Founding Superintendent

Founding Superintendent, Classical Education

Position Summary

Performance Academies is seeking a visionary and highly capable Founding Superintendent to lead the development and launch of its Classical Education program, with the goal of opening one or more Ohio schools in August 2027.

The Founding Superintendent will shape the academic model, develop school leaders, build strong community partnerships, and oversee the instructional and operational performance of assigned schools. This leader will ensure that classical education principles and Performance Academies’ mission are reflected in curriculum, school culture, leadership practices, and student outcomes.

The ideal candidate is a wise, energetic, and grounded educational leader with a strong understanding of classical education and a demonstrated commitment to cultivating intellectual, moral, and civic virtue. This role oversees school Principals, or Headmasters, and works closely with Central Support so building leaders can focus on the organization’s primary priorities: excellent academics and full enrollment.

Key Responsibilities

Founding Leadership & Program Development

• Lead the planning and launch of the Performance Academies Classical Education program and its first Ohio school or schools.
• Develop and communicate a compelling vision for classical education aligned with the organization’s mission and commitment to student flourishing.
• Establish the academic, cultural, leadership, and operational foundations necessary for successful school openings.
• Develop multiyear plans for school growth, leadership capacity, enrollment, and organizational sustainability.
• Serve as a visible ambassador for the program with families, community leaders, prospective employees, and other stakeholders.

Instructional Leadership & Student Achievement

• Provide executive leadership, coaching, and accountability to Principals and school administrators.
• Establish and reinforce high expectations for student achievement, instructional quality, school culture, and professional performance.
• Use school-level data to identify priorities, monitor progress, and drive continuous improvement.
• Conduct Principal evaluations, building walkthroughs, and teacher evaluations as needed.
• Lead or oversee school improvement structures, including building, teacher-based, district, and leadership teams.
• Guide curriculum, assessment, instructional-resource, and program decisions to ensure alignment with classical education principles and state standards.
• Hold school leaders accountable for annual academic goals, state performance measures, and Quality Community School eligibility.

Leadership Development & Talent Management

• Recruit, select, develop, and retain Principals, teachers, and staff who reflect the mission and values of Performance Academies and classical education.
• Build strong leadership pipelines and maintain fully staffed schools.
• Coach Principals in staff supervision, evaluation, professional development, and performance management.
• Develop and oversee professional learning that strengthens instructional effectiveness and understanding of classical education.
• Model a culture of integrity, intellectual seriousness, service, accountability, and continuous growth.

School Culture & Community Engagement

• Ensure that school culture supports academic excellence, character formation, disciplined habits, and meaningful student relationships.
• Build strong partnerships with parents, community leaders, neighborhood organizations, and prospective families.
• Support Principals in addressing significant student behavior, attendance, or family concerns.
• Lead and participate in recruitment events, community meetings, information sessions, and other enrollment initiatives.
• Collaborate with Marketing to communicate school successes, events, milestones, and community impact.

Operations, Enrollment & Compliance

• Serve as the primary liaison between assigned schools and Central Support.
• Serve as Superintendent of record and provide regular, meaningful reports to senior leadership regarding academic, operational, enrollment, staffing, and financial performance.
• Develop and execute annual enrollment, retention, and student-progress plans with school and network leadership.
• Monitor enrollment throughout the year and develop multiple community-based pipelines for prospective students.
• Support fiscal responsibility, accurate recordkeeping, reimbursement procedures, and effective use of school resources.
• Coordinate with Compliance, Finance, Facilities, Human Resources, Marketing, and other Central Support functions.
• Ensure compliance with Ohio Department of Education and Workforce requirements, including EMIS and FTE reporting, as well as Board policies, authorizer expectations, and applicable laws and regulations.
• Support emergency planning, crisis preparedness, and school safety initiatives.
• Participate in weekly management meetings and other leadership, Board, authorizer, or community meetings as required.

Qualifications

• Master’s degree required.
• At least five years of successful teaching experience.
• At least three years of supervisory, school leadership, or management experience.
• Strong knowledge of curriculum, instruction, assessment, and school improvement.
• Knowledge of or substantial experience with classical education principles and practices.
• Experience analyzing academic, operational, and enrollment data.
• Ohio Principal License preferred.
• Willingness and ability to pursue Ohio Superintendent licensure.
• Successful completion of required state and federal background checks.
• Proficiency with Google Workspace, Microsoft Office, email, and related educational technology.

What We’re Looking For

• A deep commitment to classical education and the development of intellectual, moral, and civic virtue.
• Demonstrated ability to lead, coach, motivate, and hold school leaders accountable.
• Strong executive judgment and the ability to translate vision into measurable results.
• Experience launching, expanding, or significantly improving schools or educational programs.
• Ability to build relationships and credibility with families, staff, boards, authorizers, community leaders, and public agencies.
• Strong understanding of Ohio academic standards, state assessments, charter-school accountability, and school compliance.
• Excellent written, verbal, and public communication skills.
• A dependable and trustworthy leader with a strong sense of integrity.
• Ability to manage competing priorities, respond effectively under pressure, and consistently meet deadlines.
• Commitment to serving students and families from diverse cultural, socioeconomic, and linguistic backgrounds.

Work Environment & Physical Requirements

• This is an in-person leadership role requiring regular presence at school campuses and community locations.
• Frequent travel among assigned schools and to meetings, events, and professional-development activities is required.
• In-person attendance is required for designated professional-development opportunities.
• The role involves frequent interaction with students, staff, families, Board members, authorizers, community leaders, and organizational leadership.
• Ability to move throughout school buildings, stand for extended periods, and occasionally lift up to 25 pounds.

This description summarizes the primary responsibilities of the position and is not intended to include every duty or requirement. Performance Academies may revise responsibilities or assign additional duties based on organizational needs.

We are proud to offer a total compensation package that supports the health, wellness and livelihood of our staff. 

All health benefits begin day one of employment!

• Three comprehensive medical plans to choose from with significant company contribution towards premium
• Dental Insurance
• Vision Insurance
• Company-Paid Basic Life, Short-Term Disability and Long-Term Disability insurance
• Voluntary Life Insurance, Accident, Critical Illness and Hospitalization Coverage available
• STRS participation for all school-based positions
• Multiple scheduled holiday breaks
• PTO & personal days

We offer competitive salaries and annual cost of living adjustments, as well as performance bonus potential (based on enrollment and academic performance).  

This is not necessarily an all-inclusive list of job-related responsibilities, duties, skills, efforts, requirements or working conditions. While this is intended to be an accurate reflection of the current job, management reserves the right to revise the job or to require that other or different tasks be performed as assigned.