Position Overview
The Principal in Residence (PIR) role is a full-time, school-based leadership development position designed for experienced instructional leaders who are preparing to become Kâ12 principals within 1â2 years. PIRs are placed at a KIPP NYC school and serve as a core member of the school leadership team, progressively assuming the responsibilities of a school leader while receiving intensive coaching, mentorship, and professional development.
PIRs play a meaningful, day-to-day role in advancing student achievement, strengthening school culture, and developing teachers and emerging leaders. This role is ideal for leaders who are deeply committed to educational equity and are seeking a structured, supportive pathway to whole-school leadership.
KIPP NYCâs mission is to create joyful, academically excellent schools that prepare students with the skills, confidence, and agency to pursue the paths they chooseâcollege, career, and beyondâso they can lead fulfilling lives and help build a more just world.
Ideal Candidate Profile
This role is well-suited for accomplished instructional leaders who:
- Are currently serving as Assistant Principals, Deans, or in comparable instructional leadership roles
- Have demonstrated success in developing teachers and improving student outcomes
- Are eager to grow into whole-school leadership with coaching and feedback
- Are motivated by equity-driven leadership and community partnership
- Thrive in fast-paced, high-expectations environments and value continuous learning
Key Responsibilities
School Leadership & Vision
- Serve as a key member of the school leadership team, partnering with the School Leader to advance the schoolâs academic vision, culture, and strategic priorities
- Take increasing ownership of school-wide initiatives and leadership responsibilities over time, aligned to readiness and development goals
- Contribute to school-wide planning, goal-setting, and problem-solving using data and stakeholder input
- Model and reinforce KIPP NYCâs mission, values, and character strengths in all interactions with students, families, and staff
Instructional Leadership & Teacher Development
- Coach and develop teachers across a range of experience levels through classroom observation, feedback, goal-setting, and ongoing support
- Lead grade-level or department-level collaboration and professional learning communities
- Use student achievement data to drive instructional decisions and support teachers in planning targeted interventions
- Lead or co-lead school-wide professional development aligned to instructional priorities and adult learning best practices
- Develop deep content knowledge of assigned grades and/or subject areas and support instructional coherence across classrooms
Student Culture, Systems & Operations
- Support and help manage school-wide culture and behavioral systems that promote belonging, consistency, and high expectations
- Oversee components of daily school operations (e.g., arrival/dismissal, lunch/recess, supervision systems)
- Serve as a point of contact for student interventions and family engagement, partnering with teachers and support teams to determine next steps
- Support teachers in building inclusive, affirming learning environments for all students
Talent, Hiring & Retention
- Partner with the School Leader on staffing strategy, including identifying needs and participating in recruitment, interviewing, and selection
- Contribute to building and retaining a diverse, high-performing staff by supporting onboarding, coaching, and professional growth
- Promote inclusive hiring and retention practices that reflect and honor the communities KIPP NYC serves
Leadership Development & Professional Growth
- Engage in a structured Principal in Residence development program aligned to KIPP NYCâs leadership competencies
- Participate in:
- Ongoing one-on-one coaching with a Leadership Development coach
- On-the-job mentorship from an experienced School Leader
- Monthly readiness checkpoints to assess progress toward principal readiness
- Formal professional development and cohort-based learning alongside fellow aspiring principals
- Demonstrate reflective practice, self-awareness, resilience, and a commitment to continuous improvement
What Success Looks Like
- Demonstrates growth and readiness across KIPP NYCâs school leadership competencies
- Shows measurable impact on teacher development, instructional quality, and student outcomes
- Successfully leads increasingly complex school-wide initiatives with autonomy
- Earns a recommendation for principal candidacy within 1â2 years, contingent on readiness and organizational need