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.

The Schools Team

The regional Schools Team is chiefly responsible for bringing about the vision of our Rocketship network in helping to build, refine, and support excellent schools, instruction, and parent engagement within the school community. Through the direct management of and partnership with our principals, the Schools Team is able to directly influence this vision and ensure we constantly realize and pursue excellence at our schools and within our communities. 

The Schools Team focuses on the following elements:

Deep support and development of school leaders

Developing, refining, and maintaining unified structures & vision to operate at the highest level

Developing highly skilled teachers--instructional & with family partnerships

The Role

This individual will be a key strategic leader on the Schools Team and will directly manage 2-5 of our transformational principals. In this role, the Director of Schools (DOS) will ensure that Rocketship schools remain a model for instructional excellence both in regards to student outcomes on multiple measures (literacy, math, science, social-emotional, etc.) as well as continuing to serve ALL students.

The successful candidate will ensure that Rocketship maintains a culture that puts our Rocketeers first and ensures outstanding support to our schools, school leaders, teachers, and entire school team while also ensuring a strong partnership with the Network Support Team (NeST). Successful candidates will combine a capacity for systems-level and strategic thinking, deep instructional knowledge, careful attention to detail, and strong interpersonal skills in building relationships with critical internal and external stakeholders.

The following are key responsibilities:

Leadership and Strategy

• Serve as a strategic leader within the Schools Team.
• Manage and mentor 2-5 principals, fostering high standards of instructional excellence and student achievement across multiple disciplines.
• Maintain a culture focused on student-first outcomes, supporting school leaders, teachers, and staff.

• Conduct regular assessments with principals to align school targets with strategic objectives.
• Oversee the development and execution of strategic plans across schools, ensuring achievement of educational and operational targets.
• Spearhead professional development initiatives, enhancing staff capabilities in instructional strategies and family engagement.

• Strengthen parent involvement in school activities, ensuring schools foster welcoming environments for families.
• Handle escalated school issues, maintaining a responsive and effective resolution process.

• Lead school-level hiring processes in partnership with the national Talent team.
• Guide recruitment, ensuring a balance of skills and expertise across the school network.

• Minimum of 2-4 years of experience as a Principal in a high-performing charter or district school.
• Additional 2-4 years in a teaching role with a proven track record of achieving strong educational outcomes.
• Bachelor’s degree required; advanced degree in Education or related field preferred.
• Experience and demonstrated track record in managing principals/schools towards high student achievement outcomes preferred.

Physical Demands:

The physical demands described here are representative of those that must be met by an employee to successfully perform the essential functions of this position. Reasonable accommodations may be made to enable individuals with disabilities to perform the functions. While performing the duties of this position, the employee is regularly required to talk, hear, and communicate with both adults and children. The employee frequently is required to use hands or fingers, handle or feel objects, tools, or controls. The employee is frequently required to stand; walk; sit; and reach with hands and arms. The employee must occasionally lift and/or move up to 50 pounds and occasionally climb ladders. Specific vision abilities required by this position include close vision, distance vision, and the ability to adjust focus. The noise level in the work environment is moderate to high.

Compensation:

Commensurate with qualifications and experience, plus excellent health and wellness benefits, 403b retirement plan, flexible spending account (FSA), and generous paid time off.

Rocketship Public Schools provides equal employment opportunities (EEO) to all employees and applicants for employment without regard to race, color, religion, gender, sexual orientation, national origin, age, disability, genetic information, marital status, amnesty, or status as a covered veteran in accordance with applicable federal, state and local laws. Rocketship Public Schools complies with applicable state and local laws governing non-discrimination in employment in every location in which the company has facilities. This policy applies to all terms and conditions of employment, including, but not limited to, hiring, placement, promotion, termination, layoff, recall, transfer, leaves of absence, compensation, and training.

Rocketship Public Schools expressly prohibits any form of unlawful employee harassment based on race, color, religion, gender, sexual orientation, national origin, age, genetic information, disability, or veteran status. Improper interference with the ability of Rocketship Public Schools’ employees to perform their expected job duties is absolutely not tolerated. Click here for our Sexual Harassment Policy. For questions, concerns, or complaints, please contact Human Resources.