BES seeks a Fellow for our Fellowship program starting in August 2025 to serve as a Founding School Leader in Tennessee. This Fellowship offers highly motivated leaders committed to transforming education the rigorous, multi-year training needed to design, found, and lead a high-achieving school that meets the unique needs of its community.
BES welcomes applicants from any Tennessee region favorable for new public charter schools and aligned with authorizer priorities, with particular interest in leaders aiming to found schools in the Knoxville, Nashville (outside the city limits), or Chattanooga metropolitan areas.
What You’ll Do
The BES Fellowship for Founding School Leaders includes one year of training followed by three years of Follow On Support to support leaders in building a high-performing, locally responsive school. For a comprehensive description of our Fellowship, please visit our website. An overview is provided below.
Fellows in Tennessee begin with an intensive training year, where they engage in over 300 hours of coursework on school design, leadership, governance, and community engagement, as well as diversity, equity, and inclusion. Fellows also conduct in-depth studies of effective schools across the nation and complete residencies at high-performing schools, all while developing a charter application and establishing a founding board.
In year two, the planning year, Fellows partner with a BES coach to refine their project management and leadership skills, hire founding staff, recruit students, and solidify their school vision. This dedicated coaching, known as Follow On Support, helps Fellows bridge the transition from founder to school leader, preparing them to launch a strong, sustainable school. During years three and four, the first two operational years, leaders put their vision into action, welcoming their inaugural class, coaching teachers, and using data to drive academic success. By the second year of operation, they deepen the academic focus, serving a growing population of students, and build leadership capacity to support future growth, all while fostering an empowered, mission-aligned team.
Experience Requirements
- Minimum 8 years of professional experience, with instructional or instructional leadership experience required
- At least 2 years managing and supervising adults in a PreK-12 setting required, 2 years of school leadership experience preferred
- Commitment to serving as a school leader in the proposed community for at least 10 years required
- Ability to establish and activate local connections to support school enrollment
- Strong preference for candidates with 2-3 years of experience living or working in the proposed school region, especially those with strong ties to the community
- Clear, compelling rationale for the proposed school location
Education Requirements
- Bachelor’s degree required; Master’s or Professional degree preferred
Benefits
- This is a contract role with a $100,000+ grant during the first year of the program (the Fellowship training year)
- Health reimbursements available
- Travel and accommodations for training and during school study travel
- Technology support
- Reimbursement for up to $5,000 in moving expenses
For more information, contact [email protected].