School Principal - School Leader

Job Description

The School Leader serves as the chief instructional and organizational leader of the school and is accountable for student achievement, school culture, staff development, and operational excellence. The School Leader sets a clear vision for academic success and ensures its execution through strong instructional leadership, adult development, and disciplined school systems.

Reporting to the Chief Schools Officer, the School Leader leads the school leadership team and ensures regional priorities are implemented with fidelity while building a joyful, rigorous, and equitable learning environment where every student can thrive.

KIPP St. Louis is a part of a national network of free, open‑enrollment, public charter schools offering a choice to families and children in St. Louis city. As the largest charter school system in the city, we are driven and committed to our mission and vision.

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 build a more just world.

Vision:
Every child grows up free to create the future they want for themselves and their communities.

KIPP St. Louis currently educates approximately 2,000 students and boasts hundreds of alumni. Today, our St. Louis network consists of three elementary schools, two middle schools, and a high school.

We believe that our educators are proving what’s possible in urban education each and every day, by inspiring students, and helping them discover the joy of learning. KIPP schools support our educators to help students achieve academic excellence, building the skills and confidence they need to succeed.

Together, we are raising the bar for every student, every day.

Position type:
Full time, exempt, 12 Month

Direct Manager:
Chief Schools Officer (CSO), responsible for principal supervision and overall school performance.

Direct Reports:
Assistant School Leader(s), Manager of Operations, and other designated school-based leadership staff.

Key Collaborators: VP of Academics & Instruction, VP of Student Services & Experience, Director of Professional Learning, regional operations leaders, and cross‑functional regional teams.

Autonomy & Decision Making

The School Leader owns school‑level strategy and execution for academic outcomes, school culture, staff performance, and operational reliability. The School Leader sets priorities for the school leadership team, manages staff performance, and ensures alignment with regional expectations.

Regional strategy, curriculum design, and cross‑school initiatives are set in partnership with regional leadership.

Inputs:
What will I be doing in my day to day work?

• Set and execute the instructional vision aligned to regional priorities.
• Monitor student performance using internal and external assessments.
• Supervise and develop Assistant School Leaders and Instructional Coaches.
• Ensure teachers receive consistent coaching and feedback.

• Recruit, hire, and retain high‑performing teachers and staff.
• Supervise, evaluate, and develop school staff.
• Build leadership capacity within the school leadership team.
• Address underperformance and drive continuous improvement.

• Establish and maintain strong school culture systems.
• Monitor attendance, behavior, and student engagement.
• Partner with families to build trust and strong school‑community relationships.
• Ensure safe and inclusive learning environments.

• Partner with the Manager of Operations to ensure reliable school systems.
• Monitor enrollment, attendance, staffing, and school resources.
• Ensure compliance with state, regional, and organizational policies.

• Strong student academic growth and achievement.
• High‑quality instructional practice across classrooms.
• Staff retention and development of future school leaders.
• Positive school culture with strong attendance and engagement.
• Reliable…