Chief Academic Officer

Company Description

KIPP Kansas City Public Schools is part of a nationwide network of free, open-enrollment, college-preparatory charter schools dedicated to preparing students in educationally underserved communities for success in college and life. Our strength as a region serves as a catalyst for empowerment, change, and hope.

Founded in 2007, KIPP Kansas City Public Schools began with KIPP Endeavor Academy, serving approximately 31 fifth-grade students. Today, we educate approximately 1,000 students from Pre-K through 12th grade, with our community continuing to expand. Together with families and communities, we strive to create joyful, academically excellent schools that equip students with the skills and confidence to pursue their chosen paths—whether college, career, or beyond—so they can lead fulfilling lives and contribute to a more just world.

Job Description

Under the direction of the Executive Director, the Chief Academic Officer (CAO) serves as the instructional leader of KIPP KC and is responsible for the academic success of the network. The Chief Academic Officer will create, communicate, and execute the academic vision of KIPP KC. This involves developing and implementing both short-term and long-term strategic plans for the network and with individual school leadership teams. The CAO is also responsible for overseeing organization-wide professional learning experiences and ensuring all academic programs are aligned to support student achievement while in compliance with federal and state law.

The Chief Academic Officer will be a part of an executive team that sets the strategic direction of the organization, ensures operational and academic alignment across all schools, and makes key decisions to drive student achievement and organizational health.

Key Responsibilities:

Academic Leadership & Strategy

• Develop an academic vision and long-term strategic plan that aligns with KIPP KC’s mission, ensuring consistency and excellence in instructional models across multiple campuses (K-12).
• Lead the implementation of high-impact academic strategies to ensure rigorous, engaging educational programs that improve student outcomes.
• Plan, develop, implement, assess, and improve academic policies and practices to support instructional excellence.
• Observe systems and classrooms to diagnose data gaps and provide fixes.
  
  

Curriculum Development & Instructional Design

• Design and implement a standards-based curriculum. The CAO will have direct oversight of the roles that align to curriculum, academics and specialized cohorts.
• Ensure all curricula are aligned with KIPP KC’s academic model and in compliance with national and state standards.
• Collaborate with the Chief Schools Officer and school leadership to develop, implement, and monitor an effective multi-tiered system of support (MTSS) framework that ensures students meet academic and individual learning goals.
• Manage and partner with the Director of Student Support Services to implement appropriate and responsive behavior interventions that meet students’ unique social, emotional, mental, and academic needs.
  
  

Professional Development & Staff Support

• Develop and oversee network-wide professional learning to build on teacher strengths, identify areas for growth, and enhance instructional effectiveness.
• Knowledgeable of and provides professional development, guidance and support on KIPP KC Curriculum and Assessments (i.e. DIBELS, CKLA, Eureka Math, Fish Tank, Novel ELA, Illustrative Math, etc.)
• Knowledgeable of and provides professional development, guidance and support on student data platforms (Renaissance DNA, Infinite Campus, Amplify, iReady, etc.)
  
  

Assessment & Accountability

• Utilize student achievement data to drive instructional decisions, evaluate program effectiveness, and ensure school accountability.
• Lead and manage academic progress monitoring meetings to drive shifts in curriculum implementation and assessment strategy based on data.
• Develop network-wide assessment systems to track progress across multiple campuses. The CAO will manage the roles aligned to data and assessment management.
• Provide leadership to ensure campuses maintain exceptional academic progress in the areas of attendance, grades, matriculation, and graduation. Facilitate the evaluation and monitoring of academic programs and outcomes.
  
  

Leadership and Management

• Lead and develop a high-performing Academic Team, directly managing four direct reports while fostering a culture of excellence, collaboration, and continuous learning to drive strong instructional leadership across the network.
• Build strong relationships with families, community partners, board members, and stakeholders to foster collaborative decision-making.
• Oversee all academic-related compliance activities, including authorizer oversight, Title I funding, IDEA, and state assessment standards
• Oversees development of partnerships with external programs to support academic growth, and teacher and leadership development.
  
  

Qualifications

• A minimum of 10 years of professional K-12 experience, including at least five years as a successful K-12 principal
• At least two years of network/district leadership, senior leadership, or chief-level leadership preferred
• Bachelor’s Degree from an accredited four-year institution; a master’s degree in education or a related field, or comparable management-level experience preferred
• Experience teaching and leading at a high-performing charter or district school in a community with a similar student population to the communities KIPP KC serves
• A proven track record of improving student achievement in a challenging context using data to drive student achievement results
• Proven experience coaching senior leaders and school leaders in a K-12 setting
• Extensive experience in the design, integration, implementation, and management of a school including knowledge of curriculum, instructional practices, assessments, pedagogy, school management, and leadership development
• Demonstrated success fostering a strong student and adult culture across a school or network of schools.
• Teacher and Principal Certification required
• Curriculum & Instruction Certification preferred
  
  

Skills And Competencies

• Cultural competence with a commitment to equitable practices and systems
• Reflective, analytical leader who makes data-based decisions
• Relationship builder who effectively interacts with a variety of stakeholders including students, parents, teachers, school leaders, and community leaders
• High degree of emotional intelligence
• Exceptional coach who can identify, develop, and retain outstanding talent
• Ability to manage ambiguity and prioritize effectively
• Outstanding written, oral, and organizational skills
• Proactive problem solver
• Commitment and unwavering belief in KIPP KC’s mission and vision
• Strong growth mindset and self-awareness
• Personal qualities of maturity, humility, and a strong work ethic
• Intellectually curious and willing to give and receive feedback
  
  

Physical Requirements:

The physical demands described here are representative of those that must be met by an employee to successfully perform the essential functions of this position. Reasonable accommodations may be made to enable individuals with disabilities to perform the functions.

• The person in this position needs to be able to move about inside and outside the school or office throughout the work day.
• The candidate is expected to attend conferences, meetings and training sessions both virtually and in person within the region.
  
  

Additional Information

Work Environment & Schedule

• This is a 12-month role and will report to work in-person, Monday through Friday.
• Some occasional nights and weekends may be required for special events (e.g. Parent Nights, fundraisers, etc.)
• The individual will work in school and office environments with frequent interruptions.
  
  

Travel Requirements:

• Ability to travel to all KIPP KC campuses.
• Occasional travel out of state may be necessary for conferences, school visits, etc.
  
  

Compensation and Benefits:

Salary is based on years of experience, educational background, and level of expertise. The salary range for this role is $100,000 - $125,000.

As a full-time KIPP Kansas City employee, you are eligible to participate in all KIPP Kansas City benefit plans. We offer a comprehensive range of benefits with competitive rates, including medical, dental, and vision options, as well as life insurance, fertility, and disability plans.

KIPP Kansas City is committed to the professional growth and development of our staff. We provide numerous opportunities for advancement, ongoing professional development, and leadership training to help you achieve your career goals.

KIPP Kansas City provides equal employment opportunities for all applicants and employees. As an equal opportunity employer, we hire without consideration of race, religion, creed, color, national origin, age, gender, sexual orientation, marital status, veteran status, or disability.