Chief Schools 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

The Chief Schools Officer (CSO) is a key member of the executive leadership team, responsible for ensuring that all schools in the network achieve exceptional academic outcomes, operate effectively, and create joyful, inclusive learning environments. The CSO provides direct supervision and support to school principals, driving excellence in instructional leadership, school culture, and talent development. This leader plays a critical role in aligning school-level execution with the network’s strategic vision, building strong school teams, and fostering a data-driven, equity-centered approach to continuous improvement.

Key Responsibilities

Instructional Leadership

• Partner with school leaders to ensure effective curriculum implementation, high-quality instruction, and rigorous progress monitoring
• Facilitate network-wide cycles of instructional improvement, including progress monitoring, data analysis, strategic planning, and implementation of research-based practices
• Partner with the Chief Academic Officer to ensure school initiatives align with broader organizational goals and strategic academic priorities
• Collaborate cross-functionally to ensure schools have the academic, operational, and talent support needed to thrive
• Serve as a member of the Executive Team and contribute to long-term planning for network growth and continuous improvement
  
  

Teacher & Leader Development

• Directly manage and coach the Executive Principal, ensuring strong results and academic and cultural alignment across all campuses
• Build leadership capacity across the network by coaching and supporting school leadership teams
• Design and oversee systems for continuous observation and feedback
• Collaborate with the Director of HR & Talent to implement teacher and instructional staff evaluations
• Collaborate with network leaders to coach teachers and leaders to build a strong leadership pipeline to sustain network growth
• Knowledgeable of and provides professional development, guidance and support on student data platforms (Renaissance DNA, Infinite Campus, LiveSchool, Clever, etc.)
  
  

Post-Secondary Success

• Manage the Director of Post-Secondary Match & Success
• Ensure all students receive comprehensive advising, exposure opportunities, and individualized support aligned with their post-secondary goals
• Use data to drive program improvement and strengthen students’ post-secondary success, including, but not limited to GPA, ACT, AP, EOC, and College Matriculation data
  
  

School Culture: Student Experience & Community Engagement

• Oversee student activities, enrichment programs, and community engagement efforts to cultivate inclusive and joyful school environments; the CSO will directly manage roles aligned to student enrichment and community engagement programming
• Ensure consistent practices across schools for building strong relationships with families and fostering a sense of belonging
• Collaborate with school teams to design initiatives that reflect the values, identities, and voices of the communities served
• Facilitate collaboration among principals, academic staff, and parents to resolve student-related concerns.
• Provide professional development, guidance and support to schools on student discipline matters.
  
  

Leadership and Management

• Lead and develop a high-performing team, directly managing multiple 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.
  
  

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 managing principals 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
• Demonstrated success fostering a strong student and adult culture across a school or network of schools.
• Teacher and Principal Certification required
• Superintendent 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.