ORGANIZATION: Bold Charter School in Partnership with The North Star Fellowship POSITION: School Launch Fellow: Founding School Leader LOCATION: Bridgeport, CT REPORTS TO: Founder & Executive Director, Bold Charter School Background and Opportunity Bold Charter School is a high-performing public charter school founded in 2019 in New York City, dedicated to building world-class public schools that challenge and empower all students to excel in college and beyond. The school upholds rigorous standards for academic and personal growth, fostering an environment where students are encouraged to achieve at the highest levels. Currently, Bold Charter School serves 550 students in grades K-7. In the 2025 school year, Bold welcomed just over 90 new kindergarten students and is on track to do the same next year as it continues to grow, adding one grade level each year until it serves grades K-12. In the 2024-25 school year, 85% of Bold students scored proficient or above in English Language Arts, 91% in math, and 69% in science, well above the New York State averages of 53%, 55%, and 45%, respectively. Bold Charter School benchmarks itself against indicators proven to prepare students for success in college and beyond, setting rigorous standards for academic and personal development to ensure that students are ready to compete and succeed at the highest level. Bold is committed to expanding excellence and powering the potential of students in communities across the U.S. that do not have widespread access to top-tier, college-preparatory schools. Bold Charter School is expanding to Connecticut to replicate its model and is seeking a Founding School Leader who will bring Bold’s mission, culture, and commitment to academic excellence to the Bridgeport, CT community. The Founding School Leader deeply believes in Bold’s vision of excellence, is committed to its design principles, and is well-positioned to engage families and community members in the Bridgeport area. To learn more about Bold Charter School, visit their website here. Bold’s Founding School Leader will participate in the North Star Fellowship, a unique opportunity for exceptional school leaders to develop and launch new public charter schools for Connecticut families. The North Star Fellowship is an initiative from The Mind Trust, an Indianapolis-based education nonprofit, in partnership with Connecticut partners. Its programming and structure are based on The Mind Trust’s nationally recognized fellowship and investment tracks, which have supported the launch of more than 50 public charter and innovation network schools in Indianapolis, Indiana. Fellows benefit from a wide range of national charter school development experts to ensure their school is set up for operational and academic success. North Star Fellows will have the opportunity to sharpen their leadership skills, perfect their school model, and collaborate with other leaders to launch a high-quality public charter school in Connecticut. You can learn more about Bold Charter School’s partnership with the Fellowship here. Key Responsibilities for Bold’s Founding School Leader in CT include: Developing a deep understanding of Bold’s goals, vision, values, and model; Participating in ongoing leadership development, engaging in key school, community, and leadership activities; Developing a multi-year strategy that supports intentional, mission-aligned school development, sets a strategic vision, and translates data into actionable insights that drive outcomes; Creating a community engagement strategy that supports a successful charter application and lays the foundation for strong first-year enrollment and staffing; Modeling Bold’s core values and building a positive student, family, and team culture; Demonstrating a mission-first mindset to ensure all decisions and actions are rooted in what is best for student achievement. Qualifications The ideal Founding School Leader for Bold will bring the following experiences, skills, and mindsets/values: Required Experience, Knowledge, and Skills Demonstrated track record managing organizations and teams to meet/exceed ambitious goals, including leading complex projects and executing strategic plans; Ability to articulate a compelling school model and vision in alignment with Bold’s mission of building world-class K-12 public schools; Superior relationship management skills; the ability to engage families and community members authentically; Proven ability to create, improve, and scale organizational systems and infrastructure; Bachelor’s degree with an outstanding record of achievement and leadership; Political savvy and the ability to navigate a complex educational environment. Preferred Experience, Knowledge, and Skills Experience leading a high-performing charter or district elementary, middle, or high school that serves a similar student and family population to Bold; Financial acumen and budget management skills; Strong track record of results as an academic leader; Experience as the founding leader in an organization; Connection to/familiarity with the Connecticut educational landscape; Advanced degree in Education or a related field. Mindsets/Values Personal alignment to Bold’s mission, vision, and academic model; Ambitious, laser-like focus on academic achievement for all students; An unwavering belief that all students and communities deserve the opportunity to thrive; An entrepreneurial drive that uses resilience, fortitude, and visionary solutions to overcome challenges; self-starter. Compensation and Application The starting salary for this position is $150,000 annually with an additional comprehensive benefits package. Bold Charter School is an equal opportunity employer and actively encourages applications from people of all backgrounds. The School Launch Fellow is an employee of Bold Charter School and a participant in The North Star Fellowship. Start Date for the Position: The Founding School Leader’s ideal start date is between January – March 2026. Bold Charter School is open to candidates who may not be able to start until the end of the 2025-2026 academic year. Initial Application Deadline: December 1, 2025.
Posted On: Wednesday, October 15, 2025
Compensation: $150,000