Vice President of Schools

Position Overview

The VP of Schools  leads the KIPP St. Louis community of schools by supporting and managing a group of School Leaders (SLs) and PIR- Principals in Resident by setting the bar of excellence in our schools. The VP of Schools is directly responsible for managing and coaching School Leaders across the St. Louis region. The VP of Schools is a full time, exempt position operating out of the regional office and reporting to the President of Academics.

Who we are:

KIPP St. Louis is a part of a national network of free, open-enrollment, public charter schools offering a choice to families and children in St. Louis city. As the largest charter school system in the city, we are driven and committed to our mission, vision, and equity statement.

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 build a more just world.

Vision: Every child grows up free to create the future they want for themselves and their communities.

Equity Statement: KIPP St. Louis is committed to becoming an anti-racist and anti-sexist organization by confronting inequities, barriers, and oppressive policies and systems.

KIPP St. Louis currently educates over 2,000 students and at full growth, we will educate nearly 3,600 students and hundreds of alumni. Today, our St. Louis network consists of two middle schools, three elementary schools, and a high school. 

Position type: Full time 12 months, Exempt

On the day-to-day basis, you can look forward to the following:

Be responsible for the student outcomes of KIPPsters in their assigned schools…

• VP of Schools  are ultimately responsible for the academic and cultural outcomes of the students in their assigned schools
• They work closely with appropriate directors of curriculum and assessment for their grade bands to ensure high quality instructional resources are in place so that schools are able to meet their academic goals
• Approve the summer professional development developed and executed by school leadership teams

Manage and Develop School Leaders in their assigned schools…

• Hold School Leaders to academic, professional, ethical, values and other performance standards
• Recommend the hiring of School Leaders who embody the mission, beliefs, and values of KIPP St. Louis
• Plan and implement professional development opportunities for School Leaders
• Support and manage School Leaders with the mission, beliefs, values, priorities, and initiatives of KIPP St. Louis
• Ensure the development of School Leaders and support them in the development of their leadership faculty
  • Serve as a thought partner to School Leaders as they lead their respective teams
  • Lead succession planning for School Leaders in their feeder pattern
  • Guide School Leaders as they develop Deans, Assistant Principals and other leadership faculty
  • Manage School Leader transitions
• Work with School Leaders and Directors of Curriculum and Assessment  to develop and implement long range plans for curriculum, instructional evaluation, and school improvement
  • Ensure that School Leaders have a clear, ambitious yet viable plan for improving instruction and school culture
  • Engage School Leaders in quarterly academic program analysis
• Ensure that School Leaders have clearly articulated plans for daily operations and implementation of student services, including support services, discipline management, and crisis intervention
  • Participate in any major behavioral meetings
• Approve the student handbook at the beginning of the school year 
• Manage and coach school leaders to ensure they are ‘proficient’ on our rubric for principals, which requires a mastery of the 7 levers from Leverage Leadership

Support onboarding and offboarding of faculty…

• With support of the Talent Team, guide School Leaders in the hiring and management of KIPP St. Louis school faculty
  • Assist School Leaders in the creation and implementation of effective professional development opportunities for their school faculty and approve PD at the school level
  • Act as a talent recruitment liaison and representative of KIPP St. Louis at local functions to recruit high level senior candidates

Assist School Leaders with Budget Management…

• With support of the Directors of School Operations, work with School Leaders to create and implement a comprehensive and fiscally sustainable annual operating budget for their school, for which the School Leader is ultimately responsible
• Supervise the School Leaders to ensure adherence to the Board-approved final budget as well as an ongoing commitment to a culture of strong fiscal management

Perform general tasks that support the KIPP St. Louis community

• Serve as the liaison between the schools and external stakeholders, donors, and third party constituents
• Work with the KIPP St. Louis President of Academics and Executive Director to approve and authorize legal contracts that relate to the schools
• Coordinate the required filing of reports with local, state, and federal education and regulatory agencies
• Other duties as assigned

What you bring to the table: Starting at $125,000

• Bachelor’s degree required, Master’s degree preferred
• 8-10 years of work experience, with 3-5 years of experience leading schools to high levels of performance
• Experience as a school administrator in an urban public school with proven results strongly preferred
• Dedication to helping children grow and learn
• Exceptional organizational skills, including a commitment to maintaining a comprehensive calendar and ability to build and execute on weekly worksheets to guide weekly and monthly priorities.
• Ability to take and quickly implement feedback
• Flexibility with a strong work ethic and entrepreneurial spirit·         
• Strong work ethic coupled with an enthusiastic and passionate approach to work
• Articulate, professional demeanor with strong self-confidence and initiative
• Ability to interact with a broad range of stakeholders with different interests and needs
• Ability to identify and dismantle systems of oppression for students, adults, and in and around school systems.
• Ability to clearly articulate and sell a vision, outline and detail a project plan, and execute it
• Ability to address and solve complex problems and develop creative solutions
• Driven by strong ethics and a determination to work towards organizational effectiveness and efficiency
• Proficiency in Microsoft Office applications (Word, Excel, Outlook, and PowerPoint)
• Proficiency using computers, printers, copy machines, and fax machines
• Must have reliable transportation to travel between campuses  

Physical demands/mental demands/environmental factors:

Regional and office support staff must have the ability to...

• Operate a computer and office equipment on a daily basis
• Do occasional moderate lifting, pushing and pulling
• Frequently move about inside the office/school to access materials and equipment
• Maintain emotional control under stress
• Interpret policy, procedures and data
• Communicate effectively (verbal and written)

What we bring to the table:

We are a fast paced, energetic team and family with passionate people who are leading a movement and to cultivate the their best working environment we provide the following:

• $0 deductible healthcare plan option, including medical, vision and dental. 
• Employer Paid Short Term Disability
• $50,000 life insurance policy at no cost to the employee
• Retirement plan through PSRSSL with a 13.5% match and an optional 403b as a supplement to our pension program
• Employee Recognition: When we succeed together, we celebrate together with our annual gala award ceremony, christmas party, and more
• Public Service student loan forgiveness program qualified employer
• Longevity Bonuses: 2, 5, and 10 year financial rewards
• Generous time off:
  • Paid leave for illness, personal days, bereavement, jury duty, and military-related leave
  • Paid parental leave for new families
  • Paid holidays, as well as a one week Thanksgiving break, a two-week winter break, a week-long spring break
  • Wellness days and Fabulous Fridays (leave at 1:30 on Friday once a month)
• On-going professional  development opportunities:
  • Weekly coaching sessions
  • Weekly school-based professional development
  • Five in-person PD days during the year for all KIPP St. Louis teachers

If you are interested in working at KIPP St. Louis, please visit our website to find out how to apply 

www.kippstl.org/apply

Check out our KIPP St. Louis video to learn more about KIPP St. Louis Public Schools

KIPP St. Louis is committed to creating a diverse, equitable and inclusive environment for all our students, families, teachers, staff and community members. As an equal opportunity employer, we hire without consideration to race, religion, creed, color, national origin, age, gender, sexual orientation, marital status, veteran status or disability.