Principal Fellow

Position Summary

To build high‑performing schools, Breakthrough must develop the next generation of school leaders. The Principal Fellowship is a two‑year structured leadership development program designed to prepare Fellows to lead a Breakthrough campus upon successful completion. Principal Fellows are full‑time Breakthrough employees who are strategically trained and developed through immersive, hands‑on leadership experiences within a Breakthrough school.

The Fellowship is designed around core leadership domains aligned to Breakthrough’s expectations for Principals:

• Instructional Leadership
• Teacher Development
• School Culture
• Systems Leadership

Throughout the Fellowship, Principal Fellows work closely with a Host Principal, the Managing Director of Schools, and the Head of Schools to build the knowledge, mindsets, and leadership capabilities necessary to successfully lead a Breakthrough school.

Fellows are placed strategically across Breakthrough campuses based on organizational need and capacity.

Feedback and Leadership Coaching

Frequent, high‑quality feedback is the primary lever for leadership development ncipal Fellows receive ongoing coaching and assessment through:

• Weekly coaching from the Host Principal
• Regular feedback from the Managing Director of Schools
• Network leadership feedback during professional development and school visits
• Structured reflection aligned to Breakthrough leadership competencies

Feedback is grounded in Breakthrough’s instructional framework and leadership expectations, including the ability to drive the Arc of the Year through strong instructional leadership and teacher development. Principal Fellows are expected to actively seek feedback, reflect on their leadership practice, and demonstrate measurable growth over time.

School Immersion

Principal Fellows are fully embedded in the daily operations of a Breakthrough school. Through this immersive experience, Fellows gain direct exposure to the complex leadership decisions required to run a high‑performing school while progressively taking on greater leadership responsibility. During their two Fellowship years, Principal Fellows will:

• Lead and coach teachers through real‑time coaching (RTC) and instructional feedback cycles
• Lead and coach Assistant Principals and Deans through real‑time coaching (RTC) and feedback cycles
• Support implementation of the Arc of the Year instructional priorities
• Analyze student achievement data and lead data‑driven improvement planning
• Partner with school culture teams to build and reinforce strong student behavior systems and Common Pictures
• Lead staff meetings, professional development sessions, and instructional planning
• Engage with families and community partners
• Support school‑wide systems including scheduling, operations, and team management

Principal Fellows are expected to demonstrate increasing ownership of key leadership functions and readiness to lead a school.

Professional Development and Network Learning

Principal Fellows participate in structured professional learning alongside Breakthrough leaders across the network. This includes development during the identified summer months as well as during the school year.

Principal Professional Development

• Instructional leadership
• Coaching and teacher development
• Data‑driven school improvement
• Leading strong adult cultures
• Strategic school leadership

Fellowship Cohort Development

• Leadership practice and simulations
• Case study analysis
• Peer feedback and reflection
• Application of Breakthrough leadership frameworks

These cohort experiences help Fellows develop both the technical skills and leadership judgment required of successful school leaders.

Education

• Bachelor’s degree required
• Master’s degree in education or leadership preferred
• Currently holds Principal certification and/or willing to enroll in certification program within the two years of the Fellowship and complete within the first full school year of Principalship

Experience

• Must be a current Breakthrough Public Schools employee in good standing
• Minimum of 3 years of teaching experience with evidence of strong student outcomes
• At least two years of teacher leadership or…