Assistant Principal

Mission

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

What We Do

At KIPP SoCal we build trusting relationships that are strengthened by high expectations and collaboration alongside laughter and joy. We set ambitious goals and hold each other accountable for students achieving their greatest potential. We work together with each other and in partnership with families and communities in the active pursuit of a more equitable world. We do the right thing, even when it's not always comfortable standing up and speaking out against anti-blackness, racism, oppression, and injustice. We persevere through obstacles and treat failure as an opportunity to learn and grow.

Role Overview

The Assistant School Leader (ASL) is both an instructional leader and a people manager who plays a vital role in the success of our students, families, and staff. As a key member of the school’s leadership team, the ASL partners with the School Leader and other leaders to drive exceptional academic achievement and a joyful, values-driven school culture. This position is responsible for leading teachers in both instruction and character development-investing a mission-driven team of educators to bring the school’s vision to life and ensure every student thrives.

For external candidates, please open this document and complete the leadership portfolio action items to submit with your application.

First application deadline: November 20, 2026

Candidates who advance to the final selection experience will need to be available in at least 1 of these date windows:

• December 14-15, 2026
• April 29-30, 2026
• Assistant Principal Opportunity
• Model and support implementation of the school's vision and goals
• Supports development of School Leader's school-wide vision and takes an active role in investing and mobilizing teachers to achieve the collective goals of the school
• Owns the implementation of select school priorities in support of the school-wide vision
• With guidance from the School Leader, leads the planning and goal setting for the grades/departments that they manage and ensures alignment with school-wide goals
• Contribute to school-wide planning and prioritizes time to accomplish goals
• Provides input into the school-based strategic planning and identifies what the school's strategic plan means for their own leadership and people they manage

Administration & Leadership

• Develop emerging leaders with School Leader's guidance
• Supports the School Leader in identifying and developing teachers and leaders (Department Heads and/or Grade Level Chairs) through goal setting, coaching and providing feedback
• Build own and direct reports' instructional knowledge of standards, content and instructional methods
• Develop teachers to provide rigorous and high quality instruction and support School Leader in planning and implementing enabling systems
• Lead data-driven instruction and monitor progress
• Recommend to the School Leader what school-wide professional development will be the highest leverage in improving student results
• Lead engaging, actionable, adult-learning workshops; and hold staff accountable for implementation of the workshop practices
• Model strong staff and student culture and manage school-wide character development and behavior management systems
• Collaborate with School Leader on hiring diverse, highly-effective teachers and school staff
• Prioritize Assistant Principal's own success and sustainability by engaging lifelines and renewing to get stronger

Assistant Principal Qualifications

• 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
• Build Relationships: Demonstrated ability to develop relationships with students, families, teachers and colleagues based on mutual respect, integrity and trust, in pursuit of school goals and vision.
• Direction Setting: Ability to set direction for a team and motivate others to action
• Achievement Orientation and Performance Management: Demonstrated student achievement results in own classroom and from grade level or content team(s) they managed
• Cultural Competence: Demonstrated ability to create inclusive environments that honors and supports a diversity of backgrounds and perspectives
• Instructional Leadership: Adept at data analysis; ability to extract meaningful insights across school-wide data
• Instructional Leadership: 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
• Instructional Leadership: 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
• Achievement Orientation: Demonstrated resilience and focus on student outcomes
• Mission Orientation: Demonstrated passion for KIPP SoCal's mission
• Bachelor's Degree required; Master's Degree preferred
• A minimum of three to five years teaching experience, preferably in a low-income school with demonstrated exemplary student results; an active CA Clear or Preliminary credential strongly preferred; active out of state professional licenses are also acceptable
• A minimum of two years experience leading a high performing team on instruction and curriculum design, ideally through roles like Dean of Teaching or Instruction, leadership of a grade level(s) or other school-wide leadership project leadership

Assistant Principal Compensation

• Very competitive compensation package inclusive of a generous benefits package
• 100% of healthcare premium costs covered by employer, dependents added at 50% of the cost
• KIPP SoCal life insurance
• 401(k) plan with up to 6% match by KIPP SoCal
• Voluntary Benefits (Supplemental Life, Accident, Short Term Disability, etc.)
• Generous time off program includes 22 holidays, sick leave and vacation
• Other great benefits (Flexible spending account, EAP, etc.)