Director of Literacy - Secondary

Job Description

Job DescriptionCompany Description

The mission of KIPP Philadelphia Schools (KPPS) is to develop the character, knowledge, and skills of our students so they will succeed in college, giving them the freedom to shape their futures and positively affect their communities. Our vision is to achieve our mission at critical mass – a cluster of schools in Philadelphia – thereby reinvigorating public education in this city through the performance of our students and the leadership of our educators. Within the next five years, KIPP programming in Philadelphia will include 8-10 schools, over 4,400 students, over 370 employees, and an operating budget greater than $60M.

Our Mission
Together with families and communities, we create joyful, academically excellent schools that prepare students to pursue the paths they choose—college, career, and beyond—so they can lead fulfilling lives and build a more just world.

Life at KPPS

We know that talented, committed, culturally competent educators have the power to amplify our children’s potential by creating a school experience that affirms, values, and challenges them each day. We seek to create a professional environment full of joy, candor, care and community where excellent educators can make a long-term home. Educators at KIPP –

• Are committed to anti-racism, equity and inclusion

• Are part of a close-knit, diverse community of educators

• Show up as themselves, inspiring our children to do the same

• Access resources and affinity spaces that support well-being and sustainability

• Lead with care and candor and take ownership of our children’s learning and growth

• Evolve their craft via 1:1 coaching and quality professional development

• Have access to leadership pathway programming and opportunities to grow their career

• Enjoy a competitive, equitable, transparent approach to compensation, comprehensive health benefits for employees and their families, a 403b matching program, and free access to financial advising services

Job Description

Reporting to the Managing Director of Teaching and Learning (MDTL) and working closely with School Leaders and Assistant Principals at our seven schools, the Director of Literacy - Secondary (DOL) is responsible for ensuring that our growing network is driving toward high quality student achievement outcomes by implementing and/or executing literacy programs and tools at a high level.

Key Responsibilities

• Works with regional team and school leaders to set and drive a vision for quality literacy, instruction, and assessment.

• Ensures that curriculum and assessment programs in all literacy classrooms are strong, aligned to common core standards and rigor, teacher accessible, meet the needs of our students and are both horizontally and vertically aligned.

• Supports school leaders and teachers to ensure that ELA classrooms are joyful, structured and caring and foster a deep love of reading and writing.

• Trains teachers and leaders on curricular implementation and literacy instruction best practices.

• Works closely with all Directors on the teaching & learning team to drive an effective and streamlined assessment approach that leads to strong, data-driven decision making.

• Regularly works with regional and school leaders as well as assistant principals to assess the state of literacy instruction in classrooms and plan supports and approaches to improve instruction.

• Analyzes and responds to region-wide literacy data to adjust approach and support teachers and schools that are encountering challenges.

• Collaborates, works closely, and creates partnerships with local and national experts and colleagues in the field of literacy instruction through research, observation, and formal collaboration.

• Supports new teacher and new leader onboarding and training through professional development design and facilitation.

• Works with school leaders to ensure students have programs, clubs, and extracurriculars that foster a love of reading and writing.

• Other relevant duties as assigned by the MDTL.

Qualifications

Qualifications & Credentials

• Love and see the high potential of all children

• Self-awareness and ability to reflect on your practice, biases, and leans

• Cultural competence and commitment to inclusion, anti-racism, and eradicating anti-Blackness

• Demonstrated alignment to our KPPS core values (Children First, Cultural Competence, Community, Ownership)

• Solutions-orientation; ability and eagerness to adapt to and manage change and solve problems

• Ability to exercise excellent judgment in decision-making

• Flexible and able to multi-task within a fast-moving, entrepreneurial environment, while also driving towards clarity, simplicity and solutions.

• Excellent communication and interpersonal skills

• Deep knowledge of learning theory and ELA curriculum, including current educational trends, methods, research, and technology.

• Ability to effectively evaluate, plan and implement instructional programs, both core curriculum and supplemental interventions.

• Knowledge of national, state, and local standards and assessments.

• Ability to confidently and clearly facilitate various size working groups, work collaboratively

• Ability to gather and analyze data, compile information, and prepare reports.

• Minimum three years exemplary teaching required

• Deep understanding of the Common Core Standards for grades 3-12 required; experience driving these shifts in a school or network of schools preferred.

• Proficiency in Google Suite and Microsoft office, particularly Word, Excel and PowerPoint required

• Bachelor’s degree required

• Experience in teacher coaching, teacher training, school leadership and/or curricular design strongly preferred

• Complete all required criminal and child abuse background checks:

  • PA State Police Clearance

  • PA Child Abuse Clearance

  • Cogent Federal Fingerprinting

Additional Information

Compensation

• Salaries at KPPS are competitive, equitable, and transparent. The starting salary for this position is $90,000 and is commensurate with experience.

• All full-time team members at KPPS enjoy a comprehensive health benefits package (including vision and dental, a telehealth option, and flexible spending accounts) for themselves and their families as well as a 403b matching program for retirement savings.

Note to Applicants

KIPP Philadelphia Schools is an equal opportunity employer. Employees are selected on the basis of ability without regard to race, color, religion, sex, national origin, disability, marital status, or sexual orientation, in accordance with federal and state law.