Director of ELA

Company Description

KIPP Public Schools is a national network of tuition-free public charter schools preparing students with the skills and confidence needed to create the futures they want for themselves, their communities, and us all. We are a network of 279 schools, nearly 16,500 educators, and 210,000 students and alumni. KIPP Philadelphia Public Schools (KPPS) is part of the national KIPP Public Schools network and currently leads eight schools serving 3,400 students in North and West Philadelphia. By 2030, KPPS will be serving approximately 4,000 students.

KPPS 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

At KPPS, we believe that talented, committed, and culturally competent educators and staff are the foundation of our students' success. We work to create a professional community grounded in joy, candor, care, and connection – where every team member can bring their authentic self, grow in their craft, and contribute to meaningful work. Here is what you can expect:

• Commitment to Anti-Racism & Equity: Join a team dedicated to dismantling systemic barriers and creating inclusive, culturally responsive schools where all students and staff can thrive.
• Joyful, Inclusive Community: Work in a collaborative, identity-affirming environment that values relationships, celebrates individuality, and supports the well-being of adults and children alike.
• Competitive & Equitable Compensation: Benefit from transparent compensation structures, including performance-based bonuses that recognize meaningful contributions.
• Professional Growth & Leadership Pathways: Access high-quality development – including coaching, workshops, and tailored leadership opportunities – designed to support your long-term career trajectory.
• Authenticity & Belonging: Be part of a culture that encourages you to show up as your full self and contribute to a community rooted in trust and respect.
• People-Centered Excellence: Join colleagues who believe strong relationships and thoughtful preparation drive excellent outcomes—for students and for staff.
• Comprehensive Well-Being Support: Receive whole-person support through coaching, mental health resources, wellness initiatives, and team-building experiences that prioritize your professional and personal growth.

Job Description

Reporting to the Managing Director of Teaching and Learning (MDTL) and working closely with School Leaders and Assistant Principals at our nine schools, the Director of ELA is responsible for ensuring that our growing network maintains vertical and horizontal curricular alignment for rigorous, college-ready ELA and knowledge of the science of reading.

Key Responsibilities

• Works with school leaders and the regional academic team to set and drive a vision for the ELA academic program, including the curricula, assessment, instructional approach essential to a high quality, rigorous, joyful, affirming K-2 experience for children
• Regularly reviews ELA academic data, identifying trends, bright spots, and areas of concern in order to set priorities and develop key, responsive school and region-wide initiatives
• Regularly observes instruction alongside Assistant Principals, norming on the academic bar, critical next steps for instructional practice, and serving as a thought partner to troubleshoot school-specific challenges
• Regularly meets with and train Assistant Principals, Instructional Coaches and school-based content leads to run effective curricula/content internalization professional development sessions that build teachers’ conceptual and tactical understanding of upcoming lessons and content
• Designs and leads high quality professional development for teachers, Assistant Principals, Instructional Coaches and Principals on a set of proactive and responsive topics that build essential knowledge and skills, infuse practice and feedback, and impact daily practice
• Ensures all core information, resources, and approaches (including curricula, assessment, course sequence and aims, etc.) are clearly and simply codified and communicated
• Works closely with academic team counterparts, including the Director of Literacy, Director of Math, Director of Student Supports, and Director of Student Culture to ensure horizontal and vertical program alignment and clarity on shared and individual priorities
• Collaborates, works closely, and creates partnerships with local and national experts and colleagues in the field through research, observation and formal collaboration to ensure that our ELA program is operating with research-based best practices
  • Supports new teacher and new leader onboarding and training through PD design and execution
  • Other duties as assigned by the Managing Director of Teaching and Learning

Who You Are:

• You love and see the high potential of all children
• You have experience driving student growth and achievement and to create a warm, inclusive, rigorous learning environment.
• You have passion for facilitating professional learning, including a desire to continuously grow and learn as a leader.
• You operate with cultural competence and a commitment to inclusion, anti-racism, and the eradication of anti-Blackness.
• You believe that teachers are the primary drivers of student growth, learning and achievement.
• You have high expectations for students and teachers; and the ability to motivate, inspire and hold others accountable.
• You are solutions-orientated and have an eagerness to adapt in order to solve problems.
• You are solutions-oriented; ability and eagerness to adapt to and manage change and solve problems.
• You are flexible and able to multi-task within a fast-moving, entrepreneurial environment, while also driving towards clarity, simplicity and solutions.
• You have excellent communication and interpersonal skills.
• You have a deep knowledge of learning theory and math curriculum development, including current educational trends, methods, research, and technology.

Qualifications

• Bachelor’s degree required
• Master’s degree in Administration and Supervision, and/or Admin Certification
• Regional/Central office experience with supporting school leadership teams
• 5+ years of successful teaching experience with strong student achievement outcomes.
• Experience serving students and families in urban school settings.
• Strong data analysis and instructional planning skills.
• Demonstrated expertise in standards-aligned instruction and curriculum implementation.
• Pennsylvania State certification Level I or II strongly preferred.
• Experience leading professional development or coaching teachers preferred.
• Complete all required criminal and child abuse background checks:
  • PA State Police Clearance
  • PA Child Abuse Clearance
  • Cogent Federal Fingerprinting

Additional Information

Compensation:

• The salary range for this position is $95,000 - $100,000 and is commensurate upon 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 and free access to financial advising services.

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.