Leadership Programs

Meet Our School Leaders

Leadership Competencies

Application Process

School Leader FAQ

Teacher Leader, Leadership Team, or Principal Prep Programs:

To apply, candidates must have a nomination from KIPP school or regional leader. School leaders may request a nomination form by emailing kslp@kipp.org. Once the nomination is submitted, applicants will receive an invitation to apply online. In addition, qualified candidates will also have:

• At least two years teaching experience with demonstrated results
• Supervisory responsibility within the school
• Knowledge of and a willingness to meet state principal certification requirements (Principal Prep only)

Fisher Fellowship & Miles Family Fellowship:

Please note the following:

• All candidates will be notified of the status of their application after each step in the selection process.
• The selection timeline is extremely rapid, so we appreciate candidate timeliness and responsiveness in communication.
• Due to the large amount of applications we receive, the Recruitment & Selection team is unable to give individual feedback.

Step 1: Submit online application

In addition to basic information, the online application includes the submission of a resume, a summary of student achievement results, and two short essays.

If you are a current KIPP employee, discuss this opportunity with your manager before applying.

2012-13 deadlines for submitting the online application:
Please check back in September 2012 for deadlines.

Step 2: Phone interview, videotaped lesson and recommendation letters

Candidates who advance to this step will:

• Schedule a 60 minute phone interview with Recruitment & Selection team staff.
• Submit a video-taped lesson and lesson plan online (early submissions will help expedite the process). Learn more about videotaped lesson requirements > 
• Request letters of recommendation from three professional references, including at least one previous manager.  We ask that your references submit the letters of recommendation within one week of receiving the recommendation form that we provide.  Please note that the KIPP Foundation may begin to contact your references at this point in the process. 

Step 3: Regional Interview

Regional interviews are a chance for candidates to meet and interview with regional leadership teams in their preferred region.  

The regional interview may require that you travel to your region for 1 or 2 days; these dates are determined between applicants and their preferred region. The KIPP Foundation will cover the cost of travel and lodging for the regional interview.

Step 4: Selection Event

Selection events are three-day interview events held in Houston, TX. The KIPP Foundation will cover the cost of travel and accommodations for candidates.

Step 5: Offers Extended to Candidates

Candidates will be notified within one week by phone regarding the Selection Committee's decision. Candidates who are accepted will receive a contract via mail.

Step 6: Offers Accepted or Deferred

Candidates will be required to notify the KIPP Foundation of their acceptance of the offer.

Video-taped Lesson Requirements

A major component of the application process is submitting a video of a lesson you have taught. 

If you move forward from the application review step, we will ask you to record and submit a video of you teaching a lesson. You are welcome to record your video after completing the online application, though we will not provide submission information until and unless you are successfully advanced to that step of the process. Please note that recording your video in advance does not guarantee that your application will move forward to this step.

The instructions for taping the lesson are below if you choose to begin this process ahead of time. Please note that all videos must be submitted online; instructions on where to submit will be provided. Please do not submit your video unless we request that you do so.

Lesson Plan and Execution
We are looking for lessons that are rigorous and that demonstrate effective instructional strategies. The lesson can cover any standard subject and any grade level, though it is preferable that the lesson exhibit your work with students in the same age/grade range as your potential KIPP school students. The lesson should be between 45-60 minutes and should have a clear objective. We do not require a specific lesson plan format. Please note that we will also request a typed copy of your lesson plan in advance of submitting your video.

Video Guidelines and Tips
Set your camcorder to a low-resolution; your entire file can be no more than 500 MB to effectively load it online. You will be able to submit one of the following file types: asf, asx, avi, divx, dv, dvx, m4v, mov, mp4, mpeg, mpg, qt, wmv, 3g2, 3gp, 3ivx and 3vx

While it is ideal to have someone videotape this lesson in order to capture the entire class and classroom, we will also accept a video from a stationary camera. When taping, please ensure that your video captures your students and the larger classroom in addition to yourself. The tape can be up to 60 minutes long and must be continuous; we cannot accept videos that have been started and stopped during the lesson.

Please be mindful of the sound quality of the video. We must be able to hear the lesson. It is also expected that if you ask someone to film on your behalf that they will do so silently.

We expect that all video tapes and lessons are new and are not pre-existing video you have recorded for other purposes. Please be prepared to verify the date and time of the lesson if you are invited to the selection event.

Interested in learning more? Contact us at apply@kipp.org