ROLE OVERVIEW
At KPPS, the Assistant Principal of Student Support (APSS) leads the school’s student support systems to ensure all students—especially those with the greatest needs—experience a joyful, affirming, and academically rigorous environment.
The APSS is responsible for the design and execution of special education, MTSS, and intervention systems, ensuring services are high-quality, data-driven, and compliant. They coach teachers and support staff, monitor student outcomes, and drive continuous improvement in support programming.
As a core member of the leadership team, the APSS partners with the Principal and regional teams to implement aligned systems and ensure all students receive the support they need to thrive academically, socially, and emotionally.
KEY RESPONSIBILITIES
Lead School Based Special Education & Student Support Programming
Develop, monitor, and evaluate the effectiveness of special education programs and other student supports (Intervention, 504, ELL, etc.)
Serve as the school’s point of contact for all external stakeholders and state compliance reporting for special education
Monitor development and compliance of IEPs, 504s, Evaluations, and ELL programs and ensure programming and service delivery is implemented with fidelity.
Manage related service and evaluation provision ensuring compliant and responsive timelines, programming, and reporting
Lead Child Find efforts and drive intervention and evaluation processes.
Design and lead the Multi-Tiered System of Support (MTSS) pre-service program to ensure that the school is intervening with students demonstrating needs at Tiers 2 and 3
Manage and coach Special Education teachers and related service providers and lead Student Support content team.
Consult on all discipline cases involving protected students and ensure procedural compliance.
Liaise and engage with families via training, meetings, and consultations.
Plan and deliver professional development related to special education and student support topics
Review and respond to student support data sources including attendance, discipline, compliance monitoring, and progress monitoring
Coaching, Developing & Managing Teachers and Others
Develop knowledge and expertise in all aspects of the KIPP Philadelphia Schools instructional design including curriculum, assessment and instructional moves
Coach teachers and case managers, effectively identifying the teachers’ strengths and growth areas, and leveraging a variety of coaching tools (including frequent observation, real time feedback, practice sessions) to evolve each teacher’s craft and increase learning in their classroom and the effectiveness of their case management
Build strong relationships with teachers built on trust, shared clarity, care and transparency
Analyze instructional and compliance data for individual teachers and across the grade(s) or subject areas of focus, pulling out trends, bright spots, and needs and using findings to drive support and initiatives
Design, lead, and participate in staff professional development, including but not limited to workshops, content teams, data step backs, content internalizations, and planning meetings
Ensure all teachers have clarity on the expectations of their role, including performance goals connected to student outcomes, effective practice, and core values alignment
Regularly meet with all teachers to provide feedback on their practice, review outcomes data, and provide the support needed for them to meet their performance goals
Conduct mid-year and end-of year evaluation meetings with all teachers
Support teachers in understanding certification expectations, resources, and next steps (provided by the regional office)
Build up the leadership capacity of teachers over time, supporting teachers in building the skills, knowledge and mindsets essential to achieve their aspirations
Coach and manage the Senior Social Worker or Social Worker
Coach and manage the external and internal related service providers and support personnel including, but not limited to: School Psychologist, Speech & Language Pathologist, Occupational Therapist, Physical Therapist, ELL Teacher, Paraprofessionals, Personal Care Assistants, and other support personnel
Transformational Leadership and Fostering a Strong School Community
Model KIPP Philadelphia’s values and beliefs at all times (Children First, Cultural Competence, Community, Ownership)
Support the implementation of proactive student discipline strategies
Build strong relationships with students and implement systems that develop their knowledge, skills, social-emotional development, and positive sense of self
Establish and maintain strong lines of communication with all fellow employees, parents and community partners
Lead school-wide events and act as school leader when necessary
Remain on call in the evenings (via school cell phone) to provide student support
Lead and help execute school initiatives including but not limited to, annual planning for the coming year, implementation of new focus areas, and other duties as assigned by the School Leader
WHO YOU ARE
You are deeply committed to unlocking the potential in every child, seeing their inherent brilliance and fostering their growth.
You have a proven track record of driving student achievement and creating inclusive, warm, and rigorous learning environments where all students thrive.
You are passionate about professional learning, eager to both facilitate growth in others and continuously develop as a leader.
You operate with cultural humility, cultural competence, and an unwavering commitment to inclusion, anti-racism, and dismantling anti-Blackness in education.
You believe in the transformative power of educators, recognizing that teachers are the primary catalysts for student growth, learning, and success.
You set high expectations for both students and teachers, inspiring and motivating others to achieve excellence while holding them accountable with care and clarity.
You are solutions-oriented, resilient, and adaptable, approaching challenges with creativity and a relentless focus on driving positive outcomes.