High School Founding Principal - Jackson - Ambition Prep

Description

Background on the Organization

Ambition Preparatory Charter School is deeply committed to ensuring that every student in grades K-12 receives the high-quality education that they deserve. Our mission is to provide students with the academic skills and self-discipline needed for college and life success through high-quality instruction, intensive academic support, and hard work. We are a new college-preparatory elementary and middle school in Jackson, MS. Visit our website: for additional information.

Position Overview

The Founding Ambition Charter High School Principal serves as the instructional, cultural, and operational leader responsible for the successful planning, launch, and early execution of the first high school within our established organization. During the planning year, the Founding Principal will translate our mission, vision, and proven school model into a high-quality, developmentally appropriate high school program that ensures strong academic outcomes, a positive school culture, and on-time graduation for all students.

The Founding Principal is accountable for designing and implementing the academic program, building and developing a high-performing founding team, establishing systems to ensure proper course credit accrual and graduation readiness, and ensuring full compliance with authorizer, state, and network expectations prior to opening. This leader works in close partnership with our existing organizational leadership to ensure fidelity to our model while thoughtfully adapting systems to meet the unique needs of high school students.

This role requires a results-driven, systems-oriented leader with a strong instructional foundation, the ability to execute within an established framework, and the vision to build a high school that prepares students for college, career, and life.

Responsibilities and Duties

• Lead the planning, launch, and successful opening of Ambition Prep's first charter high school in the Jackson area.
• Recruit, hire, onboard, and develop a high-performing founding staff aligned to Ambition Prep's mission, values, and instructional expectations.
• Establish a strong adult culture grounded in accountability, collaboration, and continuous improvement.
• Partner with operations teams to ensure facility readiness, student safety, and full compliance with authorizer, state, and federal requirements.
• Collaborate with the Executive Director and Managing Director of Academics to execute strategic plans that support long-term organizational growth and sustainability.
• Finalize graduation requirements and course catalogs that align to the Mississippi Department of Education expectations and postsecondary readiness goals.
• Build strong relationships with families, community partners, and higher education institutions to support student success and postsecondary pathways.
• Implement the Ambition Prep school culture framework, adapting systems and structures to meet the developmental needs of high school students.
• Support the selection and implementation of high-quality, standards-aligned instructional materials that ensure college and career readiness.
• Design master schedules, including advisory, intervention, and enrichment that guarantee access to required course credits for all students.
• Continue to develop instructional leadership capacity through ongoing classroom observations, learning walks, and data-driven coaching aligned to Ambition Prep's instructional model.
• Analyze student achievement data to identify trends, address gaps, and drive instructional priorities for the high school.
• Collaborate with academic leaders across the organization to strengthen teaching and learning schoolwide.
• Engage in ongoing coaching, mentorship, and leadership development to continuously refine leadership practice and effectiveness.

To be a part of the Ambition Prep team, it is required that all candidates possess an unwavering commitment to Ambition Prep's mission, students, families, and community through the implementation of policies and procedures. You must share the belief that every student can learn at an advanced level regardless of race, culture, or socioeconomic status. It is required that you have the ability to efficiently adapt in an ambiguous, fast-paced, start-up environment. Candidates must be team-oriented and can display a professional level of a growth mindset, maturity, flexibility, promptness, commitment, and organization. Each candidate must also be receptive to constructive feedback with the ability to remodel positive behavior precisely and effectively keeping the common goal of every student in mind.

Qualifications

• Valid state administrative certification or enrollment in an approved principal preparation program
• Bachelor's degree required; Master's degree in Educational Leadership required
• Minimum of 3–5 years of successful teaching
• Minimum 2 years of school leadership experience, required
• Experience at the high school level
• Strong data analysis and instructional coaching skills
• Demonstrated leadership in team facilitation and school improvement efforts
• Demonstrated commitment to equity, student achievement, and continuous improvement
• Detailed knowledge of federal, state, and local requirements for K-12 schools

Compensation

Ambition Preparatory Charter School offers competitive salaries and benefits commensurate with experience. Ambition Preparatory Charter School is an Equal Opportunity Employer and does not discriminate on the basis of race, color, religion, gender, sexual orientation, national or ethnic origin, age, disability, pregnancy, or veteran status.

Disclaimer: This job description describes the general nature and level of work being performed by individuals hired into this job. This is not intended to be an exhaustive list of all responsibilities and duties required. Ambition Prep reserves the right to change any or all content of this job description based on business needs.