Founding Principal

Full-Time • $100,000 • Start Date: April 2026

The Opportunity

How often does someone get to build a school? Not improve one. Not turn one around. Actually build one—from the first hire, to the first day, to the culture that lasts for decades.

ARCHS is looking for a founding Principal who desires to build sustainable, human-centered systems grounded in our core values.

We open Fall 2026 with 80 students and a small, tight team. By year three, we'll serve 160 students. But the systems, the culture, the traditions—those will be shaped by the educators who start with us.

Why This School?

Milwaukee's South Side suffers from chronic absenteeism post-pandemic. Over 62% of high school students miss enough school to be considered chronically absent. These aren't students who don't care—they're students whose schools haven't given them a good enough reason to show up.

ARCHS is our answer. We use Gold Standard project-based learning—the Buck Institute model—where students investigate authentic problems and present to real audiences. A student might research housing policy, interview community organizers, analyze data, and present recommendations to local officials. That's not a simulation. That's relevant education.

Our values—Interdependence, Dignity, Exploration, Advocacy, Self-awareness (IDEAS)—are how we make decisions, handle conflict, and build relationships. We practice restorative justice. We start with belonging, because students who feel seen show up.

The Role

The Principal is the instructional and cultural heart of ARCHS. You report to the Executive Director and lead everything that happens inside the building.

•        Instructional leadership — Coach Core Advisors in Gold Standard PBL design, facilitation, and assessment. Model what excellent teaching looks like. Lead professional development.

•        Staff development — Hire the founding team (4 Core Advisors in Year 1). Provide feedback, conduct evaluations, and build a culture of continuous improvement.

•        Culture building — Implement restorative justice practices. Facilitate community circles. Model the IDEAS values in every interaction.

•        Daily operations — Manage scheduling, student services, facilities coordination, and the thousand small decisions that make a school run.

•        Family and community relationships — Be present. Know every student and family. Build trust with our predominantly Latino community through authentic engagement.

•        Data and accountability — Monitor student progress, track school goals (including 3+ point ACT growth), and ensure compliance with charter requirements.

What We're Looking For

Required:

•        Wisconsin Principal license (DPI 51) or equivalent credential with reciprocity eligibility

•        5+ years successful classroom teaching experience

•        3+ years school leadership experience (AP, department chair, instructional coach, or equivalent)

•        Demonstrated experience leading or implementing project-based learning

•        Bilingual Spanish-English proficiency

Preferred:

•        Experience founding, launching, or leading a startup school

•        PBL Works National Faculty or equivalent PBL certification

•        Training or certification in restorative practices

•        Master's degree in Educational Leadership or related field

•        Roots in or connection to Milwaukee's South Side community

Compensation & Benefits

•        $100,000 annual salary

•        Wisconsin Retirement System (WRS) — employer contribution to your pension

•        Comprehensive insurance — health (HDHP with HRA/HSA), dental, vision, life, disability

•        Generous time off — 4 weeks vacation + sick leave + 10 holidays

•        Professional development — dedicated budget including PBL Works training and leadership development

The Honest Truth

This job is harder than leading an established school. There's no infrastructure to inherit—you're building it with your colleagues. There's no "we've always done it this way"—you're deciding how. The early years of a startup are intense, uncertain, and demanding.

But if you've ever been frustrated by systems you didn't create, decisions made without teacher input, or a culture you couldn't change—this is your chance to experience the opposite. You'll have real autonomy to build something that reflects your beliefs about what school should be. The founding team that starts with us will shape ARCHS for decades.

How to Apply

Submit your resume, cover letter, and three professional references through WECAN. To access the job posting, click here or search vacancy ID 252241.

In your cover letter, please tell us:

•        What's your experience leading or implementing project-based learning?

•        How do you think about building school culture—especially in a startup?

•        Why do you want to build a school rather than lead an established one?

Our selection process includes a phone screen, leadership scenario exercise, site visit, and panel interviews with staff, families, and board members. We're committed to a thorough process that evaluates candidates on demonstrated leadership and alignment with our mission.

ARCHS is committed to building a diverse leadership team that reflects the community we serve. We strongly encourage applications from candidates who identify as Latino, bilingual, and/or from Milwaukee's South Side. We are an equal opportunity employer.

Questions? Contact Bounrod Xiong at bounrod@archsmke.org or (414) 369 – 2445.