About KIPP Bay Area Schools
In the San Francisco Bay Area, KIPP schools are closing the achievement gap between low-income students and their more advantaged peers. These free, college-preparatory, middle and high schools are located in Bayview Hunters Point and the Western Addition in San Francisco, East San Jose, San Lorenzo, and West Oakland. Our mission is to operate high achieving public schools in educationally underserved communities, developing in our students the knowledge, skills and character essential to thrive in college, shape their futures, and positively impact the world.
KIPP Bay Area Schools ranks in the top 10 percent of all public school districts in California. All 5 of our middle schools have been recognized as California Distinguished Schools, and both high schools are in the top 10 percent of all high schools in California, regardless of demographics. KIPP Bay Area Schools is launching a growth phase beginning in 2013, with a vision of more than doubling the number of students served by 2020, and significantly increasing the number of low-income students from the communities we serve who graduate from college.
KIPP (The Knowledge is Power Program) began in 1994 in Houston, Texas. Today, there are 109 KIPP schools in 20 states and Washington, D.C. serving more than 32,000 students. KIPP Bay Area Schools is the regional entity comprised of the seven KIPP schools in the Bay Area and a Regional Support Office. KIPP Bay Area Schools serves 2,500 students, has 220 employees, and an annual operating budget exceeding $23M.
Position Overview
The Chief Academic Officer is responsible for promoting and sustaining exceptional academic achievement and positive school cultures at all KIPP Bay Area schools and for ensuring that KIPP standards of excellence are maintained. The CAO leads a diverse team of talented, dynamic school leaders to succeed in their roles. The CAO supervises our school leaders, and is responsible for developing their leadership skills to advance school and regional objectives, and to effectively lead students, parents, teachers, and the community towards a shared vision to prepare our students for success in college and in life.
The Chief Academic Officer must excel at building relationships across a wide variety of constituencies, managing a talented team of educators, and driving results. In addition to school leaders, s/he will work closely with the Regional Support Office team, the Board of Directors, and the KIPP Foundation to maintain and strengthen school quality as we prepare for significant expansion. The CAO manages the Director of Academics and Leadership Development, is part of the region’s senior leadership team, and reports to the Executive Director.
Responsibilities Include:
1. Build and manage a high performing team of school leaders
a. Provide leadership, coaching, feedback, and support to ensure that school leaders are on track to meet school goals and fulfill KIPP’s mission; evaluate performance
b. Oversee high quality implementation of each school¡¦s educational design, including standards, assessments, instructional guidelines, and school culture
c. Ensure that schools are meeting student achievement goals through regular review of benchmark, MAP, AP, SAT, and CST data
d. Ensure that schools build and cultivate a robust talent pipeline
e. Lead professional development in the school leader Community of Practice
f. Select and develop incoming school leaders
g. Resolve parent complaints referred by school leader
h. Oversee major student discipline issues including expulsion hearings and student attendance violations
i. Set and manage regional student and family policies
2. Implement the region’s academic priorities, including the following:
a. Supervise the Director of Special Education to ensure that our special education program is compliant and successful
b. Support the implementation of instructional technology pilots and initiatives. Work collaboratively with leaders to establish regional vision for instructional technology.
c. Establish appropriate academic alignment across the region
3. Manage the Director of Academics and Leadership Development
a. Ensure that the Director’s work coaching and developing emerging leaders and identified successor leaders is relevant and effective
b. Oversee the Director’s recruitment, coaching, and support of principals for new KIPP schools
c. Ensure that professional development for emerging leaders and school leaders is high quality and successful
d. Provide leadership, coaching, feedback, and support to ensure that the Director is on track to meet goals; evaluate performance
4. Serve as a member of the senior leadership team
a. Attend and present at quarterly board meetings
b. Participate in the KIPP network’s Regional Leader Community of Practice
c. Help chart short and long-term strategy for the organization
Skills and Qualifications
• Unquestioned integrity and commitment to KIPP Bay Area Schools’ mission and values
• Demonstrated success leading a high-performing school closing the achievement gap
• Strong management skills, with the ability to motivate and develop a diverse group of leaders
• Capability to effectively build, develop and maintain strong relationships with school leaders, staff, teachers, parents, students, Board members, and community stakeholders
• Thorough understanding of California state standards, and California charter school laws and regulations preferred
• Skilled at analyzing, interpreting, and using data to collaborate, identify best practices and areas for improvement, and drive results
• Ability to self-direct and prioritize among competing goals, exhibit flexibility, and drive results in a fast-paced, entrepreneurial environment
• Adept at thinking strategically, translating plans into action, and exhibiting excellent judgment
• Excellent written, verbal communication, and presentation skills with keen attention to detail
• Bachelor’s degree required; master’s degree preferred
Salary & Benefits
We offer a competitive salary and excellent benefits package, depending on experience and qualifications.
To Apply
Please send your resume and a detailed cover letter demonstrating your interest in working for KIPP Bay Area Schools and your unique qualifications for the position, to hr@kippbayarea.org with “Chief Academic Officer” in the subject line. Resumes submitted without a cover letter will not be considered.
KIPP Bay Area Schools is an equal opportunity employer. We do not discriminate on the basis of race, color, gender, handicap, age, religion, sexual orientation, or national or ethnic origin. We are strongly committed to hiring a diverse and multicultural staff and encourage applications from traditionally under-represented backgrounds.
