Assistant Principal - Middle School

Job description

Position Overview The Assistant Principal serves as a key member of the school leadership team and works in close partnership with the Principal to ensure every student experiences a safe, joyful, rigorous, and supportive learning environment. The Assistant Principal helps translate the school's academic and cultural vision into strong daily execution by developing teachers, strengthening instruction, supporting student culture, using data to drive action, and leading assigned schoolwide priorities. This is a highly visible, student-centered leadership role that requires a strong instructional foundation, the ability to coach and develop adults, sound judgment, and a deep belief in the potential of every student. The Assistant Principal maintains a consistent presence in classrooms and throughout the school, building strong relationships with students, staff, and families while holding high expectations for academic achievement and student success. The specific portfolio of the Assistant Principal may vary based on school needs and may include responsibility for particular grade levels, content areas, instructional priorities, student culture initiatives, or other schoolwide functions. Regardless of assignment, the Assistant Principal shares responsibility for improving student outcomes, developing excellent educators, and creating the conditions in which students and adults can thrive. Key Responsibilities Instructional Leadership & Student Achievement Partner with the Principal and instructional leadership team to implement a clear, data-driven academic vision aligned with KIPP Tulsa's academic priorities and state standards. Support the consistent implementation of rigorous, standards-aligned, and engaging instruction across assigned classrooms, grade levels, or content areas. Conduct frequent classroom observations and learning walks to assess instructional quality, identify trends, and provide teachers with timely and actionable feedback. Coach and develop teachers through regular observation, feedback, modeling, practice, goal-setting, and progress monitoring. Facilitate or support professional development, instructional team meetings, data meetings, and collaborative planning. Analyze assessment results, student work, classroom performance, and other academic indicators to identify strengths, gaps, and opportunities for improvement. Partner with teachers and leaders to translate academic data into clear instructional actions and monitor whether those actions improve student outcomes. Support the implementation of intervention and acceleration strategies to ensure students receive appropriate academic support and challenge. Help monitor the effectiveness of multi-tiered systems of support and collaborate with appropriate team members to address the needs of students requiring additional support. Support schoolwide efforts to strengthen literacy, numeracy, academic achievement, and readiness for students' next educational and career pathways. Maintain high expectations for the academic growth and achievement of every student. School Culture & Student Experience Partner with the Principal and school leadership team to build and sustain a joyful, safe, structured, inclusive, and academically focused school culture. Maintain a highly visible presence in classrooms, hallways, arrival, dismissal, transitions, meals, and other areas of school life. Build authentic relationships with students and ensure they feel known, valued, supported, and held to high expectations. Support teachers in establishing strong classroom cultures, routines, relationships, and student engagement. Ensure consistent implementation of schoolwide expectations, behavior systems, restorative practices, and student support structures. Respond to student behavior concerns in a manner that balances accountability, restoration, student dignity, and the needs of the broader school community. Analyze attendance, behavior, academic, and student engagement data to identify trends and develop appropriate interventions. Collaborate with counselors, teachers, families, and other team members to support students experiencing academic, behavioral, attendance, or social-emotional challenges. Celebrate student growth, achievement, leadership, character, and contributions to the school community. Help ensure compliance with student safety, discipline, child protection, and other applicable policies and procedures. Teacher Development & Adult Culture Directly coach, develop, and evaluate an assigned portfolio of teachers or staff members. Establish clear expectations for performance and provide consistent feedback and support to help team members meet those expectations. Build strong, trusting relationships with staff while maintaining accountability for instructional quality, professional responsibilities, and student outcomes. Help create an adult culture characterized by high expectations, collaboration, continuous improvement, professionalism, joy, and shared responsibility for students. Identify teacher strengths and growth areas and develop individualized coaching strategies that accelerate professional growth. Support the planning and delivery of professional development based on school priorities, student data, classroom observations, and identified staff needs. Recognize and celebrate strong performance while addressing performance concerns promptly, clearly, and constructively. Support the onboarding and development of new teachers and staff members. Identify and cultivate teacher leadership and support team members interested in taking on additional leadership responsibilities. Participate in recruitment, interviewing, selection, and retention efforts to help build and sustain a high-performing school team. Data-Driven Leadership & Continuous Improvement Regularly review academic achievement, attendance, behavior, student engagement, classroom observation, and other school performance data. Identify trends, disparities, strengths, and areas requiring additional attention within assigned areas of responsibility. Lead teachers and teams in moving from data analysis to clear action plans with measurable goals and defined next steps. Monitor implementation and progress toward academic, cultural, and organizational goals and adjust strategies when results indicate a need for change. Help establish routines that ensure teachers and teams regularly use evidence to evaluate the effectiveness of their practice. Communicate progress, challenges, and emerging trends to the Principal and leadership team. Maintain a solutions-oriented approach to school improvement and consistently seek opportunities to strengthen systems and practices. School Leadership & Execution Serve as an active member of the school's leadership team and partner with the Principal to execute schoolwide priorities. Lead assigned strategic initiatives, grade levels, content areas, or schoolwide programs based on the needs of the school. Translate school priorities into clear plans, expectations, timelines, and actions for assigned areas of responsibility. Monitor the implementation of schoolwide systems and routines and address inconsistencies when identified. Help ensure strong execution of key school processes, which may include assessments, scheduling, arrival and dismissal, student supervision, professional development, family events, and other schoolwide priorities. Collaborate closely with school operations staff to ensure academic and operational systems effectively support teaching and learning. Participate in school improvement planning and contribute data, observations, and recommendations to inform schoolwide priorities. Anticipate challenges, identify root causes, and develop practical solutions in partnership with the Principal and other team members. Assume additional school leadership responsibilities when the Principal is unavailable or as assigned. Family & Community Partnership Build positive, trusting, and productive relationships with students' families and caregivers. Communicate proactively with families regarding student academic progress, attendance, behavior, celebrations, and areas requiring additional support. Partner with families to develop solutions when students experience academic, behavioral, attendance, or other challenges. Support family conferences, school events, workshops, and other opportunities that strengthen family engagement. Ensure family concerns are addressed with responsiveness, professionalism, empathy, and appropriate follow-through. Collaborate with community organizations and partners when appropriate to expand opportunities and support for students. Represent KIPP Tulsa professionally and positively in interactions with families, community members, and external partners. Leadership Development & Professional Growth Seek, receive, and apply feedback from the Principal and other leaders to continuously strengthen leadership practice. Set meaningful professional growth goals and take ownership of progress toward those goals. Develop leadership capacity in instructional leadership, teacher coaching, student culture, data-driven decision-making, talent management, family engagement, and school operations. Demonstrate self-awareness and a willingness to reflect on leadership decisions, successes, and areas for improvement. Build the knowledge, skills, judgment, and experience necessary to take on increasing levels of school leadership responsibility. Model KIPP Tulsa's values and expectations for professionalism, continuous improvement, collaboration, and commitment to students. Bachelor’s degree required; Master’s degree in education, educational leadership, curriculum and instruction, or a related field preferred. Valid Oklahoma administrator certification or eligibility and willingness to obtain appropriate certification, as required for the position. Minimum of 3–5 years of successful experience as an educator, with demonstrated leadership experience such as instructional coaching, grade-level or department leadership, dean responsibilities, teacher leadership, or school administration. Demonstrated evidence of contributing to improved student academic outcomes and supporting the success of students with diverse learning needs and backgrounds. Strong knowledge of effective instructional practices, standards-aligned curriculum, assessment, and data-driven decision-making. Demonstrated ability to observe instruction, provide actionable feedback, coach educators, and support adult professional growth. Experience analyzing student achievement, attendance, behavior, and/or other school performance data and translating findings into action. Ability to establish and maintain a positive, structured, student-centered school culture characterized by high expectations, belonging, consistency, and joy. Strong relationship-building, communication, problem-solving, and conflict-resolution skills. Ability to lead adults with a balance of support, accountability, empathy, and high expectations. Demonstrated ability to manage multiple priorities, make sound decisions, and remain solutions-oriented in a fast-paced school environment. Commitment to building authentic partnerships with students, families, staff, and the broader school community. Commitment to continuous learning, receiving and applying feedback, and growing as a school leader. Unwavering belief in the brilliance, potential, and ability of every student to achieve at high levels and pursue the future they choose. All your information will be kept confidential according to EEO guidelines. Compensation and Benefits: This is a Full-Time, 12-month position. The salary range for the Assistant Principal is $60,000–$70,000 annually, commensurate with experience and qualifications. Employees are eligible to participate in employer benefits, including health, dental, life, accidental death and dismemberment, short-term and long-term disability, and participation in Oklahoma Teacher Retirement plans. As an equal opportunity employer, KIPP Tulsa does not discriminate on the basis of race, color, religion (creed), gender, age, national origin (ancestry), disability, marital status, sexual orientation, military status, or any other basis made unlawful by applicable federal, state, or local laws or regulations. About KIPP Tulsa KIPP Tulsa is part of a national network of free, open-enrollment, college-preparatory charter schools with a track record of preparing students in educationally underserved communities for success in college and life. Together with families and communities, KIPP Tulsa Public Charter Schools works to create joyful, academically excellent schools that prepare students with the skills and confidence they need to pursue the paths they choose - college, career, and beyond - so they can lead fulfilling lives and build a more just world. We are a 6th through 12th-grade school located in north Tulsa. We are part of a national network of free, open-enrollment, college-preparatory charter schools with a track record of preparing students in educationally underserved communities for success in life. KIPP Tulsa opened its first school, KIPP Tulsa College Prep, in 2005 with approximately 90 fifth-grade students. Today, KIPP Tulsa has grown to serve 6th through 12th-grade students and currently educates approximately 600 students. We Are a Team & Family At KIPP Tulsa, we believe great schools are built by great people working together around a shared commitment to students. Every member of our Team & Family plays an important role in creating schools where students are known, supported, challenged, and prepared to pursue the paths they choose—college, career, and beyond. As an Assistant Principal, you will be a key member of the school's leadership team, working alongside the Principal to create an academically excellent, joyful, safe, and student-centered school community. You will lead and develop teachers, strengthen instruction, build a strong student culture, use data to drive improvement, and ensure students receive the support and opportunities they need to thrive. This is a hands-on leadership role. You will be present in classrooms, hallways, team meetings, family conversations, and the daily life of the school. You will know our students, develop our teachers, solve problems, and help turn our school's vision into consistent experiences for students every day. Why You'll Love Working as an Assistant Principal at KIPP Tulsa You'll Develop Great Teachers Great schools begin with great teaching, and one of your most important responsibilities will be helping teachers grow. You will regularly observe classrooms, provide actionable feedback, coach teachers, analyze student work and academic data, and help educators strengthen their instructional practice. You'll build trusting relationships with teachers while maintaining high expectations for what students deserve. Your coaching won't be limited to formal observations. You'll be in classrooms frequently, celebrating what's working, identifying opportunities for growth, modeling effective practices when appropriate, and helping teachers translate feedback into action. You will help create a culture where feedback is expected, professional growth is valued, and adults continually improve their practice because our students deserve our best. You'll Lead for Academic Excellence At KIPP Tulsa, high expectations and strong relationships go hand in hand. You will partner with the Principal, teachers, and instructional leaders to ensure students experience rigorous, engaging, and standards-aligned instruction. You'll help monitor the quality of teaching and learning across the school and ensure instructional priorities translate into consistent classroom practice. You'll analyze assessment results, student work, classroom performance, and other academic indicators to understand where students are succeeding and where additional support is needed. When students aren't making the progress we expect, you'll work with teachers and leaders to identify why, develop a plan, and monitor whether our actions are producing better outcomes. Our goal isn't simply to collect data. It's to act on it. You'll Build a Joyful and Affirming School Culture Students learn best when they feel safe, known, valued, and challenged. You will help create a school environment where students experience both joy and high expectations. You'll reinforce clear and consistent expectations, build strong relationships with students, support teachers with classroom culture, and ensure students experience a learning environment that protects their dignity while holding them accountable. You'll be visible throughout the school day—welcoming students, visiting classrooms, supporting transitions, celebrating accomplishments, responding to challenges, and reinforcing the values that define our community. Whether serving middle school or high school students, you'll help create a culture where young people feel a strong sense of belonging and understand that the adults around them believe deeply in their potential. You'll Know Our Students Strong school leadership requires more than knowing student achievement numbers. It requires knowing students. You'll learn their names, strengths, goals, challenges, and stories. You'll build relationships that allow students to see you not simply as an administrator, but as an adult who cares about their success and holds them to high expectations because of that belief. You'll work with teachers, counselors, families, and other team members to identify students who need additional academic, behavioral, social, or attendance support and help coordinate appropriate responses. You'll celebrate students when they succeed, support them when they struggle, and consistently remind them of what they are capable of achieving. You'll Use Data to Drive Action Effective leaders don't wait until the end of the year to determine whether students are succeeding. You will regularly examine academic achievement, attendance, behavior, student work, classroom observations, and other indicators to understand what's happening across the school. More importantly, you'll help your team move from data to action. You'll ask the questions that matter: What are students learning? Who is making progress? Who isn't? Where are disparities emerging? What is happening in our strongest classrooms? What needs to change? And how will we know whether our response is working? You'll help teachers and teams use evidence to make decisions, establish priorities, monitor progress, and continuously improve outcomes for students. You'll Lead Through Relationships and Accountability Leadership at KIPP Tulsa is not about a title. It's about influence, trust, clarity, and follow-through. You will build strong relationships with teachers and staff while establishing clear expectations for performance. You'll recognize excellence, provide direct and constructive feedback, address challenges when they arise, and help team members take ownership of their responsibilities. There will be moments when leadership requires difficult conversations and hard decisions. You'll approach those moments with professionalism, empathy, consistency, and a relentless focus on what is best for students. You'll help create a culture where adults can count on one another, commitments matter, and everyone understands their role in achieving our shared goals. You'll Partner With Families Families are essential partners in student success. You will build relationships with parents and caregivers and help ensure families experience KIPP Tulsa as a school community that listens, communicates, and works alongside them. You'll celebrate student accomplishments with families, communicate when concerns arise, help navigate difficult situations, and partner with families to develop solutions that support their children. Whether you're discussing academic progress, attendance, behavior, graduation requirements, or a student's future goals, you'll approach families with respect and a shared belief that we are working toward the same outcome: helping their child succeed. You'll Be a Problem Solver School leadership is dynamic. The most important challenge of the day isn't always the one that was on your calendar that morning. A teacher may need immediate coaching. A student may need support. A family may have a concern. Assessment data may reveal an unexpected gap. A schoolwide routine may not be working as intended. You won't simply identify problems—you'll help solve them. You'll gather information, listen to multiple perspectives, identify root causes, make thoughtful decisions, communicate clearly, and follow through to ensure solutions are implemented effectively. You'll know when to act quickly, when to seek additional perspective, and when a challenge requires a longer-term solution. You'll Help Turn Vision Into Execution A strong school vision only matters when students and teachers experience it consistently. You will work closely with the Principal to translate the school's academic and cultural priorities into clear expectations, systems, routines, and adult actions. You'll help lead professional development, instructional meetings, data conversations, schoolwide initiatives, and other priorities that move the school toward its goals. You'll also help monitor implementation. When we agree on a priority, you'll help ensure it moves beyond the planning document and becomes visible in classrooms and throughout the school. You'll bring organization, urgency, and follow-through to the work while helping the team stay focused on the priorities that matter most. You'll Help Build a Strong Team No one builds a great school alone. You will work alongside the Principal, teachers, counselors, operations staff, instructional leaders, student support staff, and organizational team members to create an environment where adults work together on behalf of students. You'll contribute to hiring, onboarding, developing, recognizing, and retaining strong team members. You'll help strengthen collaboration across teams and ensure staff members understand how their individual work contributes to the school's larger goals. You'll also model the professionalism, optimism, accountability, humility, and commitment to continuous improvement that we expect throughout our Team & Family. You'll Never Stop Growing We expect our students and teachers to grow, and we expect the same from our leaders. As an Assistant Principal, you'll receive feedback, coaching, and opportunities to strengthen your leadership. You'll deepen your skills in instructional leadership, teacher development, student culture, data-driven decision-making, family engagement, talent development, and school management. You'll be challenged to reflect on your leadership, recognize your strengths, confront areas where you need to grow, and continuously become a stronger leader for students and staff. For leaders who aspire to become a Principal or take on broader school leadership responsibilities, the Assistant Principal role provides meaningful experience leading adults, managing schoolwide priorities, and taking increasing ownership for student and school outcomes. You'll Help Build Futures Without Limits The impact of an Assistant Principal can be seen throughout a school. It's visible when a teacher grows into an exceptional educator because of strong coaching. It's visible when a student who was struggling begins to believe in what's possible. It's visible when a family knows their child is surrounded by adults who care. And it's visible when a school community holds high expectations while creating the belonging and joy students need to thrive. As an Assistant Principal at KIPP Tulsa, you will help create those conditions every day. Every classroom you strengthen, teacher you develop, student you support, family you partner with, and problem you help solve contributes to something larger: preparing our students with the skills and confidence to pursue the paths they choose—college, career, and beyond—and helping build a future without limits.