Director, KIPP Forward

Company Description

KIPP
KIPP Public Schools is a network of 280 public charter schools, 15,000 educators and 175,000 students and alumni.  While each of our schools is as unique as the community to which it belongs, we are united around a shared promise: Together, A Future Without Limits. You can learn more at www.kipp.org.

WHY TEACH AT KIPP?
At KIPP, we see the gifts in everyone who walks through the doors of our schools - especially our teachers. Their skill. Energy, Love. Their determination. On the good days and on the hard days. So we support our teachers to make the most of those gifts

The KIPP Difference 

• Respect - For our teachers’ innate talent and desire to learn, for their professional growth, and for the lives they lead beyond our walls. We offer pay and benefits that reflect our appreciation for the invaluable role our teachers play in lighting paths to opportunity for students

• Support - As our teachers progress through the day, the year, and their careers, we ensure they always feel the KIPP Team and Family at their backs, with opportunities to lead and support to grow

• Purpose - Together, our students, schools, families and communities share an ambitious mission to create a future without limits. We need talented teachers to realize it. Shape the future for your students and yourself by joining us in our work. 

KIPP Jacksonville Public Schools
KIPP Jacksonville Public Schools  is part of the KIPP national network. 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. 

In the 2025-26 school year, the KIPP Jacksonville region will be comprised of four schools educating 3,000 students, kindergarten through twelfth grade, in the North and Westsides of Jacksonville, Florida:

• KIPP Impact Academy: Kindergarten – 8th grade
• KIPP VOICE Academy: Kindergarten – 8th grade
• KIPP Bessie Coleman Academy: Kindergarten – 8th grade
• KIPP Bold City High School: 9th - 12th grade

For the current school year, teachers at KIPP Jacksonville Public Schools work the following hours Monday through Friday and may have occasional meetings or special school events outside of these hours. Hours for teachers and students may vary slightly by school.

• K-8 Staff: 7:30am - 4:30pm K-8 Students: 8:00am - 3:30pm, Wednesday K-8 dismissal is at 1:30pm 

• High School Staff: 6:45am - 3:45pm, High School Students: 7:15am - 2:30pm, Wednesday High School dismissal is at 12:30pm. 

Every Wednesday is a student early release day, which allows teachers to participate in weekly professional development and content team meetings. *This doesn’t include Wellness Wednesdays when all staff leave at student dismissal. 

To support these schools, we will employ approximately almost 300 full-time staff members. We seek educators and colleagues that represent our core values of high expectations, growth mindset, commitment to team, trust, joy, and sustainability. To learn more about what it is like to work and teach at KIPP Jacksonville Public Schools, please visit www.kippjax.org/teach. To see all openings, visit our Regional Job Board.

Job Description

JOB SUMMARY
The Director of KIPP Forward is the champion for KIPP Jacksonville’s college and career readiness  strategy for students and alumni. The Director of KIPP Forward (DKF) is a high-level thinker and advocate that cares deeply about preparing KIPPsters for college, career, and beyond. The DFK manages the KIPP Forward team (previously known as the KIPP Through College team) and leads their team to specific student and alumni outcomes related to college and career readiness and persistence. They are a storyteller and can advocate for what alumni need both in collaboration with our K-12 model and beyond. 

The ideal candidate for this position will have a deep passion for social justice and educational equity for all children, an extensive knowledge of college and career pathways for students, and best-in-class relationship building and collaboration skills. 

The Director of KIPP Forward will focus primarily in the following areas: 

1. Strategic planning for college and career readiness across the region, including creating structures of collaboration with the region’s first high school

2. Alumni support, specifically those who have opted into post-secondary pathways

3. Being a champion and advocating for student needs and preparation that will equip them to pursue the paths they choose (college, career, and beyond)

Success would be measured by: 

1. Creating a comprehensive strategy for the KIPP Forward team that is aligned with region-wide vision and goals, including maintaining college partners 

2. Leading a team to meet specific student outcomes, including: 

   1. Postsecondary wish list development

   2. Personal Statement Development

   3. ACT/SAT outcomes

   4. FAFSA completion rates

   5. CTE Completion

   6. Postsecondary Program Application Submission Rates (CTE, Military, College)

   7. Postsecondary Enrollment/Engagement Rates (CTE, Military, College)

   8. Postsecondary Persistence Rates

   9. Postsecondary Completion Rates

This position is year-round and performs other duties as assigned by their manager. As a member of the Shared Services team, this individual would be responsible for doing whatever it takes to ensure that students develop the knowledge, skills, and character strengths they need to succeed throughout their education and in the competitive world beyond. Typical hours are 8:00 a.m. to 5:00 p.m. but can vary based on role and season.

SPECIFIC DUTIES

Managing & Influencing Others

• Lead, manage, and develop the Director of College and Career Counseling (DCCC), Manager of Postsecondary Transition,  and Manager of Postsecondary Outcomes

• Oversee the management of the KIPP Forward Salesforce Database, Overgrad, and use KIPP student and alumni data to inform the work of the KIPP Forward team and to improve the preparation of KIPP Jacksonville Public Schools students for college, career, and beyond

• Proactively engages key stakeholders – students, parents, staff, community, and board – in working towards ensuring high school completion and college matriculation and completion for all KIPP Jacksonville alumni

• Manage the KIPP Forward budget and collaborate with the finance team to ensure accurate financial reporting and responsible budget development

Strategy
 

• Creates and manages implementation of the KIPP Forward Strategic plan in alignment to the region-wide vision and goals

• Cultivate, maintain, and leverage new or existing KIPP College partnerships to promote and ensure avenues of college access, success, persistence, and completion

• Develops strategic partnerships with organizations that can help prepare alumni for success in high school, college, and career; including providing academic support, social support, summer opportunities, and career enrichment opportunities

• Analyzes KIPP Forward data, quantifies current outcomes and future demands, maps current dosage and duration of services, and develops a clear vision of how the KIPP Jacksonville region is supporting the To and Through mission

• Manages KIPP Forward communication, events, and services focused on college readiness, career readiness, college access, college persistence, and college completion

Region-Wide & Network-Wide Collaboration

• Maintains communication with KIPP-wide KIPP Forward community via emails, KIPP Main Office, conference calls, webinars, and retreats

• Collaborates with professional learning communities and attends professional development conferences to improve knowledge and skills

• Collaborates with regional and high school leadership to create a vision for college and career readiness in grades 9-12, including partnering on seminar class curriculum and anticipated outcomes (i.e. GPA targets) 

• Act as point person for all regional communication around KIPP Forward programming, initiatives, and new developments

Qualifications

REQUIREMENTS

• Six (6) years of experience in a role relevant to college and career readiness, including academic advising and/or college and career counseling

• 3 years of experience managing other adults

• A deep commitment to KIPP Jacksonville’s mission, vision, and values, including modeling inclusive language and beliefs in the ability of all students to be successful

• Proven record of success and commitment to working with issues related to equitable outcomes for underserved students. 

HIGHLY PREFERRED

• Prior experience working with families, particularly those with first or second-generation college students

• Prior experience working with students, specifically 9-12 or college-aged

COMPENSATION

• Pay is commensurate on experience

• Free individual health benefits (including medical, dental and vision)

• 403(b) retirement program with a company match

• All staff members receive individualized support and professional development

Additional Information

APPLY

Please complete an application and upload a resume via our job board. No applicants will be considered that submit resumes through other job postings. Link to job board here: https://careers.smartrecruiters.com/KIPP/jacksonville  

Please note in the application if you have a school preference based on location. 

If you're a current KIPP Jax team member, you should:

1) Inform your current manager of your interest in the role and

2) Complete the online application

QUESTIONS
If you have questions about positions at KIPP Jacksonville, please email LaShawnda Anderson at [email protected]. Please understand that resumes and/or cover letters are not accepted via email and you will be redirected to apply via the website.

KIPP Jacksonville Public Schools is committed to a policy of equal treatment for all individuals applying for employment at our schools. KIPP Jacksonville does not discriminate on the basis of race, color, gender, handicap, age, religion, sexual orientation or national or ethnic origin.