Assistant Principal of Middle School Humanities - Camden

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 7,035 students in grades K-12 across 15 schools in Newark and Camden. More than 90% of KIPP New Jersey students currently qualify for free or reduced meals. To learn more, visit www.kippnj.org.

Here's what you should know:

The primary responsibility of the Middle School AP of Humanities is to drive and own instructional outcomes for students in humanities courses (ELA and social studies). We expect our APs to focus >75% of their time on instructional leadership. APs are the backbone for a specific content area or grade level and see themselves as the key decision-maker and leader for a subset of the student population. Our APs coach a portfolio of teachers, empowering our highest-performing teachers to continue to excel at their craft and coaching all teammates to achieve excellent outcomes for our students. APs will wear other hats at the school as well, including performing key supporting functions for student and staff culture. Finally, we expect our APs to perform their role through an equity lens, with an eye toward outcomes for traditionally underrepresented students and staff members.

Here’s what you’ll be doing:

Serve as a key member of the school’s leadership team

• Actively engages with the entire team to problem solve and operationalize whole school management decisions
• Promotes focused alignment between their teams and the priorities of both the school and the region
• Monitor, analyze, interpret and share instructional data and ensure that the entire leadership team problem solves for gaps in instructional data
• Co-own the vision for instructional culture, alongside the school leader and parallel APs of Instruction

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
• Develops teacher leaders, where applicable

Must Haves:

• Bachelor’s Degree (required)
• Significant content knowledge of middle school ELA
• Excellent student outcomes as a teacher or teacher-leader
• Evidence of ability to coach and drive results through others
• Experience successfully leading a team in a school-based leadership role such as Department Chair, Grade-Level Chair, New Teacher Coordinator, project leader, etc.
• Belief that all students, regardless of background, have the ability to go to and through college
• Cultural Competence: Demonstrated ability to create inclusive environments that honor and support a diversity of backgrounds and perspectives
• Knowledge of Microsoft Word & Excel, Google Suite, Microsoft Outlook, and relevant teaching software applications

Compensation & Benefits

In addition to a competitive salary, KIPP New Jersey offers a full comprehensive benefits plan, including health care, retirement, a school laptop and transportation benefits for TEAMmates commuting into New Jersey from the New York City area. 

KIPP New Jersey | KIPP Miami is an equal opportunity employer