Fellowship Position Overview
The 2013 Education Entrepreneurs Fellowship (EE Fellowship) is a two-year leadership development program designed to equip experienced school leaders with the entrepreneurial and transformational management skills needed to replace some of the state’s lowest performing traditional district schools with high-performing charter schools and charter management organizations. Through a combination of residencies, visits to exceptional schools, executive leadership coaching, and targeted training workshops, EE Fellows gain the insight and skills needed to design and launch their own schools or CMO’s in the fall of 2015.
Year One:
- Orientation: The 2013 EE Fellowship begins in July with orientation. Orientation includes an overview of the fellowship, an introduction to Tennessee and its charter application process and the development of Individual Leadership Development Plans.
- Individual Leadership Development Plans: In the fall, Fellows begin to implement their ILDP’s customized combination of trainings, site visits, coaching and residencies. The nature and timing of learning activities and experiences are decided collaboratively to meet the personal and professional needs of the Fellow.
- Charter Application Development: In the fall, Fellows prepare their charter applications, conduct community research, and recruit and develop their boards. In the winter/spring, Fellows finalize their boards, submit multiple drafts of their charter application for review, and prepare for authorization interviews. Applications are submitted in April, interviews take place in May, and results are announced in June.
Year Two:
- Incubation: Fellows prepare to open their schools no later than August of 2015. Time is spent establishing relationships with their matched community, engaging/recruiting students, selecting faculty and staff, creating finance and operational systems, and other preparations needed for a successful launch.
- Executive Leadership Coaching: Throughout the year, Fellows receive ongoing executive coaching to prepare them for their new role as an autonomous turnaround leader.
- Facilities: Facilities are provided through the ASD matching process. However, they often require updates to support the school’s success. Fellows receive financial and logistical support from TCSI staff to remedy possible issues.
Early Launch Support:
Once operational, TCSI continues to provide support to ensure a strong start and the greatest chance for success. School leaders continue to receive early launch services including coaching, professional development for their staff, subsidized interim assessments aligned to state tests, and school quality reviews.
Fellowship Responsibilities
- Charter School Application: 2013 Education Entrepreneurs Fellows are expected to submit a high-quality charter school application no later than April of 2014 and launch their school no later than 2015.
- Individual Leadership Development Plans: Fellows are expected to fully participate in the development and implementation of all components of their ILDP’s, including trainings, coaching, site visits, residencies, readings or any other learning activities mutually determined to be necessary for success. As stated earlier, the nature and timing of ILDP activities are mutually-agreed upon during orientation.
- Professionalism: Fellows serve as ambassadors of the Tennessee Charter School Incubator, the community, and their schools and may be called on to support the broader mission of TCSI at events, in the press, or in other ways.
- Time Commitment: Fellows should understand that the requirements to complete the Fellowship do not capture the magnitude of time and tasks required to establish and lead an outstanding charter school. Additional requirements that are necessary for the authorization of a charter school by the Achievement School District and a successful school launch include countless hours of work including: establishing a strong board, designing an effective academic program and school culture, building a strong team of administrators and teachers, developing a sustainable budget and robust operating systems, and fully engaging the community where the school will be located.
Qualifications
- Bachelor’s Degree or higher
- Experience leading, supervising and developing staff and educators in a school
- Demonstrated track record of advancing student achievement
- A clear vision for the creation of a college-preparatory school or network tailored to the needs of students in Tennessee
- Experience working in high-poverty schools and/or turnaround settings highly desired
Decisions will be made throughout the year with selection days taking place in both fall and spring. Applicants are encouraged to apply early.
Compensation
The Fellowship provides a competitive salary and benefits package and covers expenses related to Fellowship activities including travel, materials, etc.
Location
Applications are being accepted for Fellows in Memphis and Nashville with the highest priority given to applicants interested in Memphis.
TCSI does not discriminate on the basis of race, color, religion, sex, age or disability. It is TCSI’s intention that all qualified applicants be given an equal opportunity and that selection decisions be based on job-related factors.
