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.
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.)