Director of Humanities and Foundational Literacy

Company DescriptionAbout KIPP Kansas City Public Schools:

KIPP Kansas City Public Schools is part of a nationwide network of free, open-enrollment, college-preparatory charter schools dedicated to preparing students in educationally underserved communities for success in college and life. Our strength as a region serves as a catalyst for empowerment, change, and hope.

Founded in 2007, KIPP Kansas City Public Schools began with KIPP Endeavor Academy, serving approximately 31 fifth-grade students. Today, we educate approximately 1,000 students from Pre-K through 12th grade, with our community continuing to expand. Together with families and communities, we strive to create joyful, academically excellent schools that equip students with the skills and confidence to pursue their chosen paths—whether college, career, or beyond—so they can lead fulfilling lives and contribute to a more just world.

Job DescriptionPosition OverviewThe Director of Humanities & Foundational Literacy is a key member of the academic leadership team, responsible for driving the vision, strategy, and execution of high-quality humanities instruction and foundational literacy development across all academies. Reporting to the Senior Director of Academics, this role ensures coherence across curriculum, instruction, assessment, and professional learning systems in English Language Arts, Social Studies, and early literacy.

This leader brings deep expertise in literacy instruction—particularly foundational reading skills—and a proven track record of improving student outcomes through strong curriculum implementation and adult development. The Director builds the capacity of instructional coaches, school leaders, and teachers to deliver rigorous, standards-aligned, and culturally responsive humanities instruction while ensuring all students develop strong reading, writing, and critical thinking skills.

Core ResponsibilitiesHumanities & Literacy Vision & LeadershipDefine and execute a clear, compelling vision for humanities and foundational literacy aligned to organizational academic priorities.

Serve as the primary content expert in literacy, ELA, and social studies for the academic leadership team.

Lead and manage humanities and literacy-focused staff, including instructional coaches and curriculum specialists.

Drive a culture of high expectations, strong literacy outcomes, and continuous improvement across academies.

Partner with school leaders to ensure effective implementation of humanities and literacy priorities.

Instructional Leadership & CoachingOversee and support a high-impact instructional coaching model focused on literacy and humanities instruction.

Build the capacity of teachers, instructional coaches, and school leaders through coaching, modeling, and professional learning.

Ensure instruction reflects the science of reading, strong writing practices, and deep content knowledge.

Promote effective practices such as text-based discussion, writing across content areas, and culturally responsive pedagogy.

Support schools in implementing research-based literacy strategies that drive reading proficiency and comprehension.

Curriculum Strategy & CoherenceLead the development, adoption, and continuous improvement of high-quality humanities and literacy instructional materials.

Ensure alignment with state standards, organizational priorities, and research-based literacy practices.

Maintain strong vertical alignment across PK-12, with particular emphasis on early literacy foundations.

Ensure curriculum is culturally responsive, inclusive, and accessible to all learners.

Oversee continuous improvement cycles for curriculum based on student data and teacher feedback.

Scope, Sequence & Instructional PlanningOversee development and refinement of scope and sequence documents for ELA, social studies, and foundational literacy.

Ensure strong vertical and horizontal alignment across grade levels and academies.

Guide the creation of pacing guides and instructional planning tools that support literacy development.

Ensure planning structures enable effective lesson execution and maximize instructional time for reading and writing.

Assessment & Data StrategyOversee the design and implementation of a comprehensive literacy and humanities assessment system.

Ensure alignment between curriculum, instruction, and assessments, particularly for foundational reading skills.

Lead systems for analyzing and using student data to inform instruction and intervention.

Support leaders and teachers in building strong data-driven instructional practices.

Monitor literacy achievement trends and drive responsive action planning to close gaps.

Professional Learning & Adult DevelopmentDesign and oversee a cohesive professional development strategy aligned to literacy and humanities priorities.

Build teacher and leader capacity in foundational literacy instruction, text complexity, writing, and content knowledge.

Partner with instructional coaches to ensure strong transfer of professional learning into classroom practice.

Lead large-scale professional development initiatives and literacy-focused trainings.

Humanities Program Execution & OperationsOversee execution of key humanities and literacy initiatives with strong project management and follow-through.

Monitor progress toward literacy goals and key performance indicators.

Ensure effective implementation of curriculum, assessments, and instructional routines.

Coordinate cross-functional work to support literacy development across all content areas.

Stakeholder Engagement & Cross-Functional CollaborationCollaborate with academic, school, and operations teams to ensure strong integration of literacy across disciplines.

Partner with special populations teams to ensure equitable access to literacy instruction and interventions.

Communicate humanities and literacy priorities, progress, and outcomes to stakeholders.

Engage families and community partners to support student literacy development.

Program Monitoring & Continuous ImprovementAnalyze humanities and literacy performance across academies to identify trends, gaps, and opportunities.

Ensure consistent implementation of instructional expectations in literacy and humanities.

Partner with school leaders to design and implement targeted improvement strategies.

Drive continuous improvement cycles grounded in student data, classroom observations, and teacher feedback.

CollaborationThe Director of Humanities & Foundational Literacy works closely with:

Senior Director of AcademicsChief Academic OfficerSchool LeadersInstructional CoachesDirector of STEMAssessment ManagerSpecial Populations LeadershipStudent Support Teamsto ensure alignment between curriculum, instruction, assessment, and student support systems.

Key OutcomesSuccess in this role is measured by:

Significant gains in student literacy achievement, especially in early reading proficiencyStrong, consistent humanities instruction across academiesHigh-quality implementation of literacy curriculum and assessment systemsIncreased effectiveness of teachers and instructional coachesCoherent, aligned literacy systems across the organization

QualificationsCore CompetenciesLiteracy Expertise:

Deep knowledge of foundational literacy, reading development, and humanities instruction

Instructional Leadership:

Strong command of high-quality ELA and social studies teaching practices

Coaching & Adult Development:

Builds educator capacity through feedback, coaching, and systems

Results Orientation:

Drives measurable gains in student literacy achievement

Strategic Systems Thinking:

Aligns curriculum, instruction, assessment, and PD into a coherent model

Execution Excellence:

Translates strategy into strong implementation and outcomes

Equity-Driven Mindset:

Ensures all students develop strong literacy skills

Collaboration & Influence:

Aligns stakeholders around shared academic priorities

Adaptive Leadership:

Leads through complexity and continuous improvement

QualificationsRequired:

Bachelor's degree required; Master's degree preferred5+ years of teaching experience with preferred instructional leadership experience with a focus on literacy or humanitiesProven track record of improving student literacy outcomesDeep experience in instructional coaching and adult developmentExperience leading and managing teams

Preferred:

Strong background in foundational literacy / science of readingExperience at the network or district levelExperience with curriculum implementation and literacy assessment systems

Skills and Competencies:

 Commitment to KIPP KC's mission and valuesAbility to work collaboratively in a diverse environmentDemonstrates a commitment to diversity, equity, and inclusionFosters an inclusive environment for students, staff, and familiesWorks effectively with colleagues and stakeholdersBuilds strong relationships within the KIPP KC communityDemonstrated success in leading a diverse team with a commitment to inclusivity and collaborationStrong problem-solving skills and data analysis capabilities to drive targeted outcomes Excellent written and verbal communication skills, with the ability to engage families, students, and staff effectivelyIn-depth knowledge of special education law, SEL, behavioral intervention strategies, and mental health practices

Additional InformationPhysical Requirements:

 The physical demands described here are representative of those that must be met by an employee to successfully perform the essential functions of this position. Reasonable accommodations may be made to enable individuals with disabilities to perform the functions. The person in this position needs to be able to move about inside and outside the school or office throughout the workday.

The candidate is expected to attend conferences, meetings and training sessions both virtually and in person within the Region. Work EnvironmentReports to work Monday-Friday.

A typical school or office environment with frequent interruptions.

Travel Requirements:

Ability to travel to work location. 

Compensation and Benefits:

Compensation and Benefits:

Competitive salary, commensurate with experience, plus a comprehensive benefits package to support overall well-being.

As a full-time KIPP Kansas City employee, you are eligible to participate in all KIPP Kansas City benefit plans. We offer a comprehensive range of benefits with competitive rates, including medical, dental, and vision options, as well as life insurance, fertility, and disability plans.

KIPP Kansas City is committed to the professional growth and development of our staff. We provide numerous opportunities for advancement, ongoing professional development, and leadership training to help you achieve your career goals.

KIPP Kansas City provides equal employment opportunities for all applicants and employees. As an equal opportunity employer, we hire without consideration of race, religion, creed, color, national origin, age, gender, sexual orientation, marital status, veteran status, or disability.

Selection Process:

Our application process is grounded in equity and fairness, ensuring a just and unbiased selection process. Below is our standard selection process for regional roles:

Selection Process Application Submission + Resume Review Phone or Video Interview If Applicable (Sample work or Performance Task) Committee Interview(s) 1:1 Chat w/Hiring Manager Reference Check Offer Terms