Founding Principal- TN

At Rocketship Public Schools, we believe in the infinite possibility of human potential. We believe that every student deserves the right to dream, to discover, and to develop their unique potential. And it is our responsibility and our privilege to unleash the potential inside every Rocketeer we serve. Our non-profit network of public elementary charter schools propels student achievement, develops exceptional educators, and partners with parents who enable high-quality public schools to thrive in their community. We are a collective of parents, teachers, leaders, and students working together to transform the future for underserved communities across our country. At Rocketship Public Schools, we are unleashing potential.$120,000 - $150,000 a yearPosition Description Rocketship is opening a new school in Rutherford County, Tennessee (LaVergne and Smyrna, TN) for the 2027-2028 school year. We are hiring a Founding Principal to join us in the Summer of 2026 to help us prepare to launch our new school. The Founding Principal will spend one year planning and preparing for the launch of their new school by engaging in various start-up activities included but not limited to team hiring, parent and family recruitment, facilities design, and developing community partnerships.The Founding Principal is a once-in-a-career opportunity for a visionary educator and leader ready to launch both a new person will spend one year training and planning before leading the opening of Rocketship TN’s new the planning year, the Founding Principal will:Engage deeply with the Rocketship model and on community outreach and family engagement in foundational partnerships with local organizations, educators, and site selection, enrollment planning, hiring, and operational the Founding Principal, the Principal will lead the first school to excellence- building an exceptional team, establishing a joyful and rigorous culture, and laying the groundwork for a thriving multi-school region. The Founding Principal Fellow reports to the Senior Director of Schools.Our Ideal CandidateCurrent or former principal or assistant principalBelieves in the transformative power of education and that eliminating the achievement gap is possible in our an entrepreneurial leader who thrives in ambiguity, creates structure from vision, and builds teams and systems from the ground a track record of leading adults to achieve exceptional student outcomes and a deep belief in the capacity of teachers, families, and community partnership and approaches founding with humility, inclusivity, and deep local the strategic mindset to balance visionary thinking with disciplined execution- and the persistence to see a launch through from planning to excellence.Essential Functions:Training and LearningParticipate in intensive leadership development, data-driven instruction training, and strategic planning with network and regional leaders to plan for facilities, enrollment, staffing, and long-term launch and Strategy Engage families, community members, and partners to build local trust and excitement for Rocketship’s new community outreach, lead information sessions, and build a founding family student recruitment and enrollment efforts to meet or exceed enrollment targets, including developing a comprehensive enrollment and retention with network operations, talent, and finance teams to develop school systems, budgets, and a full hiring, investment, and training strategy for the founding as a founding thought partner in developing TN’s long-term regional strategy, balancing short-term launch priorities with planning for the next 1-5 years amidst the ambiguity inherent in early-stage engage in governance and board management by cultivating relationships, preparing materials, and participating in meetings to ensure alignment and internalize all pre-planning completed to date, including facilities work, community engagement learnings, charter development, and network duties as required to ensure a successful launch.Essential Functions: Year 1 and Beyond- Founding PrincipalDeveloping Effective Educators Build, coach, and retain an excellent founding team of teachers and staff. Foster a rigorous, inclusive, college-preparatory culture that ensures high levels of student achievement. Lead professional development, data analysis cycles, and instructional planning to drive results. Support collaboration across general education, special education, and enrichment staff to align around student & Family Partnership Build a culture of authentic partnership with families rooted in respect, trust, and shared systems for proactive communication, home visits, and community parent leadership and ensure that families are active participants in school & Regional Leadership Operate with an entrepreneurial mindset- anticipating needs, building systems, adapting rapidly, and communicating decisions with clarity and with network leaders to shape the launch and long-term sustainability of the Orange County region, ensuring Rocketship’s presence is visible, trusted, and the full hiring, investment, and ongoing development of the founding responsibility for the Founding Top 5 Launch Goals:1. Facilities fully ready for instruction2. Enrolling, engaging, and retaining families 3. Securing charter approval and sustaining political support4. Hiring, investing in, and training the founding staff5. Building systems to accelerate student achievement aligned to the Rocketship visionRequired Qualifications 3+ years of successful teaching experience in an urban elementary setting with demonstrated student growth. Experience in school founding or startup environments preferred. 2+ years in a leadership role (Assistant Principal, Principal, or equivalent) with a proven record of coaching adults to drive student bilingual/proficiency experience in strategic planning, team leadership, and community instructional expertise, particularly in data-driven instruction and elementary belief in the power of community partnerships to transform educational organizational, communication, and project management skills.Education Requirements BA from an accredited Tennessee teaching credential (or ability to transfer) credential or enrollment in a credentialing program preferred.Physical Demands: 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. While performing the duties of this position, the employee is regularly required to talk, hear, and communicate with both adults and children. The employee frequently is required to use hands or fingers, handle or feel objects, tools, or controls. The employee is frequently required to stand; walk; sit; and reach with hands and arms. The employee must occasionally lift and/or move up to 50 pounds and occasionally climb ladders. Specific vision abilities required by this position include close vision, distance vision, and the ability to adjust focus. The noise level in the work environment is moderate to pensation:Commensurate with qualifications and experience, plus excellent health and welfare benefits, 403b retirement plan, flexible spending account (FSA), and generous paid time off.

Created: 2026-03-12