Assistant Principal of Special Education (Elementary) - Newark

KIPP New Jersey is part of the nationally recognized “Knowledge Is Power Program” network of free, open-enrollment, college-preparatory public schools dedicated to preparing students for success in college and in life. In 2002, KIPP New Jersey first opened its doors in Newark’s South Ward as a single class of 80 fifth graders and has since grown to educate 7,035 students in grades K-12 across 15 schools in Newark and Camden. More than 90% of KIPP New Jersey students currently qualify for free or reduced meals. To learn more, visit www.kippnj.org.

We are looking for an Assistant Principal of Special Education for one of our elementary schools in Newark, NJ.

Here’s what you need to know:

Our APs of SPED lead campus-based special education departments in providing high-quality special education programming.  The AP of SPED, along with the Director of Special Education and School Leader, carries out KIPP New Jersey’s vision for world-class special education services: effective and efficient SPED programming for all students with disabilities that allows them to meet their individual potential.  The AP of SPED directly manages the special education team and is in constant communication with the school community as a whole.

Here’s what you’ll be doing:

• Team Leadership: Build strong teams characterized by trust, investment in goals, and ownership
• Content Expertise: Execute the vision for special education by working through a diverse team of teachers and service providers; Co-chair the child study team to manage the special education eligibility process; Work alongside the regional team to execute next steps based on student population and need (this includes instructional coaching, programmatic planning and compliance management).  

• People Leadership & Performance Management:

  • Work with members of the special education team to set individual goals based on school-wide goals and student achievement data;

  • Manage the performance of SPED teammates to get outcomes for kids through O3s, observation/feedback, and professional development;

  • Conduct weekly O3s with each teammate focused on instructional strategies, content, feedback based on observations and holding them accountable to goals;

  • Conduct regular classroom observations of SPED teammates

• Instructional Leadership: Conduct weekly walkthroughs focused on identifying strengths and weaknesses for the department as a whole in order to spread best practice and action plan, conduct weekly O3s with the school leader focused on outcomes of students with special needs; conduct content team meetings ; uphold school leader’s vision for school culture and hold staff and students accountable to expectations (this includes coaching around culture).
• School Leadership: Collaborate as a member of the school leadership team and regional leadership team to ensure all students with disabilities meet their goals: Conduct weekly conversations with the school leadership team focused on student achievement data for focus grade levels and ensure that there are clear next steps and strategies to drive student outcomes; attend monthly regional AP PD; provide input to school leader on vision and goals.

Must Haves:

• Student Focus: Belief that all students, regardless of background, have the ability to go to and through college; demonstrated commitment to the school’s unique community
• Achievement Orientation: Demonstrated student achievement results in own classroom and from teachers that he/she manages
• Cultural Competence: Demonstrated ability to create inclusive environments that honor and support a diversity of backgrounds and perspectives
• Instructional Leadership: Adept at data analysis and strong content knowledge; ability to extract meaningful insights and actions from data
• High Expectations: Sets and upholds high expectations for students academically and behaviorally
• Results through Others: Evidence of ability to teach others skills in classroom management and effective lesson execution
• Relationship Building: Evidence of ability to build strong relationships with students, staff, and families
• Strong critical thinking and problem-solving skills
• Experience leading a group of people to results
• Certification in Special Education                   

Nice-to-Haves

• Masters in Special Education
• Experience coaching and managing others

In addition to a competitive salary, KIPP NJ  offers a generous benefits package including, but not limited to, the following:  

• Robust benefits that include medical, dental, and vision 
• Participation in the New Jersey Teachers Pension and Annuity Fund, provided appropriate teacher certification
• Optional participation in the KIPP NJ 403b retirement plan, including matching contributions
• A school-issued laptop
• Transportation benefits for TEAMmates commuting into Newark from the New York City area
• Generous Time-Off including 3.5-4 school vacation weeks (depending on the year), allocated sick and personal days, and an extended summer break 
• Up to 12 weeks 100% parental leave for primary caregivers
• Employer paid life insurance
• Extensive optional ancillary benefits including, short term and long term disability and accident and hospital indemnity

Our organization is an equal opportunity employer. All qualified applicants will receive consideration for employment without regard to race, color, sex, gender, age, religion, national origin, citizen status, marital status, physical or mental disability, military or veteran status, sexual orientation, gender identity, or any other characteristic protected by applicable law. Our organization will make a reasonable accommodation to known physical or mental limitations of a qualified applicant or employee with a disability unless the accommodation would impose an undue hardship on the operation of the organization. No questions on this application are asked for any unlawful purpose.