Rocketship Public Schools · 1 month ago
Orange County Founding Principal Fellow
Bay Area, CA
Full-time
Onsite
Senior Level
5+ years expRocketship Public Schools is a non-profit network of public elementary charter schools dedicated to transforming the future for underserved communities. They are seeking a visionary Founding Principal Fellow to launch their first school in Orange County, California, who will engage in a year of training and planning before leading the school to excellence.
E-LearningEdTechEducation
Responsibilities
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
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
Serve in a Rising Principal role in an existing Rocketship school to master instructional and operational systems through hands-on school leadership experience
Participate in intensive leadership development, data-driven instruction training, and strategic planning sessions
Collaborate with network and regional leaders to plan for facilities, enrollment, staffing, and long-term launch readiness
Engage families, community members, and partners to build local trust and excitement for Rocketship’s first Orange County school
Conduct community outreach, lead information sessions, and build a founding family base
Support student recruitment and enrollment efforts to meet or exceed enrollment targets, including developing a comprehensive enrollment and retention strategy
Partner with network operations, talent, and finance teams to develop school systems, budgets, and a full hiring, investment, and training strategy for the founding staff
Serve as a founding thought partner in developing Orange County’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 founding
Build a coalition of community, civic, and educational partners to secure broad support for Rocketship’s expansion in Orange County, including leading the charter approval process
Actively engage in governance and board management by cultivating relationships, preparing materials, and participating in meetings to ensure alignment and momentum
Deeply internalize all pre-planning completed to date, including facilities work, community engagement learnings, charter development, and network decisions
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 success
Build a culture of authentic partnership with families rooted in respect, trust, and shared accountability
Establish systems for proactive communication, home visits, and community gatherings
Promote parent leadership and ensure that families are active participants in school decision-making
Operate with an entrepreneurial mindset- anticipating needs, building systems, adapting rapidly, and communicating decisions with clarity and confidence
Partner with network leaders to shape the launch and long-term sustainability of the Orange County region, ensuring Rocketship’s presence is visible, trusted, and community-centered
Lead the full hiring, investment, and ongoing development of the founding staff
Hold responsibility for the Founding Top 5 Launch Goals: 1. Facilities fully ready for instruction 2. Enrolling, engaging, and retaining families 3. Securing charter approval and sustaining political support 4. Hiring, investing in, and training the founding staff 5. Building systems to accelerate student achievement aligned to the Rocketship vision
Qualification
Required
3+ years of successful teaching experience in an urban elementary setting with demonstrated student growth
2+ years in a leadership role (Assistant Principal, Principal, or equivalent) with a proven record of coaching adults to drive student achievement
Spanish bilingual/proficiency
Demonstrated experience in strategic planning, team leadership, and community engagement
Strong instructional expertise, particularly in data-driven instruction and elementary content
Deep belief in the power of community partnerships to transform educational outcomes
Exceptional organizational, communication, and project management skills
BA from an accredited university
Valid California teaching credential (or ability to transfer) required
Preferred
Experience in school founding or startup environments preferred
Administrative credential or enrollment in a credentialing program preferred
Benefits
Excellent health and wellness benefits
403b retirement plan
Flexible spending account (FSA)
Generous paid time off
Company
Rocketship Public Schools
At Rocketship Public Schools, we believe in the infinite possibility of human potential.
501-1000 employees
Funding
Current Stage
Late StageTotal Funding
$3.3M2012-12-15Grant· $0.1M
2011-12-15Grant· $0.1M
2011-05-11Series Unknown· $3M
Leadership Team
Preston Smith
Co - Founder & CEO
Recent News
2025-09-18
Company data provided by crunchbase