Director of Whole Child and Culture

KIPP METRO ATLANTA COLLABORATIVE INC•Atlanta, GA

30d•$75,000 - $120,000•Hybrid

About The Position

KIPP Atlanta Schools is part of the KIPP (Knowledge is Power Program) national network of free, open enrollment, college-preparatory schools dedicated to ensuring that every child grows up free to create the future they want for themselves and their communities. There are 280 KIPP schools in 21 states and the District of Columbia serving more than 175,000 scholars and alumni. KIPP Atlanta currently operates 11 schools including five primary schools, six middle schools and one high school, as well as KIPP Forward which supports scholars on their journey to a choice-filled life. We are a social justice organization and our vision and mission require the work of dedicated, bold and skilled leaders, educators, and support staff who are committed to serving as the catalyst for joyful, academically excellent schools and the foundation for building a more just and equitable world for our scholars. What We Value: Good Decision-Making: “I make thoughtful decisions in alignment with my school’s and organization’s values.” Peer Accountability: “I hold all Big KIPPsters accountable to our schools’ and organization’s values, standards, and expectations.” Excellence Always: “I do all aspects of my work with excellence - the big and the little things, the parts being monitored as well as those not monitored.” Communication is Key: “I communicate with both honesty and love. How I communicate nurtures courage, belonging, partnership, and progress toward our promise to KIPPsters and families.” Scholars Over Everything: “I put our scholars first, 100% of the time, without fail. I quickly resolve any and all adult-centered concerns and qualms to reserve my individual and our collective time and attention for our KIPPsters.” Walk Trumps Talk: “I chose this social justice career. And so, I behave in alignment with my choice. My behaviors match our promise to our scholars and families.” “Us” Only: “I belong to every member of our organization, and every member of our organization belongs to me. I choose unity always - in both the good times and hard times.” Job Summary: The Director of Whole Child and Culture is responsible for setting, stewarding, and executing the regional vision for whole-child experience across KIPP Atlanta Schools, with specific ownership of (1) enrichment programming (Whole Child—enrichment courses, identity/joy/belonging experiences) and (2) the region-wide strategy for PBIS and school discipline systems aligned to expectations and best practices within Georgia, APS, and the Metro Atlanta context. Reporting to the Managing Director of Scholar Support, this role leads and manages Deans of Culture and regional whole-child leaders, building campus capacity to deliver safe, predictable, affirming, and instructionally protected learning environments. The Director ensures consistent implementation of PBIS routines, discipline policy and practice, restorative and re-entry supports, and adult behavior expectations so that culture systems increase instructional minutes, reduce disproportionality, and strengthen scholar engagement—with particular urgency and precision in turnaround settings. This role partners closely with school leaders and regional academic and operations teams to ensure that culture and whole-child systems accelerate academic outcomes, strengthen scholar persistence, and create a high-quality community experience for scholars and families.

Requirements

Bachelor’s Degree
Minimum of 7 years of professional experience, including at least 3 years in school or systems leadership
Demonstrated experience leading school culture, student support systems, or whole-child initiatives
Proven ability to manage and develop leaders, including coaching and performance management
Demonstrated expertise in PBIS implementation and school discipline systems (Tier 1/2/3) with evidence of improving outcomes
Strong working knowledge of discipline data analysis, continuous improvement cycles, and disproportionality reduction
Ability to lead culture and discipline work in turnaround environments with urgency, clarity, and high follow-through
Strong interpersonal and communication skills; ability to influence across stakeholders
Maintain confidentiality with sensitive decisions
Strong interpersonal and communication skills, with the ability to build trust and influence across stakeholders

Nice To Haves

Master’s degree in Education, Educational Leadership, or a related field
Valid Georgia educator leadership certification
Experience aligning discipline systems to district/state guidance and managing documentation practices
Experience with culture-building programs like PBIS, Restorative Practices, etc.
Experience leading in a K–8 or turnaround environment
Strong data analysis, coaching, and change management skills

Responsibilities

Culture, PBIS & Discipline Strategy 40%
Set and execute a region-wide vision and implementation plan for PBIS and school discipline that aligns to KIPP Atlanta priorities and the operating realities of schools in Georgia/APS/Metro Atlanta.
Establish and maintain a regional discipline framework that includes: tiered response guidance, referral pathways, classroom-managed vs. office-managed behaviors, re-entry practices, restorative responses, and family communication expectations.
Build implementation fidelity: define “look-fors,” deploy walkthrough tools, and run calibration cycles so adult responses to behavior are consistent, predictable, and values-aligned across campuses.
Own the region’s culture and discipline data system: create benchmarks and dashboards (e.g., referrals, removals, suspensions, time out of instruction, disproportionality, hotspots by time/location/teacher, repeat incidents) and lead monthly data reviews with principals and Deans.
Reduce exclusionary discipline and strengthen belonging through prevention-first systems: reinforcement structures, schoolwide routines, advisory/SEL integrations, and staff skill-building.
Lead culture turnaround plans for priority campuses: diagnose root causes, define 30/60/90-day plans, and ensure tight execution through coaching, observation, feedback, and follow-through.
Serve as the key regional owner for discipline risk management: ensure schools are trained and aligned on documentation, escalation, and practice expectations.
Team Leadership, Coaching & Professional Learning 35%
Directly manage Deans of Culture and other whole-child leaders through goal-setting, coaching, feedback, performance management, and development.
Design and deliver professional learning for school leaders and culture teams on: PBIS, de-escalation, restorative approaches, adult presence and response, classroom culture foundations, prevention systems, and consistent discipline practices.
Build leader skill in high-stakes moments: incident response, family partnership, re-entry conferencing, and staff coaching for consistency.
Create and maintain toolkits that make schools better quickly: discipline playbooks, referral/response maps, schoolwide reinforcement templates, restorative scripts, re-entry checklists, culture observation forms, and onboarding training for new staff.
Establish and maintain a regional operating cadence (weekly/biweekly touchpoints, monthly data reviews, quarterly calibrations) to ensure consistent execution and accountability.
Design and manage the regional budget for whole-child programming, enrichment, and culture supports.
Whole-Child & Enrichment Programming 25%
Lead the region’s Whole Child strategy with a strong emphasis on enrichment courses and programming that strengthen scholar identity, belonging, engagement, and persistence.
Set the quality bar for enrichment: define program outcomes, attendance/engagement expectations, and the instructional “look” of strong enrichment (student agency, performance tasks, project-based work, exhibition, etc.).
Oversee aligned K–12 Whole Child scope and sequence (or program progressions) for enrichment experiences and ensure developmental appropriateness.
Partner with school leaders to ensure enrichment is schedule-protected, well-staffed, and implemented consistently (including staffing models, time allocations, and role clarity).
Ensure enrichment and Whole Child programming connects to culture outcomes: reduced chronic absenteeism, stronger engagement, improved climate, and fewer behavior incidents.
Ensure programming meets state/district requirements and supports scholars toward a choice-filled life.

Benefits

Compensation is competitive and aligned with KIPP Atlanta Schools’ leadership salary bands.
The salary range for this role is $75,000–$120,000 and is based on experience, qualifications, and internal equity.
Most new hires are placed in the lower to mid-range of the salary range.
Placement near the top of the range is uncommon at hire and reserved for individuals who exceed role qualifications through depth of expertise, leadership maturity, and proven results leading complex initiatives with sustained, organization-level impact.
A comprehensive benefits package is offered, including health insurance, retirement options, paid time off, and professional development opportunities.
KIPP Atlanta Schools offers a competitive benefits package that includes:
20 days of Paid Time Off, in addition to identified holidays
Comprehensive health insurance (medical and dental), life insurance and optional short and long term disability
Counseling and Telehealth Options
Paid Parental Leave
Participation in Georgia retirement plan and an optional 403(b) retirement plan.