School Founder

Location: Metro Denver or Broader Colorado
Type: Full-time, school founder

This is an extraordinary opportunity for an accomplished educator to launch a groundbreaking high school or middle/high school, using the best of technology and the best of what we know helps students thrive. The school will serve as a national model for how artificial intelligence, when deployed thoughtfully, can deepen human connection, expand opportunity, and redefine excellence in public education. 

The school's design will reflect a new vision for learning: human-centered, technology-empowered, and purpose-driven. Technology will not be the centerpiece; it will serve as the scaffold that supports and expands human potential. At the heart of this school will lie a “human-in-the-loop” philosophy where AI amplifies the art of teaching and frees educators to focus on relationships, mentorship, and meaning. Students will explore a project-based, interdisciplinary curriculum that cultivates creativity, critical thinking, and ethical AI literacy. Through authentic partnerships with industry and higher education, students will earn credentials, complete internships, and contribute to real-world solutions - all while remaining deeply rooted in relationships, mentorship, and belonging. 

Colorado Schools Fund will provide grant funding to support pre-launch capacity and the school’s initial philanthropic needs, alongside additional funding sources. The Fund will also offer comprehensive support in areas such as authorization, facilities and financial planning, and expert advising, while AI partners will support with school design. The school will be established as an independent 501(c)(3) with its own governing board, and we are seeking an experienced, visionary leader with the strategic and operational acumen to design, launch, and steward a high-performing public charter school. This role is ideally suited for someone who has successfully founded and led an excellent school.

The school’s launch will be backwards-mapped from an anticipated 2027 or 2028 opening, with the School Founder joining as soon as 2026 to have time to plan/design, guide the school application process, secure startup funding, and build the foundation for a successful launch.

The School Founder will bring to life the above vision for the school, shaping and leading every aspect of its design, launch, and growth. As the school’s leader and executive director, the School Founder will set the instructional and cultural foundation, recruit and develop a high-performing team, build a strong governing board, and oversee all aspects of school performance and operations.

Reporting to the school’s governing board, the School Founder will have the autonomy to lead - with robust support from Colorado Schools Fund and other partners - to design an extraordinary school that combines deep human relationships with responsible AI integration. The School Founder will design the school, but won’t do it alone: they will have access to the expertise of educators, technologists, and national thought leaders who share their vision for what learning can become.

This is a once-in-a-generation opportunity for an entrepreneurial school leader to found the nation’s first AI-integrated public high school, a model that will not only serve Colorado students but also influence how schools everywhere think about technology, relationships, and learning. It’s a chance to combine a love of students with the freedom to innovate, the excitement of building something new, and the opportunity to leave a lasting legacy for public education. 

Responsibilities

School Model Design and Vision Setting

• Lead the development of the school’s academic model, curriculum, and instructional approach, ensuring responsible AI use that strengthens teacher-student relationships
• Partner with experts to stay at the forefront of innovation and model design
• Build a learning environment that balances academic rigor, creativity, and human connection

Path to Authorization and Stakeholder Engagement

• Lead the school application and approval process 
• Build strong relationships with community leaders, families, and district officials to secure support and navigate regulatory processes
• Recruit and develop a mission-aligned founding board to govern the new 501(c)(3); partner closely with the board to establish strong governance practices
• Engage with stakeholders to position the school as a trusted, innovative public option
   

Hiring and People Management

• Recruit, inspire, and develop an exceptional founding team of educators and staff
• Establish a collaborative, mission-driven professional culture grounded in equity, belonging, and accountability
• Provide coaching, feedback, and professional development that promotes instructional excellence and staff growth
   

School Culture and Community Engagement

• Create a safe, welcoming environment that supports high expectations for learning and behavior
• Build meaningful relationships with students, families, and community members to foster trust and shared purpose
• Generate enrollment and build a base of committed families aligned with the school’s mission
• Ensure regular, transparent communication with families and partners to strengthen engagement 
• Develop authentic industry and community partnerships that expand student opportunities
   

Fundraising and Financial Planning

• Develop the school’s long-term financial model and sustainability strategy
• Secure additional start-up funding 
• Ensure financial discipline and effective resource allocation
   

Learning, Dissemination and National Influence

• Document and share lessons learned during the design and launch phases
• Represent the school publicly, contributing to field-wide learning on responsible AI integration
• Help shape a national model demonstrating how innovation and equity can coexist in public education

We know the right candidate may not check every box, but we believe our School Founder will bring a powerful mix of mindset, experience, and leadership skills.

• Deep commitment to the school’s mission and belief that all students can excel when they are seen, known, and held to high expectations
• Proven ability to design, launch, or lead a high-performing school or program; prior founding school leadership and teaching experience strongly preferred
• Visionary builder energized by blank pages, bold challenges, and the opportunity to create something new, combined with the follow through and “get stuff done” orientation that is required of a school founder and on-going operator
• Belief in the power of innovation to advance equity, paired with a commitment to human connection and the ethical use of AI in education
• Expertise in high-quality instruction, curriculum, assessment, and cultivating positive, inclusive student and staff culture
• Skilled at recruiting, developing, and retaining exceptional educators and fostering a collaborative, mission-driven team
• Exceptional communicator who can inspire and engage diverse stakeholders  including families, educators, partners, and funders 
• Strategic, organized, and solutions-oriented leader who balances vision with execution in a fast-paced, start-up environment
• Curious and comfortable with emerging technologies, eager to learn and model responsible, effective use of AI
• Flexible, entrepreneurial, and resilient; thrives amid ambiguity and change
• Colorado Principal certification (or eligibility to obtain) strongly preferred 

This role will begin as a School Founder under contract with Colorado Schools Fund during the planning and launch phases. The initial compensation package includes:

• Annual Compensation: $170,000-$200,000
• Benefits: As determined by the contract agreement with Colorado Schools Fund

Upon establishment of the school's 501(c)(3) and governing board, the School Founder will transition to a full-time employee of the charter school. Long-term compensation and benefits will be determined by the school's governing board and will remain highly competitive within the Colorado charter school market.