BES seeks a Fellow for our Fellowship program starting in August 2026 to serve as a founding school leader in the states of Arizona, Georgia, Ohio, and Tennessee. 

This BES Fellowship offers highly motivated leaders committed to transforming education the rigorous, multi-year training needed to design, found, and lead a high-achieving school that meets the unique needs of its community.

Who We Are

Strong schools are built by strong leaders, which is why BES identifies and prepares exceptional individuals to transform education in their communities. From school founders and executive directors to operations leaders, deans, and curriculum directors, we train leaders to build schools, to ensure their schools excel, and to sustain their results over time.

The BES Fellowship and selection process fosters an equitable, inclusive, and empowering experience for Fellows. For over two decades, BES Fellows have founded over 220 schools and are currently serving more than 73,000 students, with many BES-trained leaders consistently driving student achievement beyond district and state averages and helping to close the opportunity gap.

Click here to learn more about the Fellowship opportunity for each location. 

Qualifications

• Bachelor’s degree required; Master’s or Professional degree preferred
• Minimum 8 years of professional experience, with instructional or instructional leadership experience required
• At least 2 years managing and supervising adults in a PreK-12 setting required, 2 years of school leadership experience preferred
• Commitment to serving as a school leader in the proposed community for at least 10 years required
• Ability to establish and activate local connections to support school enrollment
• Strong preference for candidates with at least 2-3 years of experience living or working in the proposed school region, especially those with strong ties to the community
• Clear, compelling rationale for the proposed school location

To Apply

Applications are reviewed on a rolling basis until the position is filled. As such, applicants are encouraged to apply as soon as possible in order to secure limited spots in our available regions. Our priority deadline for this region is November 17, 2025. Before applying, please review our Applicant Toolkit, which includes helpful guidance and resources to support you through the application process. If you are interested in founding a school in a region other than Ohio please note that additional regions will be announced as they become available. In the meantime, please consider these next steps:

1. To stay updated on new regions, please subscribe to receive emails from BES here.
2. We encourage you to complete this interest form to tell us about the region where you are interested in founding a new school.
3. Consider connecting with our team if you have questions about the Fellowship or selection process before you apply. Please visit our job board to submit your application.