Director Of Early Childhood Education

About the Director of Early Childhood Education Role: This position will be a key member of KIPP Colorado’s leadership team. Through strategy, detailed execution, and extensive relationship-building, the Director of ECE will continue to create and execute a rigorous and aligned Early Childhood Education vision that drives towards increasingly high levels of student achievement in ECE-3 and ECE-4 classrooms. This role reports to the Chief Academic Officer.

About KIPP: Together with families and communities, KIPP creates 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 build a more just world. KIPP is a national network of tuition-free, public charter schools open to all students. There are 255 college-preparatory KIPP schools in 20 states and the District of Columbia, serving more than 100,000 students. Nationally, KIPP students are graduating four-year colleges at three times the national average for low-income students.

Who we are: KIPP Colorado Public Schools is a network of six free college-preparatory public charter schools open to all students. Our 350-person staff educates 2,600 students from ECE to 12th grade. At KIPP Colorado, we partner with our KIPPsters, educators, families and communities to ensure that we are all united around the goal of a choice-filled future for our KIPPsters. Our KIPP Forward Team supports our 1,000+ high school Alumni as they create their own paths. Our core values of excellence, belonging, belief, advocacy and courage are central to who we are and how we operate at all levels of our organization.

What we do: We believe in the unique gifts and brilliance of every student. We believe in setting a high bar for joy and academic excellence to ensure the infinite possibilities our students have before them become a reality. We aspire to create and reinforce a culture of achievement, belonging and support. We know that every student is different and we personalize learning based on a student's needs, skills, and interests.

Role Responsibilities and More About How You’ll Spend Your Time in this Role

Key Outcomes

• High-Quality ECE Curriculum and Assessments are selected, evaluated, and continuously refined for all ECE-3 and ECE-4 subjects.
• 85% of ECE-4 students pass STEP Level “Pre” by end of year.
• Procures and maintains good standing with child care and business licensing requirements
• ECE Teachers & Leaders are continuously supported in developing their ECE and Culturally-Relevant Pedagogical Expertise.
• High-Functioning partnerships are created and maintained with school-level ECE Instructional Leaders
• All ECE Programs achieve a minimum Level 2 and demonstrate year-over-year improvement towards achieving a Level 5 on the Colorado Shines quality rating system.
• ECE students meet annual achievement goals:
  • All ECE-3 and ECE-4 students fall within Widely Held Expectations (WHEs) across all TS Gold developmental objectives.
  • 85% of ECE-4 students pass STEP Level “Pre” by end of year.
• All ECE-3 and ECE-4 students fall within Widely Held Expectations (WHEs) across all TS Gold developmental objectives.

Technical Competencies

• Oversees the selection, refinement, and implementation of aligned ECE assessments to measure and improve teaching and learning
• Oversees the development of rigorous and aligned ECE curriculum, including the integration of culturally relevant materials and pedagogical practices
• Strategically pilots and scales innovative models for a specific area of focus through effective advocacy and project management
• Distills vision into tangible resources and bite-sized action steps for others to take on to drive work forward; creates and utilizes systems to build ECE leader & teacher capacity along a clear continuum of development
• Organizes and analyzes data to inform decision-making, program modification and planning for targeted interventions
• Analyzes current research and evidence from programs with excellent results to inform proposals for new initiatives
• Demonstrates a thorough working knowledge of Early Childhood Education state and district laws, policies, procedures, terminology, and child care licensing requirements

Professional Responsibilities

• Assist with both student and staff recruitment.
• Share candid, solutions-oriented feedback with peers and leadership on a regular basis.
• Reflect on professional practices to meet individual professional development goals.
• Meet professional obligations including and not limited to meeting deadlines and honoring schedules.
• Take ownership for the development of your craft (meet 1x/1-2 weeks with a manager, implement feedback, engage in active practice, etc.)
• Assume personal responsibility for student achievement.
• Actively engage in all school-wide professional development.
• Collaborate with colleagues and seek feedback in the spirit of continuous improvement.
• Serve as a positive, contributing member of a grade team, collaborating with colleagues to tackle common challenges and implement grade-wide initiatives.
• Actively participate in professional development, grade level, and department meetings.
• Maintain strong attendance each day and be on time to all responsibilities
• Believe deeply in the mission, values, and Race, Inclusion, Diversity, and Equity (RIDE) commitments of KIPP Colorado Schools and that all children can and will learn.
• Other duties as assigned
• Providing an active presence, strategic supervision, and intentional monitoring to ensure student safety and engagement in rigorous learning (regardless of my role and its proximity to students)

Director Role Level Specifics, Scope of Work, and Level of Responsibility For more about how you’ll lead at the Director level, please visit the KIPP Colorado Role Levels Matrix (this is an internal document, only).

About Your Skills and Qualifications at the Director Level:

• At least five to seven years of relevant and aligned experience in Early Childhood Education (required)
• A full understanding and Commitment to an Exceptional Student Experience (more about that HERE) (required)
• Outstanding organizational skills and high attention to detail; outstanding written and oral communication skills
• CDE Director-Level Qualification (preferred)
• Past experience (2 years) of leading adults in a school environment (required)
• Strong work ethic coupled with an enthusiastic and passionate approach to one’s work
• Bachelor's degree (required)
• Spanish bilingual (preferred)
• At least 5 years of ECE Teaching experience and/or a strong record of helping underserved students achieve academic success (required)
• Ability to manage the ambiguity and multiple priorities inherent in an entrepreneurial environment
• Proactive problem solver who demonstrates initiative and teamwork

• Multi-faceted, multi-skilled, resourceful and willing to do whatever it takes to help the school reach a level of academic excellence
• Demonstrated ability to work in a fast-paced, high-energy environment with a proven ability to meet and complete multiple deadlines and tasks with meticulous attention to detail.
• Entrepreneurial mindset, with the creativity and versatility to work productively in a fast-paced environment
• Strong communication, feedback and facilitation skills
• High level of detail orientation and sound excellent organizational skills
• Passionate commitment to KIPP Colorado mission and to high standards of excellence
• Strong interpersonal skills, with the ability to develop productive working relationships with stakeholders across functional and organizational lines
• Articulate, professional demeanor with strong self-confidence and initiative.
• Strong analytical and problem-solving skills

Compensation and Benefits:

Staff retention and satisfaction is imperative for KIPP Colorado. We seek to provide competitive compensation and benefits including the following:

• Competitive Market Salary: Starting salary for this role begins at $90,000
  • Please submit a comprehensive resume to assure all your experience is accounted for! (Tip: We don't care if your resume is more than one page, we are eager to see and compensate you for all of your experience and accomplishments.)
• Excellent Healthcare Plan: 100% of employee-only monthly premium paid by KIPP Colorado and options for family enrollment and coverage, through United Healthcare.
• Please submit a comprehensive resume to assure all your experience is accounted for! (Tip: We don't care if your resume is more than one page, we are eager to see and compensate you for all of your experience and accomplishments.)

• Time Off !!!: More than 6 weeks of annual vacation and Paid Time Off (PTO)

• Based on hire date, employees are eligible for up to 8 days of Paid Time Off (PTO)

• All employees receive summer break through an Org closure, based on work location and position
• Access to Parental and medical leave: Includes 6 weeks paid and 6 weeks unpaid for a total of 12 weeks (after your first year).

• Career Trajectory: Access to opportunity to to move up, across schools, and grow your career and weekly coaching session to refine your craft.

• Mental Health Care: Immediate and ongoing access to mental health support through our Employee Assistance Program.

• Technology & Access: Equipment provided: laptop & phone

• Retirement Planning: Participation in the Colorado PERA retirement program, including a PERA 401k option.
• Additional Pay: Most school offer various stipend opportunities
• Optional Basic Life and AD&D Insurance
• Voluntary long term disability insurance
• Move to Join Us: Relocation reimbursement (when applicable)
• All the Insurance Options:
  • Wellness reimbursement
  • Voluntary employee, spousal, and child life insurance
  • Voluntary long term disability insurance
  • Voluntary short term disability insurance
  • Optional Basic Life and AD&D Insurance
• Voluntary short term disability insurance
• Voluntary employee, spousal, and child life insurance
• Wellness reimbursement

• All the Info: For more information, you can view our benefits FAQ here .

KIPP Colorado Schools is dedicated to equal employment opportunities and fair labor practices. KIPP Colorado Schools, KIPP Denver Collegiate High School, KIPP Northeast Denver Middle School, KIPP Northeast Elementary, KIPP Northeast Denver Leadership Academy, KIPP Sunshine Peak Academy and KIPP Sunshine Peak Elementary provide equal employment opportunities to all individuals based on job-related qualifications, and the ability to perform a job without regard to race, color, gender, gender identity, gender expression, religious creed, marital status, age, national origin, ancestry, genetic information, legally protected medical condition, veteran status, sexual orientation, or on any other basis made unlawful by federal, state or local laws. It is our policy to maintain a non-discriminatory environment free from intimidation, harassment or bias based upon these grounds.

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