26-27 Assistant Principal

About KIPP New Jersey

KIPP New Jersey is part of the nationally recognized “Knowledge Is Power Program” network of free, open-enrollment, college-preparatory public schools dedicated to preparing students for success in college and in life. In 2002, KIPP New Jersey first opened its doors in Newark’s South Ward as a single class of 80 fifth graders and has since grown to educate students in grades K-12 across 18 schools in Newark, Camden, and Paterson. More than 90% of KIPP New Jersey students currently qualify for free or reduced meals.

We anticipate beginning interviews in mid-to-late February 2026 and the full process concluding by April 2026, with July 2026 start dates. Applications received after February will be considered on a rolling, and as-needed basis.

Assistant Principals are the primary driver of instructional outcomes for a specific grade level or content area, spending over 75% of their time on leadership that accelerates student achievement. Ideal candidates are former high-impact teachers with proven results in adult management and coaching. APs empower high-performing educators, develop new staff, and manage teacher performance through a dedicated equity lens. They are strategic decision-makers responsible for a subset of the school's student and teacher population, fostering a community of continuous growth.

Here’s what you’ll be doing:

Instructional Leadership

• Strong Content Knowledge: Knows essential content, rigor of standards, and highly effective teaching strategies well enough to establish and maintain a standard and coach it; is able to readily adapt to leverage resources across less-known or more nuanced subject areas
• Develops the capacity of teachers in achieving results through  observations, walkthroughs, real time coaching, and data analysis through O3s focused on student data and coaching towards goals
• Collaborates with Achievement Directors and other Teaching & Learning TEAMmates to monitor achievement data and IP and inform the instructional leadership development of teachers
• Audits, analyzes, and progress monitors data weekly to inform strategic decisions and priorities
• Designs and leads high quality professional development such that it results in improved teacher effectiveness
• Ensures there’s an effective testing environment, investment, and procedures for testing

Student Culture

• Consistently reinforces high expectations for all students all the time
• Actively develops school culture where students find joy in learning and where students are joyful and engaged
• Creates a culture in which teachers build strong and lasting relationships with students, especially the most challenging students
• Builds an inclusive student environment, ensuring that all student voices are heard and incorporated
• Speaks to violations of culture and holds staff accountable to values / professional infractions with interactions with kids

Staff Culture

• Celebrates and shows appreciation regularly for teammates
• Actively develops school culture where teachers find joy in teaching and student learning
• Consistently models and reinforces high expectations for all staff all the time
• Develops clearly articulated systems for how the staff culture will function (e.g., coaching, department meetings, etc.)

Community Engagement

• Engages families and community stakeholders proactively and productively as partners in school goals. Works with families who have concerns and helps address them.
• Creates a culture and expectation that teachers reach out to parents and enlist their proactive support in their child’s long-term success

Talent Management

• Ensures each direct report has a high quality performance management process including regular observations, assignment of microgoals, and thoughtful, written evaluations
• Identifies top performing teachers at regular points throughout the school year and works strategically to retain them
• Manages struggling performers through goal setting and increased support. Manages out low performers when necessary

Qualifications

• Bachelor’s degree
• Student Focus: Belief that all students, regardless of background, have the ability to go to and through college; demonstrated commitment to the school’s unique community
• Achievement Orientation: Demonstrated student achievement results in own classroom and from teachers that he/she manages
• Cultural Competence: Demonstrated ability to create inclusive environments that honor and support a diversity of backgrounds and perspectives
• Instructional Leadership: Adept at data analysis and strong content knowledge
• High Expectations: Sets and upholds high expectations for students academically and behaviorally
• Results through Others: Evidence of ability to teach other skills in classroom management and effective lesson execution
• Relationship Building: Evidence of ability to build strong relationships with students, staff, and families
• Strong critical thinking and problem-solving skills
• Experience coaching and managing others and/or leading a team to results

KIPP Team & Family offers a market-competitive salary ranging from $90,000-$135,000 based on experience. Salary ranges at KIPP are set based upon the role level and function using benchmarks in the education and non-profit sector and allow for growth within the role.  Individual compensation within this range will be set  based on a variety of factors, including but not limited to: relevant professional experience and qualifications; education, skills and training; and market conditions.  

In addition to a competitive salary, we a generous benefits package including, but not limited to, the following:  

• Robust benefits that include medical, dental, and vision 
• Optional participation in the KIPP NJ 403b retirement plan, including matching contributions
• A school-issued laptop
• Generous Time-Off including 3.5-4 school vacation weeks (depending on the year), allocated sick and personal days, and an extended summer break 
• Up to 12 weeks 100% parental leave for primary caregivers
• Employer paid life insurance
• Extensive optional ancillary benefits including, short term and long term disability and accident and hospital indemnity

Our organization is an equal opportunity employer. All qualified applicants will receive consideration for employment without regard to race, color, sex, gender, age, religion, national origin, citizen status, marital status, physical or mental disability, military or veteran status, sexual orientation, gender identity, or any other characteristic protected by applicable law. Our organization will make a reasonable accommodation to known physical or mental limitations of a qualified applicant or employee with a disability unless the accommodation would impose an undue hardship on the operation of the organization. No questions on this application are asked for any unlawful purpose.

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