Founding Executive Director—Rooted School Columbia

Founding Executive Director—Rooted School Columbia

Deadline: March 14, 2025. 5 PM EST

Over the next 5 years, the Rooted School Network will experience significant growth through its schools and non-academic programmatic offerings. As part of its growth plan, Rooted School Foundation will partner with a forward-thinking, high-capacity leader to replicate its nationally-recognized school model in Columbia, South Carolina where Rooted School Foundation (RSF) received a multi-million dollar investment to expand.  As Founding Executive Director for Rooted School Columbia, you will be an instrumental agent of change in supporting the Rooted School Network’s (RSN) early development in South Carolina. 

In your role, you will work directly with our Board Chair, Board of Directors, the CEO of RSF, and other members of our national team to lead Rooted School’s launch in Columbia, South Carolina. Above all, you will help us determine how we will fulfill the Rooted Promise.

Core Values we Seek in Rooted teammates:

  • Mission-Driven Excellence

    • Passionate commitment to Rooted's mission of financial freedom through education

    • Consistently high standards of execution and achievement

    • Data-driven focus on measurable student outcomes

  • Growth Mindset

    • Radical transparency in naming challenges and seeking solutions

    • Open to feedback and willing to acknowledge when wrong

    • Continuous learner who stays current with best practices

  • Cultural Leadership

    • Deep commitment to equity and inclusion

    • Builds authentic relationships across differences

    • Creates culturally responsive learning environments

    • Uses trauma-informed and restorative practices

  • Entrepreneurial Drive

    • Thrives in fast-paced, ambiguous environments

    • Takes initiative and ownership of outcomes

    • Adaptable to change while maintaining focus on priorities

  • Student-Centered Innovation

    • Expertise in project-based and digital learning

    • Strong classroom management and relationship-building

    • Balances academic rigor with social-emotional support

Your 2025 - 2026 Priorities:

  • The work of the Founding Executive Director can be thought of in four buckets: 

    1. Manage the Rooted School Columbia Pre-Opening Requirements through Completion 

      1. Lead the planning and execution of Rooted School Columbia’s pre-opening phase, ensuring all milestones and deliverables are met on time. 

      2. Secure a facility that aligns with the school’s operational and instructional needs.

      3. Drive student recruitment efforts to meet target enrollment numbers by engaging with the community and executing an effective student recruitment and enrollment strategy. 

      4. Navigate state and local regulatory requirements, including charter authorization processes. 

      5. Deliver on Rooted School Columbia’s partnership with Rooted School Foundation by fulfilling a services agreement and utilizing the technical assistance RSF’s leadership team provided.

      6. Identify and recommend additional staffing needs to support school operations and programmatic growth.

      7. Collaborate with external partners to launch RSC successfully, while continuously innovating and enhancing programs to meet student and community needs.

    1. Bring Strategic Initiatives from Idea to Execution 

      1. Collaborate with the CEO of Rooted School Foundation (RSF) to define and align Rooted School Columbia’s vision and strategic milestones with RSF’s overarching strategic plan. This includes setting quarterly, annual, and 5-year goals.

      2. Lead communication efforts to share the vision of Rooted School Columbia with key stakeholders, including school teams, Boards, and community partners, ensuring alignment and buy-in.

      3. Coordinate across internal teams, contractors, and RSF leadership to ensure Rooted School Columbia meets strategic plan milestones and remains on track for success.

      4. Develop and implement cohesive data and organizational systems to track performance metrics, support individual and school-wide growth, and drive strategic decision-making.

      5. Use actionable data insights to advance milestones, enhance operational efficiency, and continuously improve programs.

    1. Champion Rooted School’s Academic Model

      1. Lead the design and implementation of curriculum and instructional frameworks that align with Rooted School’s mission of preparing students for both college and career success. Ensure alignment with South Carolina graduation requirements and incorporate best practices for high-quality instruction.

      2. Partner with RSF to evaluate and implement Industry Recognized Credentials (IRCs) that provide students with meaningful career pathways and align with local workforce needs.

      3. Develop and oversee the school’s calendar, daily schedules, and assessment plans to ensure compliance with local and state regulations while advancing Rooted School’s mission and vision.

      4. Foster collaboration and knowledge-sharing with other Rooted School campuses to continuously improve instructional practices and student outcomes.

    1. Fund Development and Support

      1. Collaborate with RSF and fund development contractors to prepare compelling funding proposals and reports that highlight Rooted School Columbia’s impact and future vision.

      2. Provide accurate and timely data to support fundraising efforts, ensuring all reports and proposals are grounded in measurable outcomes and aligned with strategic priorities.

      3. Proactively identify funding opportunities, build relationships with potential donors and partners, and advocate for resources that address both current and future needs of the school.

      4. Stay informed about emerging opportunities and trends in education and philanthropy to position Rooted School Columbia for long-term sustainability and growth.

Compensation:

$120,000 - $140,000 during the Planning Year (July 2025 - June 2026) as a 1099 full-time contractor.

To Apply:

If you’re as excited about this role as we are, please email the following to our Application Review Committee at opportunities.rsf@rootedschool.org:

  1. Resume that tells the story of your impact (e.g. the more specific you are using numbers the better).

  2. Cover letter that includes answers to the prompts below:

    • Explain what prompted you to apply for this role at Rooted School and what interests you most about the opportunity to join our team.

    • Tell us about a time you had a measurable (i.e. quantitative) impact on a job or an organization.

    • Share your biggest area for growth (i.e. if you improved in this area, it would have a significant impact on your next professional chapter).

  3. At least three references who fit the profile below:

    • Someone who’s coached/managed you for at least one year.

    • Someone who you’ve coached/managed for at least one year.

    • Someone who you consider a peer, or lateral to you on a team you’ve been on for at least one year.

About the Rooted School Network
Rooted School is recognized as one of the most innovative high school models in the United States. Our vision is to close America’s inequality gap by equipping high school graduates with both a college acceptance letter in one hand and a job offer in the other. We believe that with the right training, elevated expectations, and equitable access to opportunities, the next generation of talented teenagers can help meet the demands of an evolving workforce.

Rooted School currently serves students and families in New Orleans, Indianapolis, and Vancouver, Washington. Our graduates attend prestigious colleges such as Tulane, Villanova, and Case Western Reserve University, and have launched careers at leading companies, including Entergy, Ochsner Health, and Lucid.

The Rooted School Foundation also leads The $50 Study, a groundbreaking direct cash transfer program in partnership with the Center for Guaranteed Income Research and the University of Tennessee, Knoxville. This first-of-its-kind study provides students with $50 in unconditional weekly payments and has demonstrated significant benefits, including greater academic growth, improved attendance, and reduced hardship for participants compared to their peers.

For more information, visit our website or follow us on LinkedIn.

About the Rooted School Columbia
Rooted School Columbia is launching a first-of-its-kind school in Columbia, South Carolina that combines hands-on clean energy enterprise with college prep education. We're looking for a visionary team who can help bring this unique model to life

The school will teach students to manage an electric bus fleet that generates revenue through vehicle-to-grid services while providing technical certifications in renewable energy. Students graduate with real-world business experience plus skills aligned with South Carolina's growing clean energy sector.