2027-2028 Resident Principal

Reports to: Managing Director of Leadership Development · Position type: 12-month · Start date: July 1, 2027 (Induction in June 2027)

About the role

YES Prep creates pathways to extraordinary opportunity for 22,000+ students across 30 campuses in Houston, Texas. 91% of students qualify for free/reduced-price lunch, 96% are Hispanic or African-American, 99% are accepted to four-year universities, and 85% are first-generation college students. The organization is ranked in the Top 100 High Schools nationally by U.S. News & World Report.

The Principal Residency prepares leaders to become Principals at YES Prep Elementary or Secondary campuses. Since 2018, the program has built a strong pipeline: 23 of 29 schools are now led by Principals who completed this residency. The one-to-two-year program develops leaders through a cohort model focused on connecting data, relationships, ideas, and people; managing and implementing vision through a team; aligning decisions to vision, goals, values, and focus areas; studying literature on equity, leadership, and instruction; learning by doing; and creating a portfolio of resources for future Principal roles.

The residency consists of three interdependent parts: Summer Induction builds cohort relationships and foundational skills; a campus assignment provides daily 1:1 coaching from an experienced Lead Principal with responsibility for aspects of school operations; and individualized development includes coaching from the Lead Principal and Managing Director of Leadership Development, regular cohort professional development (Talent, Operations, Finance, Programs), and quarterly campus site visits.

Responsibilities

• Participate in all required professional learning activities including Summer Induction, coaching sessions, and experiential learning opportunities
• Complete activities and requirements aligned to learning within current leadership roles (reflections, coaching preparation documents, assignments, etc.)
• Engage actively in coaching conversations, observations in practice, reflection documents, and other coaching strategies
• Execute assigned experiential learning activities, responsibilities, and tasks; be accountable for tasks, responsibilities, and time on assigned campus
• Represent YES Prep core values to the best of ability
• Demonstrate professional, ethical, and responsible behavior
• Participate in workshops, seminars, and conferences to enhance knowledge and skills
• Demonstrate knowledge and support of YES Prep mission, values, standards, policies, procedures, confidentiality standards, Employee Handbook expectations, and code of ethical behavior
• Ensure compliance with all state and federal laws, local board policies, administrative guidelines, and the Texas Educators' Code of Ethics
• Communicate effectively and appropriately with others

Requirements

Must haves

• Bachelor's Degree from an accredited four-year institution
• 3+ years of experience as a teacher of record
• 2+ years of campus leadership experience as a Principal, Director, or Assistant Principal at a K-12 school
• Track record of consistent high-performance in leadership role(s)
• Demonstrated people management experience – directly managing an individual or full team(s)
• Willingness to work at any assigned YES Prep campus in the greater Houston area
• Strong desire to be a YES Prep Principal in one to two years

Must-have beliefs

• Belief in and commitment to the mission and core values of YES Prep Public Schools
• Desire to disrupt systemic status quos in education
• Willingness to go above and beyond to disrupt said status quos
• Passion to develop resiliency through a relentless pursuit of jaw-dropping results
• Conviction that high expectations + high accountability = high performance and high growth

Nice to haves

• Bilingual Spanish candidates highly preferred
• Graduate degree in education or related field preferred
• Principal Certification

Benefits

• Health and Supplemental Insurance: three medical options including a plan with $50 from YES Prep toward a Health Savings Account, plus Dental, Vision, Disability, Life, and other supplemental benefits (20+ hours/week for full spectrum, 10 hours/week minimum for medical)
• Retirement Plans: participation in Teacher Retirement System of Texas and optional 457b Retirement Plan
• Paid Time Off: 15 days PTO per year for employees working 20+ hours/week on full duty schedule, plus system closures during Academic Calendar (pro-rated based on start date)
• Paid Leave Programming: 100% paid leave for medical needs including maternity/paternity, based on eligibility and tenure
• Professional Development: high-quality programs, effective coaching, and ongoing professional development
• Award-winning culture: Houston's Best Place To Work (2018, 2019, 2021, 2025); 2012 Broad Prize for Excellence in Urban Education; 2016 finalist

Pay

$100,000 per year (exempt, salaried position)

Schedule

12-month position starting July 1, 2027 with required Induction in June 2027. Principal Residency is a one-to-two-year commitment; post-program expectation is to stay on as a YES Prep Principal for at least 3 years.