Orange County Founding Principal Fellow

Job Description

Job Description

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.

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.

In 2027–2028, Rocketship is seeking to open its first school in Orange County, California- a major step in expanding our impact across the state. We are seeking an extraordinary Founding Principal to bring that vision to life.

Timeline

Year 0 (2026–2027) : Design & Build Year

Year 1 (2027–2028) : Founding Principal of Rocketship’s first Orange County school

The Founding Principal Fellow is a once-in-a-career opportunity for a visionary educator and leader ready to launch both a new school and a new region. This person will spend one year training and planning (Year 0) before leading the opening of Rocketship’s first Orange County campus (Year 1).During the planning year, the Fellow will : Train alongside experienced Rocketship school leaders in an existing region by serving in a Rising Principal role and taking on real instructional and operational school leadership responsibilities.

Engage deeply with the Rocketship model and systems.

Lead on community outreach and family engagement in Orange County.

Build foundational partnerships with local organizations, educators, and families.

Support site selection, enrollment planning, hiring, and operational readiness.

As the Founding Principal, the Fellow 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 VP of Schools during the planning year and transitions to reporting to the Director of Schools once the Orange County region launches.

Our Ideal Candidate :

• Believes in the transformative power of education and that eliminating the achievement gap is possible in our lifetime.
• Is an entrepreneurial leader who thrives in ambiguity, creates structure from vision, and builds teams and systems from the ground up.
• Has a track record of leading adults to achieve exceptional student outcomes and a deep belief in the capacity of teachers, families, and students.
• Values community partnership and approaches founding with humility, inclusivity, and deep local engagement.
• Has the strategic mindset to balance visionary thinking with disciplined execution- and the persistence to see a launch through from planning to excellence.

Essential Functions : Year 0- Planning & Fellowship Year

Essential Functions : Year 1 and Beyond- Founding Principal

Required Qualifications

Education

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 high.

Compensation :

Commensurate with qualifications and experience, plus excellent health and wellness benefits, 403b retirement plan, flexible spending account (FSA), and generous paid time off.

Rocketship Public Schools provides equal employment opportunities (EEO) to all employees and applicants for employment without regard to race, color, religion, gender, sexual orientation, national origin, age, disability, genetic information, marital status, amnesty, or status as a covered veteran in accordance with applicable federal, state and local laws. Rocketship Public Schools complies with applicable state and local laws governing non-discrimination in employment in every location in which the company has facilities. This policy applies to all terms and conditions of employment, including, but not limited to, hiring, placement, promotion, termination, layoff, recall, transfer, leaves of absence, compensation, and training.

Rocketship Public Schools expressly prohibits any form of unlawful employee harassment based on race, color, religion, gender, sexual orientation, national origin, age, genetic information, disability, or veteran status. Improper interference with the ability of Rocketship Public Schools’ employees to perform their expected job duties is absolutely not tolerated. Click here for our Sexual Harassment Policy.  For questions, concerns, or complaints, please contact Human Resources.