Founding Head of School / Principal

Founding Head of School / PrincipalFayette Classical AcademyFull-TimeFayetteville, Georgia

About the School:The Founding Head of School will lead the successful launch of a new public charter school opening in August 2027 in partnership with Liberty Classical Schools. During the planning year and Year 1, the Founding Head of School will directly report to the Chief of Schools, and will work closely with Liberty's leadership team to build every aspect of the school—from hiring exceptional faculty and staff to developing systems, establishing school culture, engaging families, and preparing for a successful opening.

This is a unique opportunity for an entrepreneurial educational leader to build a school from the ground up while benefiting from the support, expertise, and proven systems of Liberty Classical Schools.

Liberty Classical Schools develops students in mind and character through a content-rich American classical curriculum that emphasizes virtuous living, traditional learning, and civic responsibility. As a growing network of public classical K-12 charter schools, Liberty provides comprehensive support in academics, operations, finance, compliance, human resources, advancement, communications, and school leadership. The Head of School will report directly to the Chief of Schools of Liberty Classical Schools.

Position Summary:The Founding Head of School serves as the instructional and operational leader of the school and is responsible for establishing a culture of academic excellence grounded in the principles of American classical education. During the planning year prior to opening, the Head of School will work alongside Liberty Classical Schools to recruit and hire faculty and staff, establish school systems, engage prospective families, oversee operational readiness, and ensure the school is prepared for a successful launch.

Once the school opens, the Head of School is responsible for the academic performance, culture, discipline, operations, and daily management of the campus while ensuring compliance with all charter, state, and federal requirements.

Essential Responsibilities:

Founding School Leadership

During the pre-opening year, the Head of School will:

• Serve as the founding leader and primary ambassador for the new school.
• Partner with Liberty Classical Schools in all aspects of school planning and launch.
• Recruit, hire, onboard, and develop exceptional faculty and staff.
• Build a positive, mission-driven school culture rooted in virtue, scholarship, and service.
• Develop systems, schedules, operational procedures, and school routines.
• Support student recruitment, enrollment, and family engagement efforts.
• Collaborate with Liberty staff to ensure readiness in finance, operations, compliance, technology, facilities, and student services.
• Participate in leadership development, professional learning, and planning activities within the Liberty network.
• Represent the school with community organizations, civic leaders, charter authorizers, and prospective families.

Instructional Leadership

The Head of School will:

• Lead students and faculty in pursuit of the school's Mission, Vision, Core Virtues, and organizational values.
• Serve as the school's Head of School teacher by selecting, developing, coaching, and inspiring faculty.
• Establish a culture of academic excellence through consistent instructional practices grounded in American classical education.
• Ensure high-quality implementation of reading, writing, spelling, mathematics, history, science, literature, fine arts, Latin, and other core academic subjects.
• Build consistency in explicit phonics instruction, writing instruction, mathematics, and executive functioning systems.
• Observe classrooms regularly, provide meaningful coaching, and support continuous teacher growth.
• Use student achievement data to improve instruction while preserving the integrity of classical teaching methods.
• Maintain high expectations for student conduct, decorum, virtue, and scholarship.

School Culture

The Head of School will:

• Foster a peaceful, orderly learning environment characterized by respect, discipline, and joyful scholarship.
• Establish consistent expectations for student behavior and faculty professionalism.
• Promote the pursuit of courage, courtesy, honesty, perseverance, self-government, humility, and service.
• Build strong partnerships with families as essential collaborators in student formation.
• Create a school culture that calls students toward intellectual curiosity, moral character, and the pursuit of goodness, truth, and beauty.

Organizational Leadership

The Head of School will:

• Lead and supervise all campus personnel.
• Establish clear expectations, accountability systems, and professional growth opportunities.
• Collaborate effectively with Liberty Classical Schools' central office and leadership team.
• Manage school operations in accordance with board policies, charter requirements, state and federal law, and sound organizational practices.
• Support strategic planning and continuous school improvement.
• Oversee campus budgeting, purchasing, scheduling, staffing, and resource allocation in partnership with Liberty.
• Ensure compliance with charter requirements, accountability systems, and applicable regulations.
• Oversee special education services and ensure compliance with IDEA, Section 504, and other federal and state requirements.

Community Leadership

The Head of School will:

• Serve as the school's primary storyteller and advocate for American classical education.
• Build productive relationships with families, community partners, civic leaders, donors, authorizers, and other stakeholders.
• Promote the school's mission through public speaking, written communication, and community engagement.
• Represent the school with professionalism, integrity, and enthusiasm.

Professional QualificationsSuccessful candidates will possess:

• Demonstrated success as a school leader with responsibility for instructional excellence and organizational leadership.
• Deep knowledge of classical education and a commitment to the principles of American classical education.
• Experience recruiting, hiring, supervising, developing, and evaluating faculty and staff.
• Strong instructional coaching skills with demonstrated success improving teacher effectiveness.
• Experience building positive school culture and strong academic outcomes.
• Knowledge of charter school governance, accountability systems, and public education law.
• Experience with special education compliance and student support systems.
• Exceptional organizational, communication, and leadership skills.
• Ability to thrive in a fast-paced, entrepreneurial environment while building systems from the ground up.
• A Master's Degree required; advanced study in educational leadership, liberal arts, or a related field preferred.

Personal CharacteristicsThe Founding Head of School will:

• Demonstrate unwavering commitment to the mission of classical public education.
• Lead with integrity, humility, courage, and moral character.
• Inspire confidence through thoughtful, decisive, and transparent leadership.
• Build trust through excellent communication and authentic relationships.
• Possess an entrepreneurial spirit with the ability to build systems where none yet exist.
• Be intellectually curious and committed to lifelong learning.
• Foster collaboration while maintaining high expectations.
• Remain calm, steady, and solutions-oriented during periods of change.
• Exhibit exceptional energy, initiative, and personal productivity.
• Be deeply invested in becoming an integral part of the school community.

Strong candidates will support the school’s Mission: to develop students in mind and character through a classical, content-rich curriculum that emphasizes the principles of virtuous living, traditional learning, and civic responsibility. They will have enthusiasm for the Vision: to be a nationally regarded K-12 classical school and serve as a local and national incubator for growth and promotion of classical education. And they will embody the school’s organizational values. We value

• the tenets of classical, liberal arts education;
• community and partnership in the common pursuit of forming intelligent, virtuous citizens;
• excellence in teaching and learning;
• the virtues we aim to teach our students: courage, courtesy, honesty, humility, perseverance, self-government, and service.

Why Fayette Classical Academy?

Full-time, benefits-eligible employees are offered the following:

• Competitive medical, dental, and vision insurance options
• Long-term and Short-term disability
• Life insurance
• Participation in the Teachers Retirement System of GA for eligible positions
• Professional Development Opportunities
• Priority enrollment for children in the school

About Fayette Classical Academy:

Fayette Classical Academy is a public charter school set to open Fall 2027. Fayette Classical Academy (FCA) is open to residents of Fayette, Coweta, Clayton, Henry, Fulton, and Spalding counties and the City of Atlanta. Located in Fayetteville, the school will enroll grades K-6 for the 2027-2028 school year and will continue to scale to a K-12 configuration as students advance. FCA is a Liberty Classical Schools campus. It is modeled after Atlanta Classical Academy, Liberty’s flagship campus. To learn more about Fayette Classical Academy and Liberty Classical Schools, please visit our website.

Fayette Classical Academy is an equal-opportunity employer. Interested candidates should apply via the school’s career site. Candidates must attach a letter of introduction, a C.V. or resume, and three character references to their application. For faculty positions, please attach a 300-500 word “statement of educational philosophy.”

Fayette Classical Academy | Fayetteville, GA | fayetteclassical.org