26-27 School Leader in Residence

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 early-mid February 2026 and the full process concluding by March 2026, with July 2026 start dates. Applications received after February will be considered on a rolling, and as-needed basis.

Role Summary: School Leader in Residence

The ideal School Leader in Residence candidate is a leader seeking a future School Leader position as either a founder of new schools or successor at existing schools. You have a strong track record of successful outcomes achieved through your strategic and inspiring leadership of others.

Residents are enrolled in our rigorous Residency accelerator program to develop specific School Leader-ready skills and competencies. The Residency structure includes: 

• Placement at host schools to both shadow a current School Leader and to take on specific leadership responsibilities at the host campus, with accountability to the results of the school(s)/teams you support

• Significant formal learning and leadership coaching provided by multiple leaders throughout the organization, including Head of School/Managing Director of Schools, Director of Leadership Development, Host School Leader, additional mentors, etc.

• Mid-year application for available School Leader roles for the forthcoming school year

Critical Competencies and Skills

Embody a growth mindset:

• Accept and effectively incorporate constructive feedback with urgency
• Operate with a high level of flexibility and ownership, taking on various leadership responsibilities to support host school(s), the region, and your unique leadership growth areas

Communicate effectively and inspirationally:

• Articulate and consistently communicate a clear, compelling vision for your leadership brand and future 
• Inspire others to commit to, and fulfill, outstanding outcomes
• Consistently prepare and execute highly effective meetings, professional development sessions, and presentations
• Build trusting relationships with all stakeholders across the organization

Drive outstanding outcomes through leading others:

• Develop teacher/leader capacity through observations, walkthroughs, real time coaching, and data analysis through O3s focused on student data and coaching towards goals, weekly walkthroughs, and frequent observation of leader work
• Leverage strong content knowledge and data analysis skills to drive results both within and outside of your area of expertise
• Create and execute data-driven strategic plans to meet goals
• Effectively manage teammates, ensuring that high performers continue thriving and struggling teammates receive clear feedback, coaching, and accountability
• Design new systems or improve existing systems to ensure all domains of the school are efficient and contributing to school goals/priorities

Uphold a Culture of Excellence for staff, students, and community:

• Demonstrate personal excellence at all times (consistently professional, productive, prepared, and positive)
• Embody and model our organization values: Kid Focus, Radical Love, Excellence, TEAM, Fun
• Consistently reinforces high expectations for all students and all teammates all the time, using motivation, clarity, and accountability appropriately and effectively
• Engage families and community stakeholders proactively and productively as partners in school goals
• Contribute positively and productively on all teams (Resident cohort, host school teams, regional teams, etc.)

Role Qualifications

• Bachelor’s Degree
• Demonstrated student achievement results from teachers and leaders that the leader manages and coaches
• Strong track record with achieving results through others, including community partnerships
• Demonstrated success in developing leadership capacity in others 
• Demonstrated resilience and focus on student outcomes
• Ability to set direction across an entire school and motivate others to action 
• Adept at data analysis; ability to extract meaningful insights across school-wide data using pertinent software applications
• Expertise in what the school-wide academic standards and state assessments require of students’ knowledge and skills to demonstrate mastery; able to translate student mastery requirements into instructional plans and strategies  
• Deep understanding of appropriate application and differentiation of high-leverage instructional strategies (e.g. make kids sweat, pacing, stretch it, etc.) based on comprehension of child development and pedagogy 
• Command of instructional design and the benefits and tradeoffs of school design decisions in driving student achievement at the high school level
• Strong critical thinking and problem-solving skills
• Strong public speaking presence 
• Operating standard office equipment
• Operating classroom technology equipment (ie. smartboards, projectors, Chromebooks, computers)

Physical Requirements

The usual and customary methods of performing the job’s functions require the following physical demands:

• Prolonged periods of working at the computer and sitting at desk.
• Travel to various school locations in Newark, Paterson, Camden, and South Florida

Reasonable accommodations may be made to enable qualified individuals with disabilities to perform the essential functions of this job.

KIPP Team & Family offers a market-competitive salary of $120,000 for School Leader in Residence. Salary ranges at KIPP are set based upon the role level and function, using benchmarks in the education and non-profit sectors, 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 offer a generous benefits package including, but not limited to, the following:  

• Robust benefits that include medical, dental, and vision 
• Optional participation in our 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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