26-27 Founding Director of Academics (Jan 2026 Start Date)

Company Description

KIPP Miami is part of the KIPP (Knowledge is Power Program) national nonprofit network of college-preparatory, public charter schools educating elementary, middle and high school students. KIPP has a 25-year track record of preparing students for success in college and life. Founded in 2018, KIPP Miami operates two nonprofit charter schools in Greater Miami’s Urban Core community. Currently, KIPP Miami educates students in grades K-4 at KIPP Royalty Academy and 5-8 students at KIPP Courage Academy. To learn more, visit www.kippmiami.org or visit us on instagram  

Opening with an inaugural ninth-grade class in school year 2026-2027 and growing to serve grades 9–12, KIPP Miami Tech will provide students with the academic foundation, professional skills, and real-world experiences necessary to excel in college or career pathways. KIPP Miami Tech will offer three specialized career academies: Business, Commercial & Digital Arts, and Technology. Students will be able to graduate not only with a high school diploma, but also with college credits, industry-recognized credentials, and hands-on experience that provide a head start on their futures.

Job Description

Applicant please note that this role has a projected start date in January 2026

The Director of Academics is responsible for overseeing Career and Technical Education (CTE) programming, ensuring compliance with state requirements, and managing instructor certifications. This role coordinates with the School Leader to determine the CTE certifications and Dual Enrollment courses offered, while also facilitating the administration of Advanced Placement courses and ensuring alignment with institutional partnerships. The Director manages high school scheduling processes, tracks graduation progress, and optimizes student schedules in collaboration with KIPP Forward to ensure students meet graduation requirements and in collaboration with the Director of ESE to ensure proper services. Additional responsibilities include maintaining student information systems, managing testing logistics, and supporting staff through onboarding and professional development initiatives. This position plays a critical role in fostering academic success and operational efficiency within the school.

Key Roles And Responsibilities Include:

Cte Programming

• Key point person for CTE and all CTE partnerships (work study, internships) implementing state requirements
• In coordination with School Leader, determine which CTE certifications will be administered
• Maintain all requirements for CTE certifications and programming
• Manage CTE instructor certification process
• Manage the entire CTE certification administration process
• Manage and track student CTE work study and internships

Dual Enrollment & Advanced Placement Programming

• Key point person for Dual Enrollment partnership with MDC implementing state and MDC requirements
• In coordination with the School Leader, determine which Dual Enrollment courses will be offered each year and if they will be at the High School or at MDC
• Manage process for High School teachers to become MDC adjunct professors
• In coordination with MDC, manage student Dual Enrollment enrollment process
• Serve as the school’s Advanced Placement (AP) Coordinator overseeing AP enrollment and test administration
• Serve as the school’s Advanced Placement Course
• Audit Administrator overseeing the AP instructor and course approval process.
• Oversee the Advanced Placement enrollment and administration at high schools
• Oversee Dual Enrollment registration for reporting purposes

Scheduling

• Key point person implementing scheduling of state graduation requirements and required curriculum changes
• Point person in coordinating course catalogue and scheduling with MDC
• Manages high school scheduling process starting with the annual solidification of the course catalog through to individual schedules being issued to students
• In coordination with School leader, maintain the course catalog and bell schedule
• Build and refine master school schedule 

Academic Operations

• Distribute/store report cards, transcripts and test results
• Manage alumni requests for transcripts (Parchment) via Receptionist
• Complete graduation verification request forms from third party agencies
• Serve as the school Gradebook Health Monitor, ensuring that gradebooks accurately reflect student grade
• Progress monitor GPA and gradebook health, creating corresponding action plans as needed

Student Information Management

• Responsible for SIS Management - DSIS and FTE auditing and reporting 
• Ensure high schools maintain the required information in student files
• Oversee transcript entry for students transferring in
• Maintain the system for cataloging alumni transcripts 
• Ensure credit entry is maintained
• Ensure that all HS student data information (i.e. attendance, course enrollment, Y1 grades) are accurate prior to quarterly submission

Graduation Progress

• In coordination with KIPP Forward, maintain graduation progress tracking system
• In coordination with KIPP Forward, quarterly monitor students progress to graduation and regularly adjust student schedules as needed (i.e. IEP placement changes, transfers, change requests, retained students)
• Ensure students have schedules that allow them to graduate with a standard diploma
• Work with KIPP Forward counselor and DSO to ensure logistics for Diploma and transcript distribution for graduation and post-secondary matriculation
• Track student progress toward scholar and CTE distinction diplomas working with KIPP Forward to promote completion of distinction diplomas
• Manage tracking of student completion of all assessment requirements and alternate assessment pathways

Testing Coordination

• Run a weekly HS testing meeting for testing stakeholders (i.e. technology, KIPP Forward, ESE coordinator, etc)
• Serve as testing point person with Miami Dade County Public School for testing training and administration services
• Manage all logistics for testing including proctor training
• Manage all state testing including EOCs
• Serve as school’s SAT coordinator SAT suite testing, SAT school day testing, and SAT saturday testing through CollegeBoard--coordinate with MDCPS as needed

General School Operations Support

• Event Management & Purchasing
• Staff Support
• Create regular family communication and manage distribution 
• Manage school staff with logistics for school events and activities including assemblies, shows, graduation, *testing, and trips
• Manage purchasing of curriculum, instruction supply and technology 
• Process purchasing requests from teachers, grade-level chairs, department chairs, school leaders, and other stakeholders
• Support school teams in managing sub-budget lines
• Budget management 
• Manage staff onboarding to the organization
• Coordinate and execute staff appreciation in partnership with school leadership team in partnership with SL and building DSO 
• Ensures appropriate student testing environment and coordinates with 
• Coordinate any professional development support in partnership with school leadership team in partnership with SL and building DSO 
• Support team in survey completion 
• Manage the implementation and execution of CANVAS for student and teachers including the integration with MDC for Dual Enrollment
• Meet with T&L and tech team as necessary
• Provide oversight of tier 1 tech support 
• Coordinate student and staff device deployment
• Check-in with regional tech manager regularly on state of technology at school

Qualifications

Required Education And Experience:

• Bachelor's Degree
• Experience in database management and reporting
• Previous experience working in an educational or non-profit setting, strongly preferred

Skills And Abilities:

• Commitment to KIPP Miami’s mission, vision and goals
• Passion for working with children and school personnel
• Excellent communication and interpersonal skills, with ability to engage and work closely with a wide range of staff members and external partners 
• Strong organization skills and meticulous attention to detail
• Flexibility and willingness to learn
• Growth Mindset
• Commitment to do whatever it takes to ensure our teachers and students have what they need to be successful
• Proficient in Microsoft Office, specifically Excel
• Database management and reporting 
• Strong written and oral communication skills
• Strong interpersonal skills
• Demonstrated ability to work with a team on collaborative projects
• Ability to work with a team on collaborative projects
• Ability to proactively problem solve; anticipate challenges before they occur
• Ability to identify inefficiencies and generate creative solutions
• Ability to manage multiple projects simultaneously and comfortably with ambiguity
• Ability to troubleshoot and manage high stress situations with a calm and positive demeanor
• Ability to learn different assessment models, course coding, scheduling and state/ district reporting

Additional Information

Compensation & Benefits

KIPP Miami offers competitive salaries to newly hired staff. Salaries are based on prior experience and in accordance with certification requirements. 

KIPP Miami offers a full comprehensive benefits plan, including health care, competitive 403(B) plan, and a school laptop.

Our organization is an equal opportunity employer. All qualified applicants will receive consideration for employment without regard to race, color, sex, gender, age, religion, national origin, citizen status, marital status, physical or mental disability, military or veteran status, sexual orientation, gender identity, or any other characteristic protected by applicable law. Our organization will make a reasonable accommodation to known physical or mental limitations of a qualified applicant or employee with a disability unless the accommodation would impose an undue hardship on the operation of the organization. No questions on this application are asked for any unlawful purpose.

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