The Organization
The Ewing Marion Kauffman School is a three-school campus (two middle schools and a high school) of mission-driven college preparatory schools in Kansas City, MO focused on student achievement and strong character. The school’s mission is summarized in three words: create college graduates.
The Kauffman School was named 2015 Missouri Charter School of the Year. The schools serve a student population of which 87% qualify for free and reduced-price lunch and 90% identify as person of color. Students are accepted by a lottery that prioritizes the six highest-need zip codes within the district. Students entering Kauffman School in fifth grade typically scored in the bottom third of the state on their fourth grade exams. After four years at Kauffman School, 8th grade classes score at the very top in state exams. In the 2015-2016 school year, Kauffman School 8th graders ranked #1 in math, #3 in science, and #12 in English Language Arts in the state of Missouri. The founding freshman class was the #1 ranked district in Biology and the #2 ranked district in Algebra I on Missouri’s end of course exams. Year after year, Kauffman School students outperform their peers across the state at every single grade and subject level.
Our students’ results demonstrate their incredible brilliance, passion, creativity, and work ethic. Kauffman Students are empowered by their identities and place in the community and develop a critical consciousness of the world around them. Kauffman staff actively partner with families to be a school of the community, not just in the community.
The Person
The Chief Operating Officer’s (COO) mission is twofold. First, s/he will support students and staff by ensuring executive leadership and management for the school’s various operations functions which include: finance, facilities, human resources, technology, legal, security, communications, compliance, transportation and food services. Second, s/he will develop a plan and lead their team to transition all of the above functions from the Kauffman Foundation to the school while laying the groundwork for strategic, long-term growth planning.
We are excited to work alongside a candidate with an unwavering passion for creating college graduates. Though the COO is likely to see him/herself in the following examples, these are not requirements. Instead, they are examples designed to help you determine if this opportunity aligns with your own passion and purpose.
Your teams are built to last.
- Your teams win. The teams you have led are known for consistently setting and hitting ambitious goals because you execute with precision and deliver with pride. People from all walks of life vie for the opportunity to join your teams because they know they will be successful and fun. Your team revels at the opportunity to compete against the most high-performing schools and organizations in the nation.
- Your “northstar” is excellence. You know the astounding impact strong operations have on an organization. You are unapologetic about making behind-the-scenes choices that clear a path for teachers and students to seamlessly move forward on the 20-mile march to college graduation. You approach your own development with a growth-mindset and crave observation, feedback, and practice. You learn quickly and can 2.0 your growth and the growth of others faster than most would think possible.
You are the Steve Jobs of complex, strategic projects and details.
- You are a systems thinker. You understand how schools run and are obsessed with building seamless systems and functionality so teachers can spend more time with students. You ruthlessly plan, prioritize, and organize everything in your life both professionally and personally.
- You are a masterful, strategic thinker. You are a metrics based thinker and love to collect, analyze, and package data to assess progress against goals. You have proactively sought the advice of others, invest teams across your organization in your team’s strategic priorities, and turned them into co-conspirators in your success. By mobilizing others – internally and externally – you have extend the reach of a team or organization ultimately influencing a broader community.
Our Team
The COO will serve as a key member of the school’s leadership team. The position is a new one among the 100 staff members at EMKS. Though there are solid foundations in place, you will have the opportunity to grow and create new systems, managing a team of 7-10 people that will grow as EMKS serves more students. It’s a chance to build a high-performing team on a magnificent $55M charter school campus.
The COO reports to CEO and nationally recognized talent developer, Hannah Lofthus, CEO. As a child, Ms. Lofthus attended the city’s public schools and witnessed glaring inequities firsthand. She served as a Teach For America corps member in NYC and was a part of the founding team at Uncommon Schools’ Leadership Preparatory Charter School. As a KIPP Fisher Fellow, Ms. Lofthus traveled the country identifying inspiring examples of charter schools nationally, which influenced her design of the Kauffman School. Her leadership exemplifies a growth mindset by engaging in daily observations, weekly coaching sessions, and weekly whole-staff professional development which creates an environment that is as equally focused on adult learning as it is on student learning. In addition to serving as CEO at EMKS, Ms. Lofthus travels the country to deliver professional development, coach other high-performing leaders, is a member of Relay’s Leverage Leadership Institute, and was recently awarded the Ryan Award from Accelerate Institute.
Finally, you will collaborate with The Ewing Marion Kauffman Foundation - one of the largest, private Foundations in the country focused on education and entrepreneurship in Kansas City.
The Location
As COO, you will be at the forefront of a growing movement of energetic leaders committed to change. Education organizations like Teach For America, City Year, Education Pioneers, Fund for Teachers, Kansas City Teaching Residency, TedxKC, and Leading Educators are flocking to the city to create the next frontier of education reform nationally. The city provides an exceptional quality of life that includes all the amenities of a big city while maintaining the heart and community spirit of the Midwest.
The Tangible Good
This role comes with a competitive salary and benefits which include medical, dental and vision benefits, a 403(b) retirement plan with a 4% employer match, and other perks such as a vitality wellness program, 24/7 access to the school’s gym, and an opportunity to enjoy cultural arts performances at a discount. The cost of living in Kansas City is such that you could rent a two-bedroom, modern, downtown loft for $1,700/month, a trendy studio for $700/month within walking distance from the city farmer’s market, or an urban, four-bedroom house for $1,300/month in the heart of historic Midtown.
Commitment to Equity & Diversity
We are on a mission to build a team that reflects our students and America and welcome all staff to flourish in an open and inclusive work environment. The Kauffman School is an equal opportunity employer and does not discriminate against any employee or applicant for employment because of race, color, ethnicity, religion, gender, sexual orientation, sexual expression, national origin, disability, age, marital status, military status, pregnancy, or parenthood.
Top Apply
Interested applicants should complete a formal application through the Kauffman School Careers page at http://www.kauffmanschool.org/. In your cover letter please address the following topics:
- Describe the largest cross-functional project you have successfully managed from idea to execution. Explain how the project came to your attention, how you planned for it, and the ultimate outcome of the project.
- Please include why you are interested in the Chief Operating Officer role.
- Provide specific evidence of your alignment with the Kauffman School’s mission of “creating college graduates” highlighting work experiences where you have served urban school system students.
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