School Operations Support Specialist

Job description

Student Transportation Safely operate a school bus or other authorized KIPP Tulsa vehicle in accordance with all applicable federal, state, and local laws and KIPP Tulsa policies. Provide scheduled transportation for students participating in concurrent enrollment courses at Tulsa Community College and other approved programs. Serve as a substitute or backup bus driver when additional transportation coverage is needed. Provide transportation for field trips, athletics, college visits, special events, and other school-sponsored activities as assigned. Conduct required pre-trip and post-trip vehicle inspections. Complete required student checks following each route or trip to ensure no students remain on the vehicle. Maintain accurate mileage, inspection, fuel, and transportation records as required. Immediately report vehicle concerns, accidents, safety issues, or transportation incidents to the appropriate supervisor. Maintain a safe, orderly, respectful, and student-centered environment while transporting students. Follow all applicable requirements regarding student confidentiality and transportation safety. Substitute Teaching & Student Support Serve as a substitute teacher when classroom coverage is needed. Follow teacher-provided lesson plans and maintain continuity of instruction during teacher absences. Establish and maintain a safe, respectful, and productive classroom environment. Follow schoolwide expectations for student behavior and classroom management. Assist with student supervision during arrival, dismissal, lunch, transitions, testing, assemblies, and other activities. Provide additional student support as directed by school leadership. School Operations Support Provide flexible operational support across KIPP Tulsa schools and departments based on organizational needs. Assist with student arrival and dismissal procedures. Support school events, family events, athletics, field lessons, testing, and special programs. Assist with the movement, delivery, setup, and organization of supplies, equipment, furniture, and materials. Assist operations teams with inventory, facilities, transportation, and logistical projects. Provide front-office or campus coverage when appropriate. Assist with maintaining safe, organized, and welcoming school environments. Support operational projects during summer programming and school-year startup as assigned. Respond to emerging operational needs and provide coverage when unexpected staffing or logistical challenges arise. Perform other duties and special projects as assigned. Knowledge, Skills & Competencies The successful candidate will demonstrate: Reliability: Consistently reports to work on time and follows through on responsibilities. Flexibility: Comfortably moves between transportation, classroom, and operational responsibilities based on daily needs. Student Focus: Maintains high expectations while building positive relationships with students. Safety Mindset: Prioritizes student, employee, and community safety in all decisions. Initiative: Identifies needs and takes appropriate action without requiring constant direction. Problem Solving: Responds calmly and effectively to unexpected situations. Teamwork: Works collaboratively across campuses, departments, and roles. Professionalism: Represents KIPP Tulsa positively when interacting with students, families, staff, partners, and community members. Organization: Maintains accurate records and manages multiple responsibilities effectively. Typical Daily Responsibilities Because this is a flexible support position, the employee's schedule and assignments may change based on organizational needs. A typical day may include transporting students to TCC or another educational program in the morning, providing substitute classroom coverage or operational support during the school day, and assisting with transportation, dismissal, athletics, or other operational needs in the afternoon. The School Operations Support Specialist should expect to work across multiple functions and, when necessary, multiple KIPP Tulsa locations. Physical Requirements The employee must be able to: Safely operate a school bus and other approved vehicles. Sit for extended periods while driving. Frequently enter and exit school buses and other vehicles. Perform required pre-trip and post-trip vehicle inspections. Stand and walk for extended periods while supporting classrooms and school operations. Bend, reach, push, pull, and lift materials associated with school operations. Assist students entering or exiting a vehicle when necessary. Lift and carry up to 40 pounds with or without reasonable accommodation. Perform duties indoors and outdoors in varying weather conditions. Required Qualifications High school diploma or GED required. Valid driver's license with an acceptable driving record. Valid Commercial Driver's License (CDL) with Passenger (P) and School Bus (S) endorsements. Meet all federal, Oklahoma, and KIPP Tulsa requirements to operate a school bus. Successfully complete all required background checks, driving-record checks, physical examinations, and drug and alcohol testing requirements. Ability to meet applicable school bus driver certification and training requirements. Ability to work effectively with students across multiple grade levels. Ability to safely manage students while operating a school bus. Ability to communicate professionally with students, families, teachers, school leaders, and colleagues. Ability to maintain confidentiality and exercise sound judgment. Ability to work independently and respond appropriately to changing priorities. Preferred Qualifications Previous school bus or commercial driving experience. Previous experience working with children or adolescents. Previous substitute teaching, paraprofessional, or school-based experience. Experience supporting school, facilities, transportation, logistics, or operations functions. Basic knowledge of vehicle inspections and preventative maintenance. First Aid and CPR certification. All your information will be kept confidential according to EEO guidelines. Compensation and Benefits: This is a Full-Time, 10-month position. 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, every team member plays an important role in creating schools where students feel safe, supported, known, and prepared to pursue their goals. As a School Operations Support Specialist, you will be one of our most versatile team members—stepping in wherever support is needed to help our schools operate safely, efficiently, and joyfully. Whether you are transporting students to Tulsa Community College, providing classroom coverage, supporting arrival and dismissal, assisting with an event, or responding to an unexpected operational need, you will help remove barriers so that students, teachers, and school leaders can focus on teaching and learning. WHY YOU'LL LOVE WORKING AS A SCHOOL OPERATIONS SUPPORT SPECIALIST AT KIPP TULSA You'll Be the Person We Can Count On No two days will look exactly the same. As a School Operations Support Specialist, you will serve as a flexible member of our team who can step in wherever additional support is needed. You may begin your day transporting students, spend part of the school day providing substitute classroom coverage, and finish the day supporting dismissal, an athletic event, or another operational priority. Your flexibility, reliability, and willingness to help will make you an essential part of our Team & Family. You'll Help Students Access Opportunities Beyond the Classroom Transportation is about more than getting students from one place to another—it provides access to opportunity. A key responsibility of this position will be safely transporting students participating in concurrent enrollment opportunities at Tulsa Community College (TCC) and other approved educational programs. By ensuring students have safe and dependable transportation, you will directly support their ability to earn college credit, explore future pathways, and take advantage of opportunities beyond their school campus. You'll Keep Students Safe on the Road Student safety will always come first. As a qualified school bus driver, you will safely transport students to school programs, TCC, field lessons, athletics, college visits, and other school-sponsored activities as needed. You will maintain a valid Commercial Driver's License (CDL) with Passenger (P) and School Bus (S) endorsements and uphold KIPP Tulsa's expectations for safe driving, vehicle inspections, student supervision, and transportation procedures. Students and families will depend on you to provide transportation that is safe, reliable, professional, and student-centered. You'll Step Into Classrooms When Our Students Need You When you are not supporting transportation or other operational priorities, you may serve as a substitute teacher and provide classroom coverage when teachers are absent. You'll follow established lesson plans, maintain a productive learning environment, reinforce schoolwide expectations, and ensure students continue learning even when their regular teacher is unavailable. Your ability to build relationships and maintain high expectations will help provide consistency for students throughout the school day. You'll Help Keep Our Schools Running Great teaching and learning depend on strong operations. You will support a variety of school and organizational needs, including arrival and dismissal, testing, school events, athletics, field lessons, deliveries, inventory, facilities projects, setup and breakdown, and other logistical needs. Rather than being assigned to only one function, you'll have the opportunity to support multiple areas of the organization and help solve problems as they arise. You'll Be a Problem Solver This isn't a position where you'll wait for someone to tell you every next step. We are looking for someone who notices what needs to be done and is willing to jump in and help. When a driver is unavailable, a classroom needs coverage, students need transportation, an event needs to be set up, or an operational challenge arises, you'll help our team find a solution. Your ability to remain calm, flexible, and solutions-oriented will make a meaningful difference in the day-to-day operation of our schools. You'll Build Relationships Across KIPP Tulsa Because your work will span transportation, classrooms, operations, and school activities, you'll have the opportunity to build relationships with students, teachers, operations staff, school leaders, families, and community partners. You'll become a familiar and trusted presence across our organization—someone who understands our students, knows our schools, and is ready to support the team wherever needed. You'll Never Stop Growing KIPP Tulsa invests in team members who invest in our students. You'll have opportunities to strengthen your skills in student transportation, school operations, classroom management, safety, logistics, and leadership while working alongside a mission-driven team committed to continuous improvement. The breadth of this position also provides valuable experience for someone interested in future opportunities in school operations, transportation, facilities, student services, or other areas of school leadership. You'll Help Build Futures Without Limits Sometimes the work that makes the greatest difference happens behind the scenes. Getting a student safely to a college class, stepping into a classroom when a teacher is absent, making sure dismissal runs smoothly, or helping prepare for an important school event may seem like separate responsibilities—but each contributes to the same goal. As a School Operations Support Specialist, you'll help create the safe, reliable, and supportive environment our students need to succeed. Every route you drive, classroom you support, and problem you help solve contributes to preparing our students with the skills and confidence to pursue the paths they choose—college, career, and beyond.