits

• Competitive Market Salary: Starting salary for this role begins at $117,300 and is commensurate with experience.
• Excellent Healthcare Plan: 100% of employee-only monthly premium paid by KIPP Colorado.
• Time Off: More than 6 weeks of annual vacation and Paid Time Off (PTO).
• Career Trajectory: Access to opportunity to move up, across schools, and grow your career.
• Mental Health Care: Immediate and ongoing access to mental health support.
• Technology & Access: Equipment provided: laptop & phone.
• Retirement Planning: Participation in the Colorado PERA retirement program.

KIPP Colorado Schools is dedicated to equal employment opportunities and fair labor practices. It is our policy to maintain a non-discriminatory environment free from intimidation, harassment or bias.