Founding Culture Partner

The Gate School•Nashville, TN

5d•$110,000 - $125,000•Onsite

About The Position

The Gate School (TGS) is a tuition-free public charter middle school opening in Nashville in Fall 2027. The Culture Partner is a founding leader who builds and runs the systems that shape students’ daily experience of school, including routines, discipline, attendance, and family partnership. The role is full-time, on-site, and spans 12 months. The anticipated start date is June 1, 2027, with the possibility of an earlier start based on candidate availability and school needs. The Culture Partner will join ahead of the August 2027 opening to help build schoolwide systems, prepare for staff onboarding, and support the launch of the founding year. At The Gate School, every leader teaches. The Culture Partner serves on the Partner Council and teaches at least one block daily, using their own classroom to model the culture they help build. As the school grows, they coach teachers on classroom culture and management. The position leads schoolwide culture systems, behavioral and social-emotional supports, family and community partnership, attendance strategy, and founding-year systems and traditions. Success includes finalizing and training the code of conduct and routines before July 2027 professional development; reaching at least 95% student attendance while keeping chronic absenteeism below 10%; reducing office referrals and suspensions year over year while protecting students with IEPs and 504 plans under the discipline policy; ensuring families attend orientation and advisory councils meet quarterly; and supporting measurable growth in coached teachers’ classroom environments.

Requirements

Bachelor’s degree.
Valid Tennessee teaching license.
At least 5 years of teaching experience with strong classroom culture and student results.
Experience leading school culture systems, discipline, or student support.
Training or experience in restorative practices.
Track record of building trust with families from many backgrounds.

Nice To Haves

Middle school experience.
Experience coaching teachers on classroom management.
Experience leading family engagement or community partnerships.
Bilingual in Spanish or another language spoken by Nashville families.

Responsibilities

Serve on the Partner Council, help shape schoolwide priorities, make strategic decisions, and hold the team accountable for results.
Lead the development, implementation, and continuous improvement of schoolwide culture systems using student, staff, and family feedback.
Model clear, direct communication and address difficult issues with honesty, care, and high expectations.
Build, lead, and improve schoolwide Tier 1 culture systems, including behavioral expectations, daily routines, and restorative practices.
Design and implement tiered behavioral and social-emotional supports (MTSS) to provide timely, effective interventions.
Train and support staff in creating calm, joyful, focused classrooms grounded in strong relationships and high expectations.
Plan and lead schoolwide community meetings, student traditions, and the Student Advisory Council.
Respond to significant student behavior concerns, including disciplinary decisions, family communication, and student reentry plans.
Help build adult culture rooted in trust, accountability, collaboration, and commitment to student success.
Establish and reinforce expectations for how adults build relationships, communicate, and respond to student behavior.
Support staff with challenging conversations involving students, families, and colleagues.
Foster an adult culture of feedback, ownership of results, and continuous improvement.
Lead family orientation, conferences, and regular opportunities for families to shape the school.
Lead the Family Advisory Council and co-plan community events with families.
Build two-way relationships with community organizations, employers, and civic leaders.
Use the annual family survey to improve family partnership and share results openly.
Support enrollment in collaboration with the operations team.
Co-own the attendance strategy with the Operations Team, monitor attendance, identify concerns early, and ensure accurate reporting.
Lead tiered attendance interventions, working with students and families to address barriers and improve attendance.
Teach at least one block daily and model excellent teaching in the classroom.
Coach teachers on routines, relationships, and classroom management through regular coaching cycles.
Help build the school from the ground up by translating its mission and values into students’, families’, and staff members’ daily experiences.
Design, launch, and refine systems and traditions that establish a strong school identity.
Take ownership of challenges beyond immediate responsibilities to support opening and growing the school.
Partner with other founding leaders to recruit, hire, and develop a high-performing team.