Orange County Founding Principal Fellow

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.

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.

• 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.

• Training and Learning
  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.
• Founding and Strategy
  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…