KIPP SoCal School Leader Fellow Program
Posted Updated
Who We Are
KIPP SoCal Public Schools is a nonprofit organization that operates 20 tuition-free, open-enrollment charter public schools, within 17 Local Education Agencies (LEA), educating more than 10,000 students and supporting 8,300 alumni to and through college and beyond. Our award winning schools are part of the national KIPP (Knowledge Is Power Program) network, dedicated to meeting the needs of all learners and providing the social, emotional and academic support for success in high school, college, and life.
Mission
Together with families and communities, we create joyful, academically excellent schools that prepare 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.
What We Do
At KIPP SoCal we build trusting relationships that are strengthened by high expectations and collaboration alongside laughter and joy. We set ambitious goals and hold each other accountable for students achieving their greatest potential. We work together with each other and in partnership with families and communities in the active pursuit of a more equitable world. We do the right thing, even when it's not always comfortable standing up and speaking out against anti-blackness, racism, oppression, and injustice. We persevere through obstacles and treat failure as an opportunity to learn and grow.
About the School Leader Fellow Program
KIPP SoCal Public Schools’ School Leader Fellow Program is a one or two year, job-embedded leadership residency program designed to prepare high-potential Assistant School Leaders to successfully transition into School Leader roles at KIPP SoCal Public Schools. Through authentic school leadership experiences, individualized development, coaching and mentoring, formal cohort learning, and competency-based assessment, Fellows develop and deepen the instructional, people, strategic, and adaptive skills necessary to successfully lead a KIPP SoCal school.
Through the fellowship, Fellows progressively take on expanded school leadership responsibilities and are expected to demonstrate both proficiency in core leadership skills and measurable impact on school and student outcomes. Four quarterly progression checkpoints are held throughout each fellowship year to assess Fellows’ progress toward their performance goals, leadership skill proficiency, and overall readiness for the School Leader role.
Why Apply?
The School Leader Fellow Program is KIPP SoCal's primary pathway from Assistant School Leader to School Leader. Over one to two years, Fellows take on progressively greater leadership responsibility with structured coaching and cohort learning built in, and receive:
- Placement on the Assistant School Leader salary table, with up to 3 years of past-experience credit for external candidates
- A completion bonus of up to $10,000 tied to program milestones
- Fully funded travel and coursework
- Individualized coaching from a Mentor School Leader and the Director of Leadership Development
Application Deadline #1: Friday, November 20, 2026
- Please note: If your candidacy progresses, you will be invited to pre-interviews currently planned for December 10-11, 2026. If you progress to the final selection event, we will invite you to approximately 1.5 days of interviews currently scheduled for January 14-15, 2027. Pre-interviews will be completed via Zoom, and the final selection event is will be an in-person event. Specific school-site placement for the program will be determined following the selection process.
- *Note: For external to KIPP SoCal candidates who successfully pass the pre-selection interview, a member of the KIPP SoCal team will conduct an in-person observation at your school site before the final interview. This experience typically lasts 1/2 a day and allows our team to see you in your element.
The fellowship year(s) will be comprised of the following components:
- Job-Embedded Residency: Fellows serve as full-time Assistant School Leaders at their residency schools and as members of the leadership team. Fellows take on authentic leadership responsibilities connected to instructional leadership, people leadership, school culture, strategic priorities, and school operations. Responsibilities increase over the course of the fellowship based on demonstrated readiness and development needs. Fellows are expected to contribute meaningfully to the success of their placement school, meet established performance goals, and act in alignment with the school leadership team’s vision and priorities.
- Individual Development Plan: Fellows engage in ongoing reflection and readiness assessment to identify priority development areas. In partnership with their Mentor School Leader and Director of Leadership Development, Fellows establish targeted development goals and experiences aligned to the leadership skills and competencies required for successful school leadership.
- Competency-Based Skill Assessment: Fellows are assessed on defined school leadership skills throughout the fellowship through authentic demonstrations of leadership practice. Fellows work with their Mentor School Leader and Director of Leadership Development to identify opportunities to practice, demonstrate, receive feedback on, and show proficiency in required leadership skills.
- Quarterly Progression Checkpoints: Fellows participate in four formal checkpoints throughout the year. During each checkpoint, Fellows analyze and present progress toward their school performance goals, student and school outcomes, leadership readiness, demonstrated leadership skills, and key leadership lessons. Checkpoints are used to assess progress, identify development priorities, and determine readiness for increasing levels of school leadership responsibility.
- Coaching and Mentorship: Fellows receive ongoing one-on-one coaching, mentorship, and feedback from their Mentor School Leader and the Director of Leadership Development. Fellows are expected to actively seek feedback, reflect on their leadership practice, and translate feedback into changes in leadership behavior and impact.
- Professional Development and Cohort Learning: Fellows participate in cohort-based professional learning aligned to the SLFP development roadmap. Learning experiences may include workshops, leadership case studies, simulations, peer learning, reflection, and application to Fellows’ current school leadership challenges.
Successful completion of the fellowship requires Fellows to demonstrate proficiency across required benchmarks and readiness expectations.
Desired Qualifications and Experience
Applicants must have:
- Bachelor's degree
- At least 2 years of experience in an instructional school-wide leadership role (e.g., Assistant School Leader), with demonstrated academic impact, including at least 1 full year as an Assistant School Leader, by the start of the program
- 3+ years of teaching experience with demonstrated student performance results.
- Experience working in a school in which more than 50% of students qualify for free or reduced-price lunch.
- A demonstrated commitment to equity and anti-racist practices.
The following qualifications are strongly preferred:
- Possession of a valid California preliminary or CLEAR teaching credential or equivalent out of state credential.
- Possession of a valid California preliminary or CLEAR admin credential or equivalent out of state credential.
- Evidence of significant and consistent personal and professional achievement within the public charter school setting.
For more information internal candidate and external candidate requirements, click here.
Application and Selection Process Dates
If you are a current KIPP team member, you are highly encouraged to discuss this opportunity with your manager before applying.
Candidates may apply through either of the two 2027-28 SLFP selection events:
Application Deadline #1: Friday, November 20, 2026
- Please note: If your candidacy progresses, you will be invited to pre-interviews currently planned for December 10-11, 2026. If you progress to the final selection event, we will invite you to approximately 1.5 days of interviews currently scheduled for January 14-15, 2027. Pre-interviews will be completed via Zoom, and the final selection event is will be an in-person event. Specific school-site placement for the program will be determined following the selection process.
- *Note: For external to KIPP SoCal candidates who successfully pass the pre-selection interview, a member of the KIPP SoCal team will conduct an in-person observation at your school site before the final interview. This experience typically lasts 1/2 a day and allows our team to see you in your element.
Application Deadline #2: Friday, February 26, 2027
- Please note: If your candidacy progresses, you will be invited to pre-interviews currently planned for March 15-16, 2027. If you progress to the final selection event, we will invite you to approximately 1.5 days of interviews currently scheduled for April 15-16, 2027. Pre-interviews will be completed via Zoom, and the final selection event is will be an in-person event. Specific school-site placement for the program will be determined following the selection process.
- *Note: For external to KIPP SoCal candidates who successfully pass the pre-selection interview, a member of the KIPP SoCal team will conduct an in-person observation at your school site before the final interview. This experience typically lasts 1/2 a day and allows our team to see you in your element.
*For External Candidates: School-Site Visit
A vital part of our selection process for external candidates is an in-person visit to the candidate’s current school site. A member of the Talent Team or School Management Team will work directly with the candidate to schedule the visit. School visits typically last approximately 2-4 hours and should provide opportunities to observe the candidate’s leadership in action. When possible, visits will include classroom observations, coaching or adult development interactions, and schoolwide moments that allow our team to see the candidate's leadership with key school stakeholders, including students, families, teachers, and school leaders.
Application and Selection Process Components
Candidates who advance will participate in a multi-stage, competency-based selection process designed to assess readiness for the fellowship and alignment with the leadership skills required of KIPP SoCal School Leaders. Selection activities may include competency-based interviews, leadership case studies or simulations, review of past leadership impact and student outcomes, and reference checks.
Application Components
The School Leader Fellow Program application consists of the following components:
- Resume
- Professional References Submitted with the Application
- *Current KIPP SoCal team members: Letters of reference from your School Leader and Director of Schools must be submitted directly to our Director of Leadership Development, Adriana Rodriguez ([email protected]).
- Please have your SL/DOS complete the designated SL and DOS forms:
- SL Reference Form
- DOS Reference Form
- Student Performance Data
- Applicants should use the provided Student Performance Data Guidelines to complete this component.
- Short Response Questions
- Applicants will have the opportunity to respond via video or written response.
Professional References
Applicants must provide contact information for three professional references as part of their application. We recommend these three references include a current supervisor, a peer, and an individual the applicant manages. For each reference, please include their name, title, organization, relationship to you, email, and phone number.
If you advance in the selection process, KIPP SoCal will contact your references and request that they complete a recommendation form on your behalf. If you have questions or concerns about your references being contacted, please contact Eric DeSobe, Director of Talent Acquisition, at [email protected] directly.
Compensation
- Applicants selected to be a School Leader Fellow will be placed on KIPP SoCal's Assistant School Leader salary table.
- KIPP SoCal School Leader Fellows also receive a bonus worth up to $10,000 based on completion of key milestones during the program.
- External to KIPP SoCal candidates can receive up to 3 years past experience credit from equivalent leadership roles counted toward their placement on the Assistant School Leader table. That salary table placement is determined by the KIPP SoCal Talent Team using evidence gathered in the application and interview process.
- Additionally, all travel expenses and coursework associated with the fellowship are paid for by KIPP SoCal and/or the KIPP Foundation.
- 100% of healthcare premium costs covered by employer, dependents added at 50% of the cost
Employer-paid KIPP SoCal life insurance
401(k) plan with up to 6% match by KIPP SoCal
Voluntary Benefits (Pet Insurance, Supplemental Life, Accident, Short Term Disability, etc.)
Generous time off program includes 22 holidays, sick leave and vacation - Other great benefits (Flexible spending account, EAP, etc.)
- KIPP SoCal provides equal employment opportunity for all applicants and employees.
KIPP SoCal Public Schools is an equal opportunity employer and does not discriminate on the basis of race, color, religion, sex, age, national origin, veteran status, disability, sexual orientation/gender identity, or any other characteristic protected by applicable law.
KIPP SoCal strives to ensure that our careers website is accessible to all, including individuals with disabilities. If you require reasonable accommodation for any part of the application or hiring process due to a disability, please contact us. You can find our contact information on our website, . Information will be sent to a talent acquisition representative who will provide assistance to ensure appropriate consideration in the hiring process.
As published by lever · 35 questions · 6 written answers
Basics
Resume/CV, Full name, Pronouns, Email, Phone, Current location, Current company
Short answers (7)
- If you answered yes to the question above, please specify which language optional
- Address
- City
- Zip Code
- Reference 1: Full Name; email; phone
- Reference 2: Full Name; email; phone
- Reference 3: Full Name; email; phone
Pick from a list (20)
- By submitting this application, I certify that all information I have provided — in this application and in any related materials, including my resume, cover letter, and interview responses — is true, complete, and accurate to the best of my knowledge. I understand that KIPP SoCal Public Schools relies on this information in making hiring decisions. I acknowledge that any misrepresentation, falsification, or material omission may result in rescission of an offer of employment or, if I have already been hired, termination of employment, regardless of when the inaccuracy is discovered. optional
- Do you speak a language other than English or Spanish?
- If you are able to speak a language other than English, what is your level of proficiency? optional
- For internal KIPP SoCal applicants: It is highly encouraged that you speak with your current school leader regarding your aspirations for school leadership. Please indicate below if you have spoken with your school leader regarding your readiness for this position. optional
- How many years of school-wide instructional leadership experience have you completed (including the current school year)? Please only include experiences coaching classroom teachers or team members with direct instructional impact on students. optional
- State optional
- Are you affiliated with KIPP SoCal? optional
- Do you have any family members who are currently employed at KIPP? optional
- What is your level of Spanish fluency? optional
- Are you legally authorized to work in the United States?
- Are you able to complete the essential job duties for the position to which you are applying for either with or without accommodation?
- Are you a current or former Teach For America corps member?
- Are you a current or former City Year corps member?
- I voluntarily consent to KIPP SoCal Public Schools and/or any of its officers, employees, agents, or contracted affiliates or companies to check any of my references by contacting them directly. We will not contact them without notifying you first.
- Have you ever been disciplined by a school, district, and/or state credentialing organization?
- Are you currently under investigation by a school, district, and/or credentialing organization?*
- Have you ever been suspended without pay for more than 10 days, involuntarily terminated, asked to resign from employment, or resigned in lieu of termination?
- Have you ever resigned from (or otherwise left) school employment because of allegations of misconduct, or while allegations of misconduct were pending?
- Have you ever had any document authorizing public school service (including but not limited to a permit, credential or license) revoked, denied, suspended, and/or otherwise subjected to any other disciplinary action?
- As mandated by AB 2534 and SB 848, check the box if there were any credible complaints of, substantiated investigations into, or discipline for, egregious misconduct, as defined in CA Ed. Code § 44932, that were required to be reported to the California Commission on Teacher Credentialing. Or if you were the subject of any credible complaints of, substantiated investigations into, or discipline for, egregious misconduct that were used to support a substantiated investigation. optional
Written answers (6)
- Please describe in what capacity you were an instructional leader and all grade levels and/or content teams you coached, managed, or supported. optional
- Why are you interested in applying for this position? Why now?
- What skills, qualifications, and experience make you a good candidate for this role?
- What are 2-3 areas of growth that you feel you would need to prioritize if you were to step into this role?
- Have you ever been involved in turning around a school struggling with student culture and/or academics? If so, share details about the situation. optional
- If you answered no to the question above, please describe the full functions that cannot be performed. If you answered yes, please type 'N/A'.
Attachments (2)
- Use the link provided to create and then submit a summary and analysis of your student achievement data. Use: https://docs.google.com/document/d/1S65EoY1DvpzclpY-7mQrBtmu2vSvx0e-lgfR7N3_hI4/edit?usp=sharing
- *Current KIPP SoCal team members: Letters of reference from your School Leader and Director of Schools must be submitted directly to our Director of Leadership Development, Adriana Rodriguez ([email protected]). Please have your SL and DOS complete the following forms (links found on main job posting): optional