Senior Director of Academic Strategy & School Support

Company Description

KIPP — the largest nonprofit network of college-preparatory, public charter schools in the nation—has demonstrated, at scale, that all children have the potential to excel academically regardless of race or zip code. KIPP currently serves over 120,000 students in 270 schools nationwide, including Indianapolis. KIPP Indy Public Schools (KIPP Indy) was founded in 2004 with one class of fifth-grade students and has grown to serve 1,400 students across three schools. Of the students that attend KIPP Indy, 93% qualify for free and reduced lunch, 95% are African American or LatinX, 16% receive special education services, and 15% are designated as Multilingual Learners. As we continue to grow, our mission remains the same: to create joyful, academically excellent schools in which teachers, students, and families are all united around the same goal of preparing students with the skills and confidence to pursue the paths they choose —college, career, and beyond— so they can lead fulfilling lives and create a more just world.

Job Description

KIPP Indy Public Schools seeks an experienced and strategic Senior Director of Academic Strategy & School Support to lead the development and execution of academic and culture systems across our K-12 schools. This leader plays a critical role in implementing the regional academic and cultural vision by providing high-impact coaching, project management, and technical expertise to school-based and regional staff. Reporting to the Head of Schools, the Senior Director will ensure high-quality execution of both instructional and cultural priorities, directly supporting school leadership teams and contributing to KIPP Indy’s overall academic and operational excellence. The Senior Director leads the implementation of a functional strategy that bridges academics and student culture, ensuring that all systems, interventions, and school practices reflect a commitment to excellence, equity, and student achievement.

RESPONSIBILITIES

Functional Leadership: Academic & Culture Strategy Implementation

• Partner with school leaders and the regional Academics Team to implement a comprehensive K-12 academic and culture strategy aligned to KIPP Indy’s mission and values.
• Lead planning, execution, and progress monitoring for regional instructional and cultural initiatives.
• Support the design and refinement of academic frameworks, instructional systems, and student culture models that drive achievement and belonging.
• Ensure that school-based and regional priorities are aligned and implemented with fidelity, particularly across multi-tiered supports, professional development, and school-wide culture systems.

School Support & Capacity Building

• Serve as a thought partner and technical expert to school leaders and leadership teams on instructional systems, Tier I and II behavior systems, and school culture.
• Lead capacity-building efforts for school-based staff by designing and facilitating training, coaching leaders, and developing tools to sustain high-quality instruction and culture.
• Support school teams with the execution of academic intervention blocks, CARE team meetings, and student behavior response systems.
• Conduct walk-throughs during academic and culture blocks, collect data, and provide feedback to school teams.

MTSS & Student Intervention Leadership

• Manage regional MTSS infrastructure, including Tier II and III supports, platform usage, data monitoring, and intervention planning.
• Coach CARE team leaders on meeting facilitation, data analysis, and action planning; observe and provide feedback for continuous improvement.
• Lead implementation of high-impact intervention programs and partner with school teams to evaluate their effectiveness.

Strategic Project Management

• Oversee and manage regional academic and cultural projects that have high impact and strategic importance to the organization.
• Develop tools and systems to monitor progress toward school and regional goals, adjusting strategy as needed based on data.
• Coordinate implementation timelines, delegate responsibilities, and ensure clear communication across stakeholders.

Stakeholder Engagement & Communication

• Serve as a key liaison between regional teams, school leaders, and external partners.
• Communicate effectively across functional areas to ensure alignment of priorities and smooth execution of initiatives.
• Manage relationships with key vendors, curriculum providers, and the Indianapolis Office of Education Innovation, our authorizer, as needed.

CORE COMPETENCIES

• Strategic Execution