Founding AI School Leader

Founding AI School Leader

Location:

Greater Phoenix, AZ

Arizona Leads (AZ Leads) exists to accelerate student achievement in Arizona's highest-need communities. AZ Leads equips parents, communities, and educators with the tools, partnerships, and policy influence needed to advance high-quality, equitable education. Grounded in proven models and disciplined innovation, the organization is uncompromising in its focus on measurable results for students across the state. Silicon Schools Fund (SSF) partners with visionary educators to design and launch innovative public schools that prepare students for a rapidly changing world.

Through funding, incubation, and strategic support, SSF helps founders build schools that rethink how learning happens while delivering strong academic results for students. Together, AZ Leads and SSF are partnering to incubate and launch a new, innovative public charter school in Phoenix, AZ. This school will combine rigorous academics, a strong and joyful culture, and responsibly integrated artificial intelligence to expand opportunity for students.

The Opportunity

We are seeking a full-time AI School Leader to found a next generation of schooling from the ground up—rethinking how students learn, how adults work, and what it takes to deliver extraordinary outcomes for young people. The AI School Leader will build a school that is rigorous, joyful, deeply human, and unmistakably excellent. The school is intended to serve as a national proof point for how artificial intelligence can deepen relationships, expand opportunity, and help redefine excellence in public education—offering a model that could help shape what school becomes in Arizona and beyond.

The individual who steps into this role will bring vision, courage, and design ambition to create the school students deserve: one that combines strong academics, powerful relationships, and a future-ready model built for the world young people are entering. Technology, including AI, will support that vision, but it will not define it. The heart of the work is building a breakthrough school model that expands opportunity, inspires students, and proves that a dramatically better version of school is possible.

AZ Leads, in partnership with SSF, will provide grant funding to support pre-launch capacity and the school's initial philanthropic needs. The School Leader will also receive comprehensive support throughout incubation, including guidance on authorization, facilities, financial planning, and school design, with dedicated AI partners supporting the development of responsible, high-leverage systems. Planning will begin in August 2026, with the school expected to open in Fall 2027, dependent on readiness and authorization timelines.

Responsibilities will include:

• Build a transformational, next generation school model that gets incredible results for young people
• Design a rigorous academic approach grounded in evidence-based practices and measurable student outcomes
• Develop curriculum, assessment, and instructional systems aligned to Arizona standards and high expectations
• Integrate responsible AI-enabled systems to strengthen instructional planning, data use, and operational efficiency
• Develop and communicate strategic school systems, culture, and vision, and build a plan to achieve that vision
• Implement effective assessment systems and use data to inform decisions
• Represent the school and the broader initiative publicly, when appropriate, to help advance the field's understanding of next-generation school models

• Lead the charter authorization process from application through approval, ensuring a compelling academic vision and strong operational plan
• Establish clear governance structures and compliance systems that support responsible oversight and organizational integrity
• Report to a high-functioning founding board that brings relevant expertise and strong governance practices
• Engage families, community leaders, and local stakeholders to build trust and durable support for the school

• Ensure the operational success of the school before and after launch
• Effectively manage resources including people, capital, and infrastructure within the school
• Ensure school safety for students, faculty, and guests, including maintenance of the school building, grounds, and equipment
• Design and implement effective operational systems and routines that support the smooth functioning of the school and enable staff to focus on high-quality teaching and learning

• Build and lead a high-performing instructional team, overseeing recruitment, development, evaluation, and retention of faculty and staff
• Develop a culture of adult excellence and continuous improvement, where coaching, feedback, and accountability drive strong teaching and professional growth
• Establish strong instructional systems and professional development that strengthens teaching practice
• Ensure rigorous and effective instruction across classrooms and hold staff accountable for strong outcomes for all…