Founding Principal (AMS Ft. Smith) 2027-2028 School Year

AMS Schools•Fort Smith, AR

8d•Onsite

About The Position

Academies of Math and Science (AMS) is seeking a Founding Principal to lead the launch of AMS Ft. Smith. This role offers a unique opportunity to establish a high-performing public charter school from the ground up, serving students and families in underserved communities. The Founding Principal will be responsible for setting the instructional vision, building school culture, and leading all aspects of school development in partnership with AMS network leadership. This position requires a strategic, entrepreneurial, and community-centered leader with a strong track record in instructional leadership, staff development, and student achievement.

Requirements

Bachelor's degree required; Master's degree preferred.
Holds or is eligible to obtain an Arkansas Administrator/Principal License.
Demonstrated success in school-site leadership roles, including Principal, Assistant Principal, Dean, Director, or comparable leadership position.
Strong instructional leadership background with experience improving student outcomes in underserved or at-risk communities.
Proven ability to lead adults, manage teams, and build effective school systems.
Experience using student achievement data to inform instructional and operational decisions.
Excellent communication, organizational, and interpersonal skills.
Strategic and entrepreneurial approach to school leadership and development.
Ability to build strong relationships with students, families, staff, and community stakeholders.
Strong instructional leadership and school culture-building skills.
Ability to use data to drive decision-making and continuous improvement.
Ability to develop and implement effective school systems and processes.
Commitment to serving students and families in underserved communities.
Willingness and ability to travel to and temporarily reside in the Phoenix, Arizona area for multiple extended training assignments, potentially lasting several weeks at a time, during the onboarding and school launch process.

Nice To Haves

Experience launching a new school, program, or major initiative.
Experience with charter school authorization processes or charter management organizations.
Bilingual in Spanish with the ability to engage diverse student populations.
Experience serving Title I and/or English Language Learner (ELL) populations.

Responsibilities

Collaborate with AMS leadership to develop and implement a clear instructional and operational vision aligned with AMS's mission and academic model.
Contribute to the charter application process, including academic programming, governance, and operational planning.
Support school site selection and facility design to ensure alignment with instructional and student needs.
Implement rigorous, standards-aligned curriculum and instructional practices to drive high levels of student achievement.
Establish systems for data-driven instruction, progress monitoring, and continuous improvement.
Lead the development of a strong school culture grounded in high expectations, accountability, and student support.
Recruit, hire, onboard, and develop high-quality instructional and operational staff.
Provide coaching, feedback, and professional development to build teacher capacity and leadership pipelines.
Foster a collaborative, results-oriented staff culture.
Build strong relationships with families, community organizations, and local stakeholders.
Serve as the public-facing leader of AMS Ft. Smith, representing the school within the community.
Establish family engagement systems that support student success and school sustainability.