Founding School Leader (Principal)
The founding board of Green Tech Rochester seeks a passionate, committed, and entrepreneurial Founding School Leader to incubate and launch a charter elementary school serving young men of color in Rochester, NY. Green Tech Rochester, based on the highly successful model of Green Tech Albany, will provide game-changing opportunities for its students. Every scholar receives the opportunity to develop in a safe environment with high academic standards and a high level of support.
The School Leader will report to the board and be responsible for the school’s successful launch, student academic outcomes, and laying the foundation for a sustainable organization.
Pre-Opening Year Responsibilities:
The first year will involve a learning residency and school-founding projects:
- With support from the founding team, submit a high-quality grant application to Charter School Growth Fund’s Seed Fund and/or New Schools Venture Fund to gain access to additional startup grants, technical expertise, and a national community of practice.
- With support from the founding team, apply to Z-Combinator, BES, or another comparable school incubation and launch program.
- Conduct learning visits to at least 3-5 high-performing elementary schools serving Black and Brown boys, including Green Tech Albany.
- Engage community members and groups through meetings, neighborhood canvassing, and events.
- Hire, onboard, and supervise founding school staff.
- Recruit founding student class.
- Identify and procure school facility.
- Report monthly to the school’s board on school launch progress.
- Other responsibilities as needed.
- Ongoing School Leadership
As you build the school into a sustainable organization, ongoing leadership responsibilities will be:
Setting school strategic goals, annual planning, and holding staff accountable for achieving those goals in the following areas:
- Academic performance
- Financial sustainability
- School operations
- Talent
- Marketing and communications
- School culture
- Managing and developing the school leadership team
- Other responsibilities as needed
Required Competencies:
- Passion for Green Tech Rochester’s mission and model and a commitment to serving Black and Brown male students.
- High standards for personal performance and that of school staff and students.
- Growth mindset - believes everyone can improve performance through hard work, feedback, and perseverance.
- Strong sense of personal responsibility for the success of students, teachers, and the school as a whole.
- Comfortable with “startup” mode - flexible and able to hustle in response to changing conditions and priorities.
Required Skills:
- Outstanding knowledge and prior achievement in either instruction or school operations.
- Strong leadership skills – the ability to inspire others toward a lofty vision.
- Strong people management skills
- Ability to build relationships and communicate effectively with a wide variety of stakeholders such as board members, community groups, families, teachers, and students.
- Reflective Practice – actively reflects on, solicits feedback on, and adapts leadership to continually improve performance.
Required Experience:
- Minimum 3 years of teaching experience with demonstrated success in raising achievement for Black and Brown males.
- Minimum additional 2 years of instructional leadership or school administration, such as Dean of Curriculum and Instruction, Director of Operations, or Assistant Principal.
- Connection to Rochester community strongly preferred.
- Bachelor’s Degree required.
Start Date: ASAP
Hiring Process and Timeline:
- Submit Resume to CCR Open- 5/14, Closes 6/7
- Resume Review- Begin 6/7, End 6/21
- Select Candidates for 40 min Screening Interviews- Opens 6/24, Closes 7/7
- Selection Day Committee Interviews In Person (Top 3-5 Candidates) Open 7/15, Closes 7/19
- Final Board Selection (Questions and Answers) Candidate Selected no later than 7/26
- Timeline may be adjusted based on changing conditions and needs
Salary:
Residency/Incubation Year: $90,000
Starting salary of $110,000 once school opens