Position Overview:Every member of the Team & Family at KIPP KC plays a critical role in ensuring our students are on the path toward college, career, and beyond. Our educators are passionate advocates for our students and families, working tirelessly to connect them with access to opportunity for lives of power and choice. As a {CONTENT AREA} Teacher, you will deliver exceptional instruction and assess student growth. You are dedicated to constant learning and proactively provide academic and cultural support to your school and team. You are deeply committed to educational equity, building relationships with students and families so they are safe, seen, heard, and loved.The Senior Director of Academics is a key member of the academic leadership team, responsible for driving the vision, strategy, and execution of high-quality instruction across all academies. Reporting directly to the Chief Academic Officer, this role leads the academic team and ensures coherence across curriculum, instruction, assessment, and professional learning systems.This leader brings deep experience in instructional leadership and coaching, with a strong preference for expertise in literacy, and a proven track record of improving student outcomes through adult development. The Senior Director builds the capacity of academic leaders, instructional coaches, and school leaders to deliver rigorous, standards-aligned, and culturally responsive instruction.Core ResponsibilitiesAcademic Vision & LeadershipPartner with the Chief Academic Officer to define and execute the organization’s academic strategy and priorities.Lead and manage the academic team, including coaching, performance management, and development of team members.Ensure strong alignment across curriculum, instruction, assessment, and professional learning systems.Serve as a key thought partner to the Chief Academic Officer, Chief Schools Officer and school leaders on instructional improvement and academic priorities.Drive a culture of high expectations, accountability, and continuous improvement across all academies.Instructional Leadership & CoachingOversee a high-impact instructional coaching model across schools.Develop the capacity of instructional coaches, academic leaders, and school leaders through direct coaching and professional learning.Model best practices in instruction and coaching, with a strong emphasis on literacy instruction.Ensure instructional practices are aligned to curriculum and grounded in data.Support schools in implementing research-based instructional strategies that drive student achievement.Curriculum Strategy & CoherenceLead the curation, adoption, and implementation of high-quality instructional materials.Ensure alignment with state standards, organizational priorities, and research-based practices.Maintain vertical alignment across PK–12 grade levels.Ensure curriculum is culturally responsive, inclusive, and accessible to all learners, including special populations.Oversee continuous improvement cycles for curriculum based on student data and teacher feedback.Scope, Sequence & Instructional PlanningOversee development and refinement of scope and sequence documents across content areas.Ensure strong vertical and horizontal alignment across grade levels and academies.Guide the development of pacing guides and instructional planning tools.Ensure instructional materials and planning structures support effective lesson execution.Assessment & Data StrategyOversee the design and implementation of a comprehensive assessment system.Ensure alignment between curriculum, instruction, and assessments.Lead systems for analyzing and using student data to inform instruction and academic decisions.Support leaders and coaches in building strong data-driven instructional practices.Monitor student achievement trends and drive responsive action planning.Professional Learning & Adult DevelopmentDesign and oversee a cohesive professional development strategy aligned to academic priorities.Ensure professional learning builds teacher and leader capacity in curriculum implementation and instructional excellence.Partner with instructional coaches to ensure effective transfer of professional learning into classrooms.Lead large-scale professional development initiatives and academic trainings.Academic Operations & ExecutionOversee execution of key academic initiatives, ensuring strong project management and follow-through.Monitor academic OKRs, key performance indicators, and implementation fidelity.Coordinate cross-functional work across departments to support academic priorities.Prepare reports and updates for executive leadership and the board.Academic Program Monitoring & Continuous ImprovementAnalyze academic performance across academies to identify trends, gaps, and opportunities.Ensure consistent implementation of academic programs and instructional expectations.Partner with school leaders to design and implement targeted improvement strategies.Drive continuous improvement cycles grounded in data and classroom practice.CollaborationThe Senior Director of Academics works closely with:Chief Academic OfficerChief Schools OfficerInstructional CoachesHumanities and STEM DirectorsAssessment ManagerSpecial Populations LeadershipStudent Behavior & Mental Health Leadershipto ensure seamless alignment between curriculum, instruction, assessment, and student support systems.Key OutcomesSuccess in this role is measured by:Significant gains in student academic achievement, particularly in literacyStrong, consistent instructional practices across academiesHigh-quality implementation of curriculum and assessment systemsIncreased effectiveness of instructional coaches and academic leadersCoherent, aligned academic systems across the organization
