KIPP SoCal School Leader Fellow Program

Teacher working with female student

Applications Open October 30, 2023

We are committed to cultivating our leaders to lead us into the future. The School Leader Fellow Program (SLFP) will prepare our leaders to become successors or founding school leaders within a high performing KIPP SoCal school.

Through residencies within our schools, targeted professional development, coaching, mentoring, and formal learning within the KIPP Leadership Framework and Competencies, our Fellows will deepen the instructional and adaptive skills needed to successfully lead a school.

Year 1: In your first year, you will be placed in a school as an assistant school leader, participate in cohort based programming to support on the ground development, receive support, development and formal leadership coaching from a school leader mentor.

Year 2: There are two options within the program. Fellows on the founder pathway will design and prepare to open their own KIPP SoCal school. Residents on the successor pathway will focus on school transition planning in preparation of leading an existing KIPP SoCal school. 

Key Program Pillars

Our Residency Model

Research confirms that 70% of learning happens on-the-job. Our residency model facilitates this development through both a school leader mentor match and a training environment best suited for the leader's current and future aspirations. Whether you'll be gaining experience founding a new grade level or a member of the school leadership team doing the daily work through the guidance of your mentor, our residency model will effectively contribute to your on-the-ground development and readiness for school leadership.

Individual Development Plan & Mentor School Leader

In year one, fellows will be matched with a mentor school leader, so that they can receive on-going guidance, coaching and be provided with the skills, knowledge and courage to become leaders of change who put teaching and learning first. Each fellow will follow a plan that focuses on areas of strength, growth and development and will drive toward their preparation for school leader readiness.

Cohort Experience & Programming

Our programming is led by both internal KIPP SoCal leaders and external mentors to help support on-the-ground professional development. Beyond learning new teaching models, a plethora of invaluable information, and significant opportunity for practice, you will develop meaningful relationships and expand your network of influence, as you plan to implement your new skillset.

Salary Scale

Our transparent and public salary scale rewards team members for their time working at KIPP SoCal and provides greater increases in compensation at pivotal milestones in their careers.

School Leader Fellow

In the fight for the liberation of all people, I coach as a means to expand a person’s perception of what is possible, expand what they think they are capable of doing, expand who they believe they can be and what they can do. In this expansion, my team and I come closer to freedom.

~ Chinedu Udeh, School Leader, KIPP Empower Academy