KIPP SoCal School Leader Fellow Program
KIPP Foundation
Los Angeles, CA, USA
Posted on Nov 18, 2025
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 School’s School Leader Fellow Program is a primarily a two year residency program designed for aspiring school leaders. During the Fellow Program, participants serve as Assistant School Leaders to their assigned site.
The program focuses on leadership development within a placement school, followed by a transition period to serve as a successor school leader either at that school site or, potentially, a different one. Through targeted development, coaching and mentoring, and formal learning, fellows will develop and deepen the instructional and adaptive skills to prepare them to successfully lead a KIPP SoCal school.
Application Deadline: Friday, January 9, 2026
Please note: If your candidacy progresses, you will be invited to pre-interviews currently planned for February 2-3, 2026. If you progress to the final selection event, we will invite you to approximately 1.5 days of interviews currently scheduled for February 26-27, 2026. 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:
- Residency: Fellows will be full-time members of their residency school leadership teams, which will provide them with daily opportunities to practice the skills and competencies required to lead high-performing schools. In their role, program participants will coach and develop teachers through the instructional leadership cycle and contribute to the overall academic and cultural vision of the school. Fellows are committed to and actively contribute to the success of their placement school and act in alignment with the school leadership team's vision and priorities.
- Individual Development Plan: Fellows will have individual development plans aligned to the KIPP Leading for Learning Actions and KIPP Leadership Competency Model. These development plans will create a scope and sequence for their learning.
- Progression Checkpoints: Fellows will be regularly evaluated on the skills and competencies of an effective school leader. Progression checkpoints are scheduled throughout the duration of the program. To be formally considered for a school leadership role, the Fellow must demonstrate proficiency on all program benchmarks.
- Coaching: One-on-one coaching from a mentor school leader and Director of Leadership Development.
- Coaching: One-on-one coaching from a Regional Academic Leader and/or Mentor School Leader.
- Professional Development: Fellows will engage in cohort learning aligned with the program’s development roadmap to support their learning. This PD will come through a combination of region-led and externally-led workshops, individual text studies, and case studies.
Desired Qualifications and Experience
- Bachelor's Degree
- Currently serving as an Assistant School Leader/Assistant Principal, or equivalent school-wide instructional leadership role at the time of application.
- Possession of a valid California preliminary or clear teaching credential or out of state credential equivalent is strongly preferred
- Possession of a valid California preliminary or clear administrative credential or out of state credential equivalent is strongly preferred
- Evidence of significant and consistent personal and professional achievement within the public charter school space in California is highly desirable
- Worked in a school in which >50% of students qualify for free or reduced-price lunch
- Commitment to equity and anti-racist practices
At the time of beginning the fellowship, applicants must have:
- 3+ year(s) of lead teaching experience with demonstrated student performance results
- 2+ years(s) of experience in an instructional school-wide leadership role, such as an assistant school leader with demonstrated impact and results
- Candidates with less experience than required above will not be considered for this Fellowship and will have their application re-routed to a different role and/or process
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.
- KIPP SoCal provides equal employment opportunity for all applicants and employees.
Application and Selection Process
- Application Deadline: Friday, January 9, 2026
- Please note: If your candidacy progresses, you will be invited to pre-interviews currently planned for February 2-3, 2026. If you progress to the final selection event, we will invite you to approximately 1.5 days of interviews currently scheduled for February 26-27, 2026. 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 Components
- Resume
- Student Achievement Data Submission (3 years), which should include the following:
- Current student achievement from the '25-'26 SY (MOY data is acceptable); student achievement data from the '24-'25 SY ; a third year of student achievement, which can be data from your time as an Assistant School Leader or it can be from your final year classroom teaching
- Short Response Questions (written response)
- Three Professional References (current supervisor mandatory)
- *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 (arodriguez@kippsocal.org). Please have your SL/DOS complete the following forms:
- SL Reference Form
- DOS Reference Form
- (*Note: If you move past the initial stages of our interview process, we will contact your references and request they complete a recommendation form on your behalf. If you have questions or concerns about your references being contacted at that stage of the process, please contact Eric DeSobe, Director of Talent Acquisition at erdesobe@kippsocal.org as early as possible to discuss)
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, http://www.kippsocal.org/. Information will be sent to a talent acquisition representative who will provide assistance to ensure appropriate consideration in the hiring process.