The 2026 BES Fellowship for Founding School Leaders

About the role#

The BES Fellowship is a multi-year program designed for leaders committed to founding and operating high-achieving public charter schools. The program begins with an intensive training year, followed by a planning year and multi-year support to ensure the long-term success of the school and its community. Please note that the current Ohio placement for this Fellowship is filled, and applications are being accepted for an active waitlist should additional opportunities become available.

What you'll do#

• Engage in over 300 hours of coursework covering school design, leadership, governance, and community engagement.
• Conduct in-depth studies of effective schools nationwide and complete residencies at high-performing sites.
• Partner with a BES coach to refine project management and leadership skills.
• Develop a charter application and establish a founding board.
• Recruit students and solidify the school vision during the planning year.

What you'll need#

• Bachelor’s degree (Master’s or Professional degree preferred).
• Minimum 8 years of professional experience, including instructional or instructional leadership experience.
• At least 2 years of experience managing and supervising adults in a PreK-12 setting.
• A commitment to serving as a school leader in the proposed community for at least 10 years.
• Strong preference for candidates with 2-3 years of experience living or working in the proposed school region.
• Academic background in fields such as Business Administration, Public Health, Psychology, Sociology, Political Science, Communications, or Human Resources.

Location & details#

• Location: Ohio, United States.
• Term: Summer 2026.
• Modality: On-site.
• Status: Full-time, paid position.