Chief Schools & Program Officer Role

About the Chief Schools & Program Officer Role: The Chief Schools & Program Officer (CSPO) reports to KIPP CO’s Chief Executive Officer (CEO) and serves as a member of the region’s Executive Team. In partnership with the CEO, the CSPO is responsible for overseeing the school and academic experience of our KIPP students (KIPPsters) from Early Childhood Education through 12^th grade, including support for alumni through college and career. As the senior-most academic leader on the Executive Team and the leader of the School Team and the Academic Program Team, the CSPO will lead the creation and execution of the academic vision and strategy for the region, and is ultimately accountable for the region-wide academic results for all KIPP CO students and alumni. Using an anti-racist and equity lens, the CSPO sets student outcome goals in alignment with KIPP CO’s overall strategic plan, leads the design and implementation of the region’s instructional model and program, drives student results through school-based and regional staff, and regularly monitors student and school performance. The CSPO manages the region’s largest team, which includes: Managing Director of Academics and Teacher Development and the Academic team, two Managing Directors of Schools who oversee the KIPP CO principals, the KIPP Forward Program, the Early Childhood (Preschool) Program, and the Manager of Academic Systems and Compliance.

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 2,500 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.

You should consider this role if you are…

• An outstanding instructional leader with a strong record of achieving excellent student outcomes: KIPP Colorado’s next CSPO will have strong experience leading identity-affirming schools to achieve outstanding academic and social results with predominantly Latinx students and students from traditionally under-resourced communities. The CSPO will have a strong academic and programmatic vision and experience designing, planning, implementing an academic and programmatic vision, and managing schools to achieve that vision. This will include strong experience leading multi-school change management and programmatic initiatives to improve academic culture and achieve excellent academic results for ALL students, with equity (e.g., low suspensions, low attrition)

• Capacity builder with a deep belief in the potential of people to grow, develop and learn: The CSPO believes that school improvement is a human endeavor and knows how to design and implement systems that build system-wide capacity to improve teaching and learning. The CSPO will be an architect of systems to support strong coaching and improvement practices with a focus on rapid improvement. The CSPO consistently fosters individual and organizational improvement by designing and implementing systems that support people to continuously improve at the day-to-day work of leading schools and teaching students. 
• A systems thinker, change management expert and designer of organizations: This role requires a strategic mindset, ensuring that structures, processes, resources, and actions are aligned to support student learning and healthy child development. The CSPO must balance supporting individual teams, driving regional initiatives, and contributing to the collective success of the organization. With expertise in change management and organizational development, you actively employ systems-level thinking necessary to drive meaningful improvement. You are energized by scaling solutions, developing talent, and ensuring that every effort contributes to the broader mission and vision.

• An anti-racist, equity and culture champion: The CSPO will contribute to organizational vision for equity and drive the vision and strategy for academic equity. You will champion educational equity as a guiding principle across the entire school network, and ensure it is reflected in curriculum, instruction, and assessment systems. Approach issues with an explicit values-based lens and bring a skill set that includes getting to the root of adaptive challenges and tackling equity issues manifested at the systemic level. You must demonstrate high levels of empathy and work hard to understand the experience of people of all identities at all levels of the organization 

Role-Specific Outcomes and Measures of Success

The CSPO will take ultimate responsibility for instructional quality, academic performance and measures of success for our students, alumni, and schools to ensure we are serving families and operating high-quality schools. These metrics will make up our KIPP CO regional scorecard and be the ultimate measures of accountability for the person in this role. Metrics are inclusive of, but not limited.

• Each KIPP CO school “meets expectations” on the state of Colorado School Performance Framework (SPF)
• Each KIPP CO school achieves a 60+ median growth percentile (MGP) on all north star state assessments (ACCESS, CMAS, P/SAT) 
• 50% of students in grades 3rd - 8th are on grade level in math and ELA as measured by CMAS
• 50% of students in grades 9th - 12th earn a “college-ready score” in math and ELA as measured by the Colorado P/SAT
• 80% of students meet or exceed typical i-Ready Growth
• 65% of students in grades K-2 score at or above benchmark as measured by mCLASS DIBELS
• 100% of seniors will apply to college; 100% of seniors will have a post secondary plan. 85% of seniors matriculate to college, CTE or military; 15% of seniors are career bound
• 80% annual retention of school leaders and/or teachers 

Academic Vision and Strategy: 

• Sets the vision, strategy and leads the implementation of KIPP Colorado’s ECE-12 instructional model to achieve breakthrough student results, promote a strong culture of teaching and learning excellence, and foster educational equity for all students.
• Ensure academic alignment at all levels, and take ultimate responsibility for instructional quality and academic performance across the region. 
• Aligned to and/or as part of KIPP CO’s Building Together strategic plan and KIPP Foundation’s One KIPP plan, establish a regional academic vision, strategy and goals that attends to our RIDE Commitments, Portrait of a Graduate, and Commitment to an Exceptional Student Experience. 
• Supervise and support principal managers to align school programs and implementation with the mission, beliefs, priorities, and initiatives of KIPP CO. 
• Oversee the development of strong region-wide plans to achieve this vision including metrics, indicators, and key initiatives that align to the broader regional strategic plan and organizational outcome metrics.
• As part of the annual planning process, oversee the annual school readiness process and arc of the year development in collaboration with the Executive Team, Managing Directors and Senior Directors.
• Work with MDs of Schools and MD of Academics and Teacher Development to ensure alignment and cohesion between Assistant Principal/Instructional Leader/Teacher and Principal  
• Ensure ongoing development of team members to ensure a pipeline of talent on the Program Leadership Team

School Management: 

• Directly manage two Managing Directors of Schools to meet outcomes and develop their respective teams
• Support Managing Directors of Schools to set clear expectations for principals on academic outcomes, school culture and student experience, and related goals. Also work with MDS’s  to actively coach and develop principals to deepen their effectiveness across all aspects of school leadership
• Support MDs of Schools to serve as the central point of contact with principals and the regional team, ensuring high-quality ECE-12 and KIPP Forward academic and cultural experience for students through support, accountability and coaching of principals and coordination of regional resources.
• Support and hold accountable MDs of Schools to work with principals to implement regional academic vision, strategy and goals through school-level academic practices.
• Ensure continuous school-based and regional monitoring of student progress toward outcomes and related goals, including regular data analysis and evaluation of aligned instructional and social emotional development strategies
• Actively communicate academic progress against goals and outcome targets to school, regional, and other relevant stakeholders
• Partner with Chief People Officer and Talent Team to ensure the development of a school leadership pipeline for all levels of campus leadership, in particular principals

Academic Program Leadership:

• Directly manage the Managing Director of Academics and Teacher Development to implement curriculum and assessments, meet outcomes, and develop their respective teams
• Ensure clear and integrated vision for all programs aligned to national best practices, grounded in equity, opportunity, student-centered, supporting each individual KIPP CO student to achieve graduate profile.
• Manage all aspects of assessment administration, including standard operating procedure development, support for site assessment leaders, tracking completion rates, and overall coordination to ensure efficient and accurate execution.
• Oversee region-wide professional development including logistics, facilitating professional development for teachers in pedagogy and their specific content areas, in partnership with Regional Content Leads and Principals
• Monitor progress to ensure all KIPP students are on track to achieve goals and graduate aims. Support development and execution of strategy aligned with goals and academic vision. Programs include: 
  • Leader Development (inclusive of PIR, principals, and all campus-based leaders)
  • Teacher Development
  • KIPP Forward 
  • Special Services (IEP, 504, G&T, MTSS, Mental Health and SEL) 
  • Multilingual Education 
  • Early Childhood Education
  • School Culture and Student Experience (inclusive of athletics)

• Set a clear vision for the KIPP Forward program aligned to our graduate profile and national best practices, grounded in equity, opportunity, and access
• Support development and execution of alumni strategy to ensure connections with graduates, to promote persistence in whatever path they choose, and to support path shifts or reformulation where necessary

Senior Leadership: 

• Along with the CEO and other members of the Executive Team, serve as one of the most senior leaders in our organization, helping us achieve our goals, exercising strong judgment in making critical decisions about what we prioritize and how we operate, and ensuring collaboration, cohesion and relational trust across all functional areas of the organization 
• Serve as the primary liaison to the KIPP Colorado Board of Directors’ School Performance Committee to share the vision for and progress in academic achievement in schools
• Engage with KIPP Foundation to ensure alignment and coherence with national priorities and expectations and serve as point of contact for KIPP Foundation academic initiatives
• Makes leadership decisions with student’s and families’ best interests and needs in mind and holds peers and staff accountable to do the same
• Leverage effective change management practices and strategies that are people- and relationship-centric
• Manages change to align teachers, instructional staff, and leaders with the instructional vision, as well as providing coaching, training, and tools to ensure effective implementation of curriculum and instructional programs.
• Serve as the liaison to Denver Public Schools, our authorizer, for compliance matters, ensuring adherence to regulations and policies related to ECE, MLE, Read Act, 504, and discipline.

Academic and Organizational Equity:

• Contribute to organizational RIDE Commitments vision and drive the vision and strategy for academic equity, including dismantling and disrupting academic and student culture systems that are inequitable, racist, or biased. Promote educational equity (equitable outcomes and processes) as a guiding principle across the entire school network, and ensure it is reflected in curriculum, instruction, and assessment systems. 
• Establish and promote a clear vision of educational equity for all students as a guiding principle across all schools, and ensure it is reflected in curriculum, instruction, and program offerings, including for all special population students and services. 
• In partnership with COSO, develop organization-wide systems to collect input, analyze data on equity at schools (both qualitative and quantitative), and monitor/report on progress.

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 (regardless of my role and its proximity to students)
• 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. Such as: internalizing and preparing for lessons; preparing for O3s/coaching, preparing for meetings, coaching, PD, 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 (google documents, etc.) and Microsoft Suite (including but not limited to your KIPP Colorado email, Teams chat / meetings, Teams phone, and Microsoft outlook) 
• 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
• Actively engage and implement in all school-wide and Org wide professional development
• Serve as a positive, contributing member of a grade team or functional team, collaborating with colleagues to tackle common challenges and implement org and grade-wide initiatives
• Share candid, solutions-oriented feedback with peers and leadership on a regular basis, assuring that feedback is shared directly with the intended recipient. Ensure that feedback is focused on improving outcomes and experiences for students
• Assist with both student and staff recruitment and engagement- including events, home visits, calls home, and other determined and related requirements
• Know that you role, professional development, org wide meetings, etc. may require you to travel around Denver to other KIPP Campuses, our Home Office, or other KIPP or PD events 
• Assist with other duties as assigned (such as but not limited to, lunch duty, arrival/dismissal duty, bathroom duty, school support duties, etc.) 

Role Level Specifics, Scope of Work, and Level of Responsibility

• For more about how you’ll lead at this level, please visit the KIPP Colorado Role Levels Matrix (this is an internal document, only)

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

• Minimum 10 years of progressive work experience with 6 years of supervisory and management experience, preferably in a large, dynamic, mission-driven organization managing large multi-layer teams (required)
• Minimum 3 years of experience in a Principal role with a record of achieving outstanding academic results for students from traditionally under-resourced communities or populations (required) 
• Minimum 3 years of experience managing and/or coaching principals or school system leaders to drive student academic results (required)
• Ability to set a clear academic vision and aligned priorities, develop strategic plans, and empower others to achieve them
• A full understanding and Commitment to an Exceptional Student Experience (more about that HERE) (required) 
• Deep knowledge and experience in the design, integration, implementation, and management of a school or school system including knowledge of curricula, instructional practices, school operations and management, and teacher and leader development
• Demonstrated effectiveness in exceptional people leadership and management, including selection and hiring, coaching and development, managing and improving performance, building inclusive and effective adult culture, and retention and promotion of top performers
• Demonstrated success in leading others to close learning gaps for students, particularly between subgroups and for special populations of students who are often the most marginalized (including special education, English language learners, etc.)
• Experience working within predominantly Latinx and/or under-resourced communities; professional experience in or personal ties to Northeast and Southwest Denver, preferred
• Experience dismantling systems of oppression for students with adults and in schools, generally

Employee retention and satisfaction is imperative for KIPP Colorado. We seek to provide competitive compensation and benefits including the following:

• Competitive Market Salary: Starting salary for this role begins at $173,400 and is commensurate with experience
  • Please submit a comprehensive resume to assure all your experience is accounted for! Tip: We don't care if your resume is more than one page, we are eager to see and compensate you for all of your experience and accomplishments
• Excellent Healthcare Plan: 100% of employee-only monthly premium paid by KIPP Colorado and options for family enrollment and coverage, through United Healthcare

• Time Off !!!: More than 6 weeks of annual vacation and Paid Time Off (PTO) 
  • Based on hire date, employees are eligible for up to 8 days of Paid Time Off (PTO) 
  • All employees receive summer break through an organization-wide closure, based on work location and position
  • Access to parental and medical leave: includes 6 weeks paid and 6 weeks unpaid for a total of 12 weeks (after your first year)

• Career Trajectory: Access to opportunity to move up, across schools, and grow your career during weekly coaching sessions to refine your craft

• Mental Health Care: Immediate and ongoing access to mental health support through our Employee Assistance Program

• Technology & Access: Equipment provided: laptop & phone 

• Retirement Planning: Participation in the Colorado PERA retirement program, including a PERA 401k option
• Move to Join Us: Relocation reimbursement (when applicable)
• Additional Pay: Most schools offer various stipend opportunities
• Other Insurance Options: 
  • Wellness reimbursement
  • Voluntary employee, spousal, and child life insurance
  • Voluntary long term disability insurance
  • Voluntary short term disability insurance
  • Optional Basic Life and AD&D Insurance

• Additional Information: For more information, you can view our benefits FAQ here