Director of ELA

KIPP • Philadelphia, PA

12d • $95,000 - $100,000 • Hybrid

About The Position

The Director of ELA is responsible for ensuring that the KIPP Philadelphia Public Schools (KPPS) network maintains vertical and horizontal curricular alignment for rigorous, college-ready ELA and knowledge of the science of reading. This role reports to the Managing Director of Teaching and Learning (MDTL) and collaborates closely with School Leaders and Assistant Principals across the nine schools. The position aims to uphold a high-quality, rigorous, and joyful K-2 ELA experience for students.

Requirements

• Bachelor’s degree required
• Master’s degree in Administration and Supervision, and/or Admin Certification
• Regional/Central office experience with supporting school leadership teams
• 5+ years of successful teaching experience with strong student achievement outcomes.
• Experience serving students and families in urban school settings.
• Strong data analysis and instructional planning skills.
• Demonstrated expertise in standards-aligned instruction and curriculum implementation.
• Complete all required criminal and child abuse background checks: PA State Police Clearance, PA Child Abuse Clearance, Cogent Federal Fingerprinting.

Nice To Haves

• Pennsylvania State certification Level I or II strongly preferred.
• Experience leading professional development or coaching teachers preferred.

Responsibilities

• Works with school leaders and the regional academic team to set and drive a vision for the ELA academic program, including the curricula, assessment, and instructional approach essential to a high quality, rigorous, joyful, affirming K-2 experience for children.
• Regularly reviews ELA academic data, identifying trends, bright spots, and areas of concern in order to set priorities and develop key, responsive school and region-wide initiatives.
• Regularly observes instruction alongside Assistant Principals, norming on the academic bar, critical next steps for instructional practice, and serving as a thought partner to troubleshoot school-specific challenges.
• Regularly meets with and train Assistant Principals, Instructional Coaches and school-based content leads to run effective curricula/content internalization professional development sessions that build teachers’ conceptual and tactical understanding of upcoming lessons and content.
• Designs and leads high quality professional development for teachers, Assistant Principals, Instructional Coaches and Principals on a set of proactive and responsive topics that build essential knowledge and skills, infuse practice and feedback, and impact daily practice.
• Ensures all core information, resources, and approaches (including curricula, assessment, course sequence and aims, etc.) are clearly and simply codified and communicated.
• Works closely with academic team counterparts, including the Director of Literacy, Director of Math, Director of Student Supports, and Director of Student Culture to ensure horizontal and vertical program alignment and clarity on shared and individual priorities.
• Collaborates, works closely, and creates partnerships with local and national experts and colleagues in the field through research, observation and formal collaboration to ensure that our ELA program is operating with research-based best practices.
• Supports new teacher and new leader onboarding and training through PD design and execution.
• Other duties as assigned by the Managing Director of Teaching and Learning.

Benefits

• Comprehensive health benefits package (including vision and dental, a telehealth option, and flexible spending accounts) for themselves and their families
• 403B matching program for retirement savings
• Free access to financial advising services

What This Job Offers

• Job Type: Full-time
• Career Level: Manager