Leadership Development

KIPP Public Schools prepares leaders to found and lead high-performing KIPP schools.

Extensive research has confirmed how critical a school leader is to creating joyful, academically excellent schools. Ensuring every KIPP school is led by an effective school leader is critical to our ability to deliver on our mission.

Representation also matters. Research also shows that representation of Black and Latinx teachers and leaders positively impacts student outcomes, student satisfaction and teacher retention.

So at KIPP, we place tremendous value on the systems and structures that attract and retain diverse school leaders.

KIPP's Leadership Development Model

Our model was created with insights from school districts and organizations that lead the way in building strong, anti-racist, and equitable leadership development pipelines.

Leadership Standards

Define the skills and competencies required for each role, and share them transparently.

Support People Managers

Build the structures to set expectations for, develop, support, and evaluate people managers.

Preparation for the Next Role

Ensure on-the-job development opportunities are available to prepare staff for their next role.

Hiring and Matching

Design and execute role-specific selection processes.

In-Role Performance Management

Set expectations for clarifying roles and responsibilities, setting performance goals, coaching, professional development, and evaluation.

Leadership Development in Action: Principal in Residence

The Principal in Residence (PIR) program is a two-year residency that prepares rising leaders to open a new KIPP school or become a successor leader at an existing KIPP school. Through PIR, we aim to increase racial diversity in our school leadership pipeline and ensure equity in how aspiring school leaders are selected, developed, and promoted.

The program consists of:

  • On-the-job learning: Each resident serves as a full-time member of the leadership team at a high-performing school. The residency school exposes residents to excellent school design and provides intensive on-the-ground development. Residents learn by observing their mentor school leader, executing responsibilities of the school leader role, and contributing to the overall vision of the school.
  • Planning and performance assessments: Residents follow a structured development plan that is mapped to critical school leadership skills. They are observed frequently and engage in regular performance assessments to demonstrate readiness to step into the school leader role.
  • Mentorship, coaching, and professional development: Throughout their journey, residents receive feedback and coaching from a mentor school leader and regional coach. They also receive regular professional development from KIPP leaders and outside experts to build their knowledge of effective instructional design and academic standards.

Meet KIPP Leaders

Lead at KIPP

The application process for school leadership programs is managed locally by individual KIPP Regions. If you’re interested in leadership at KIPP, visit our job board to find opportunities.