School Transformation Specialist

To lead urgent, sustainable transformation at a designated KIPP SoCal school by rebuilding trust, strengthening systems, developing talent, and ensuring high-quality instruction during a fixed 18-24 month assignment. The School Transformation Specialist holds full accountability for assigned school outcomes and is charged with creating the academic, cultural, and operational conditions necessary for long-term excellence, while preparing the school for a permanent successful transition out of transformational status.

This role is 5 days on-site at one school location. The role is full-time, limited-term status with an end date of June 30, 2027 with the possibility of renewal for an additional 12 months.

Current priority application deadline is August 5, 2026.  At least 1 year as a principal or principal in residence highly preferred
Target start date: Mid-to-late August 2026

Likely interview process:
Application screen >> video interview >> Zoom screen w/ hiring manager >> on-site school experience >> final interview experience

Desired Outcomes

Drive comprehensive school improvement by achieving a School Health Score of 3 or higher in all domains by the end of Year 2, with demonstrated growth of at least one level in a minimum of three categories during Year 1 in collaboration with the School Leader.

• Develop and implement a data-driven transformation plan aligned to KIPP SoCal's strategic priorities

• Establish regular progress monitoring systems to track improvement across all domains

• Communicate progress transparently with all stakeholders

Accelerate student achievement by significantly improving academic outcomes in assigned content areas and/or grade levels across all student groups, with measurable growth in Year 1 and substantial gains by the end of Year 2.

• Increase proficiency rates in ELA and Math SBAC assessments by at least 10% annually from baseline

• Meet or exceed school-specific regional goals for literacy, math, and specialized populations

• Ensure 100% of teachers engage in weekly coaching cycles focused on instructional improvement

• Achieve at least 50% of classrooms meeting/exceeding expectations on the KIPP SoCal Teacher Practice Rubric by Year 1, increasing to 80% by Year 2

• Establish a safe, joyful school culture that fosters high levels of student belonging, attendance, and engagement.

Implement and maintain Tier 1 PBIS systems in Year 1, expanding to Tier 2 systems in Year 2; systems for effective school operations; and systems for effective management of assigned content areas

• Increase student belonging and safety metrics to ≥85% favorable scores

• Improve average daily attendance by at least 1% in Year 1, reaching ≥96% by Year 2

• Align suspension and referral data with school culture vision and KIPP SoCal policies and practices

• Build sustainable leadership capacity by identifying, developing, and preparing teacher leaders to ensure long-term school success

• Identify and coach 1-2 teacher leaders annually

• Identify successor School Leader by end of Year 1 and develop throughout Year 2

• Ensure ≥80% staff retention of assigned departments and/or grade levels through effective talent management

Strengthen family and community partnerships to rebuild trust and increase engagement of assigned grade levels or specific assigned groups.

• Achieve ≥85% family survey participation each quarter

• Attain a Net Promoter Score (NPS) of ≥30 each year

• Establish regular, transparent communication systems with families and community leaders

Support operational excellence and compliance by addressing gaps and implementing sustainable systems.

• Support the enrollment and budget targets

• Support the elimination of compliance gaps by end of Year 1

• Contribute to all compliance and quality standards for MTSS, SPED, and multilingual programs

Role-Specific Skills and Competencies

Lead Self (Self Awareness, Critical Consciousness, Continuous Learning). Impacts students and the adults they lead with a deep understanding of self and a willingness to continually strive to improve.

Lead People (Trusting Relationships, Team Culture, Developing & Managing People, Change Management). Engages in shared ownership and collaborative leadership; develops and empowers others; regularly works to create stronger results than any one leader could deliver on their own.

Lead Results (Strategic Planning & Prioritization, Problem Solving & Decision Making, Driving Outcomes): Effectively plans & prioritizes, solves problems, and engages in effective decision-making; consistently works to ensure excellent and equitable outcomes for students in order to create equitable opportunities for students.

Qualifications

Required Experience:

• Minimum of 5 years in school leadership roles

• Demonstrated success in driving significant academic improvement, with evidence of year-over-year growth and/or outperforming comparable schools

• Proven ability to develop effective teacher leaders

• Experience building positive school cultures with strong student support systems

• Track record of effective team management in educational settings

Required Education & Credential:

• Active professional teaching license

Highly Preferred:

• Previous experience in school turnaround or transformation contexts

• Valid administrative credential (or eligibility to obtain one) 

• At least 1 year as a principal or principal in residence

• Experience working with multilingual learners and students with disabilities

Personal Attributes:

• Unwavering belief in the potential of all students

• Resilience and persistence in the face of challenges

• Ability to build trust quickly with diverse stakeholders

• Comfort with ambiguity and willingness to make difficult decisions

• In addition to the above competencies and skills, all team members are expected to uphold, demonstrate, and practice KIPP SoCal values, standards of conduct, and anti-racism standards.

Compensation

• KIPP SoCal Public Schools offers a competitive salary commensurate with experience in a similar position. The salary range for this position is $115,000 to $140,000. The role is signing bonus eligible.
• 100% of healthcare premium costs covered by employer, dependents added at 50% of the cost
• Employer-paid life insurance
• 401(k) plan with up to 6% match by KIPP SoCal
• Voluntary Benefits (Pet Insurance, 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.)