ABOUT THE ORGANIZATION KIPP Public Schools is a national network of tuition-free public charter schools that prepares students with the skills and confidence to create the future they want for themselves, their communities, and us all. We are a network of 279 schools, nearly 16,500 educators, and nearly 210,000 students and alumni. Our 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 build a more just world. Our vision: Every child grows up free to create the future they want for themselves and their communities. The KIPP Foundation is a nonprofit organization that supports KIPP public charter schools across the country. The KIPP Foundation helps to develop outstanding educators to lead KIPP schools; provides tools and resources for excellent teaching and learning; promotes innovation; and facilitates the exchange of insights and ideas across KIPP and other public schools and organizations. To learn more about KIPP Foundation, please visit www.kipp.org. ABOUT OUR VALUES Excellent Results for Students: We value results over effort and know that our work is not finished until all students thrive. We maintain high expectations for self, team, and students. We drive outcomes by operating with agility, removing barriers, differentiating support, and prioritizing student-centered solutions—especially for those at the margins. Collective Impact: We are one team. We win together. We embody a one-team mindset by working collaboratively across teams, aligning goals, and leveraging the strengths of all teammates. We build trust-based relationships and ensure inclusive decision-making by engaging those closest to the work. We provide clarity through simple, repeatable systems and goals that enable transformational outcomes. Courageous Action: Our belief in what we can achieve is unwavering, fueling our optimism and commitment to overcome any challenge. We demonstrate an unwavering belief in students' potential and a commitment to addressing systemic inequities. We approach challenges with resilience, a solutions-focused mindset, and adaptability. We foster a psychologically safe environment centered on trust and accountability where feedback is encouraged. We leverage data to reflect on progress, own setbacks, celebrate successes, and continuously improve to maximize impact. ABOUT THE POSITION The KIPP Executive Director Fellowship is a year-long leadership development experience designed to prepare exceptional candidates to successfully lead a KIPP region as an Executive Director. Fellows participate in a rigorous leadership development program that combines immersive learning experiences, executive coaching, mentoring, applied leadership experiences, and a capstone strategic project aligned to the KIPP Executive Director Excellence Rubric. Throughout the Fellowship, participants deepen their ability to drive exceptional student outcomes, build high-performing leadership teams, steward regional strategy, and lead through complexity. Executive Director Placement: The Fellowship serves as KIPP's primary pipeline for identifying, preparing, and assessing future Executive Directors. The Fellowship is designed to prepare leaders for Executive Director roles across the KIPP network. Fellows should be willing to pursue opportunities beyond their fellowship site, understanding that placement decisions are based on regional needs, leadership readiness, and organizational fit. RESPONSIBILITIES • Fully engage in all Fellowship learning experiences, including the Leadership Academy, Intersessions, monthly learning sessions, coaching, and mentoring. • Demonstrate growth across the KIPP Executive Director Excellence Rubric through reflection, feedback, and applied practice. • Complete an Executive Director internship or residency experience alongside an accomplished KIPP Executive Director. • Lead a high-impact strategic project that addresses a significant regional or network priority and demonstrates executive-level leadership. • Participate in performance assessments, simulations, and developmental feedback throughout the Fellowship. • Build meaningful relationships across the national KIPP network while contributing to a collaborative learning community. • Demonstrate readiness for Executive Director responsibilities through evidence of leadership impact, systems thinking, talent development, and instructional leadership. • Participate in Executive Director selection processes as opportunities become available. SKILLS & MINDSETS • Mission & Student Focus: Demonstrates passion and commitment to KIPP’s mission and possesses the desire and ability to uphold KIPP’s core values (Focus on Excellent Results, Collective Impact, and Courageous Action). • Self-Management: Can set vision and goals for their function that are SMARTIE (strategic, measurable, ambitious, realistic, time-bound, inclusive, equitable). Uses high-quality data, research, and analysis to set a high bar of excellence for goal setting. Distributes and redistributes work among direct reports, teammates, and teams to optimize goal attainments. Sets and fosters a culture that enables and celebrates teammates’ achievements and goal attainments. Shares two to three work examples of SMARTIE goals for their function (and involving other functions, teams, and offices) that were met or exceeded. Leverages understanding of an organization’s operating model, structure, and core operational processes to effectively drive work to achieve goals. Has strong progress monitoring systems to track progress toward goals. Engages in and leverages communications with the right stakeholders to address obstacles and to ensure desired outcomes. Generates and executes feasible and creative solutions to reach goals and desired outcomes to combat curveballs. Can articulate why t