Principal, Education Administration

The Opportunity

How often does someone get to build a school? Not improve one. Not turn one around. Actually build one—from the first hire, to the first day, to the culture that lasts for decades.

ARCHS is looking for a founding Principal who desires to build sustainable, human-centered systems grounded in our core values.

We open Fall 2026 with 80 students and a small, tight team. By year three, we'll serve 160 students. But the systems, the culture, the traditions—those will be shaped by the educators who start with us.

Milwaukee's South Side suffers from chronic absenteeism post-pandemic. Over 62% of high school students miss enough school to be considered chronically absent. These aren't students who don't care—they're students whose schools haven't given them a good enough reason to show up.

ARCHS is our answer. We use Gold Standard project-based learning—the Buck Institute model—where students investigate authentic problems and present to real audiences. A student might research housing policy, interview community organizers, analyze data, and present recommendations to local officials. That's not a simulation. That's relevant education.

Our values—Interdependence, Dignity, Exploration, Advocacy, Self-awareness (IDEAS)—are how we make decisions, handle conflict, and build relationships. We practice restorative justice. We start with belonging, because students who feel seen show up.

The Principal is the instructional and cultural heart of ARCHS. You report to the Executive Director and lead everything that happens inside the building.

• Instructional leadership — Coach Core Advisors in Gold Standard PBL design, facilitation, and assessment. Model what excellent teaching looks like. Lead professional development.
• Staff development — Hire the founding team (4 Core Advisors in Year
  1). Provide feedback, conduct evaluations, and build a culture of continuous improvement.
• Culture building — Implement restorative justice practices. Facilitate community circles. Model the IDEAS values in every interaction.
• Daily operations — Manage scheduling, student services, facilities coordination, and the thousand small decisions that make a school run.
• Family and community relationships — Be present. Know every student and family. Build trust with our predominantly Latino community through authentic engagement.
• Data and accountability — Monitor student progress, track school goals (including 3+ point ACT growth), and ensure compliance with charter requirements.

• Wisconsin Principal license (DPI 51) or equivalent credential with reciprocity eligibility
• 5+ years successful classroom teaching experience
• 3+ years school leadership experience (AP, department chair, instructional coach, or equivalent)
• Demonstrated experience leading or implementing project-based learning
• Bilingual Spanish-English proficiency

• Experience founding, launching, or leading a startup school
• PBL Works National Faculty or equivalent PBL certification
• Master's degree in Educational Leadership or related field
• Roots in or connection to Milwaukee's South Side community

• $100,000 annual salary
• Wisconsin Retirement System (WRS) — employer contribution to your pension
• Comprehensive insurance — health (HDHP with HRA/HSA), dental, vision, life, disability
• Generous time off — 4 weeks vacation + sick leave + 10 holidays
• Professional development — dedicated budget including PBL Works training and leadership development

This job is harder than leading an established school. There's no infrastructure to inherit—you're building it with your colleagues. There's no "we've always done it this way"—you're deciding how. The early years of a startup are intense, uncertain, and demanding.

But if you've ever been frustrated by systems you didn't create, decisions made without teacher input, or a culture you couldn't change—this is your chance to experience the opposite. You'll have real autonomy to build something that reflects your beliefs about what school should be. The founding team that starts with us will shape ARCHS for decades.

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