Jalen Rose Leadership Academy, Principal-in-Residence - Middle School

As an educator with Jalen Rose Leadership Academy, you are considered a guardian to our students (whom we refer to as scholars). You will also build trust and community in your classroom via clear and timely communication with your scholars and families. At JRLA, we have created a model specifically designed to raise achievement for historically underserved scholars. We support your creativity and wholeheartedly encourage a rigorous, personalized, and well-rounded educational experience to meet the unique needs of each scholar in your classroom.

Established in 2011 by NBA Star Jalen Rose and Co-Founder Michael Carter, JRLA is located on the Northwest side of Detroit in the zip code where Jalen grew up. An open enrollment, tuition-free, public charter high school, JRLA provides a leadership-focused education to 450 scholars and over 1,000 alumni. The mission is to empower all scholars to develop the strength of character, skills, and knowledge needed to matriculate, be great in, and graduate from college or a postsecondary program so that they have the opportunities to be successful in the competitive world and take care of themselves and the people they love.

Built around a 9-16 model, JRLA has never wavered in its pursuit to improve the educational landscape for Detroit area youth. After 15+ years of operations, JRLA remains steadfast in its commitment to not only get scholars to graduate from high school but for them to graduate from college or a postsecondary program as well – outcomes that are real game changers in urban education.

JRLA is a leader among open enrollment high schools in Detroit for college matriculation; we know the path to college and a successful future.

JRLA is authorized by Central Michigan University and is a single-site charter school. To learn more about JRLA, please visit

The Principal in Residence - Middle School is a transformative leader responsible for helping launch and lead JRLA’s future middle school as part of the academy’s long-term expansion vision. This founding leadership role will work closely with the Superintendent to develop the academic, cultural, operational, and community-facing systems necessary to build a high-performing middle school that prepares scholars for success at JRLA and beyond.

The Principal in Residence will guide and develop a high-performing faculty, set the strategic vision for student achievement, and implement the school’s mission through effective leadership and management of all stakeholders, including faculty, staff, scholars, families, and the community. The Principal in Residence will also support family and scholar recruitment efforts to help establish a strong founding middle school community rooted in JRLA’s core values and mission.

• Implement a high-quality, rigorous, learning program that promotes critical thinking, citizenship, and leadership consistent with Jalen Rose Leadership Academy’s mission and vision.
• Set ambitious school goals for student achievement and performance; hold staff members accountable for achieving results.
• Support the planning, development, and launch of JRLA’s future middle school campus, including systems, culture, staffing, and instructional programming.
• Lead family and scholar recruitment efforts to build enrollment and establish strong relationships within the Detroit community.
• Develop systems and structures that create a joyful, rigorous, and developmentally appropriate middle school experience for scholars.
• Create and lead an effective, collaborative team equally responsible for the attainment of school goals and committed to achieving excellence.
• Build high performing relationships with all stakeholders including students, staff, faculty,…