Work at YES

YES Prep Leading Excellence Fellowship for Aspiring School Leaders

The Leading Excellence Fellowship is an intensive one-year training and professional development program.  During this time, fellows have the opportunity to visit eight high-performing YES Prep campuses to learn the culture and academic program that makes the YES Prep system one of the best in America.  In addition, fellows are able to identify their strengths and growth areas, tailor a professional development and work experience to best facilitate their personal growth, and complete specific action projects at various YES Prep schools as a means to “give back” to the host schools.    

At the end of the one-year fellowship, the goal is that Leading Excellence Fellows are prepared to take on a school-level leadership position in the following year, and that they have developed the foundation necessary to run a YES Prep school in the future.

LEARN ABOUT LEADING EXCELLENCE

The Leading Excellence Fellowship is an intensive one-year training and professional development program and a pathway to school leadership at YES Prep Public Schools, a nationally-recognized charter school network and a driver of education reform throughout Houston. During this one-year program, 2-3 Fellows will:

• Work at one or several of our eight campuses to learn about the culture and academic program that makes the YES Prep system one of the best in America
• Complete specific and tailored mission-critical projects that will leverage existing interests and skills and have a tangible and immediate impact on YES Prep students
• Design an individualized   professional development plan designed to facilitate growth and provide the tools necessary to take on school leadership roles within YES Prep
• Be a part of one of the most innovative education reform communities in the country and help push Houston schools past the tipping point and toward the goal of providing all low-income students with a high quality education

FELLOWSHIP DETAILS

The Leading Excellence Fellowship experience is unique in that it is not only designed to serve the needs of a particular YES Prep campus, but also highly tailored to the individual’s skills and growth areas. It also reflects our understanding that leaders in our schools must truly understand our culture to effectively lead teachers and students. To achieve these goals, Fellowships generally follow one of two pathways:

School-Based Fellowship

The school-based Fellowship places the Fellow in a full-time leadership position, such as Principal or Dean, at a YES Prep campus. This placement is determined by the candidate’s previous work experience and personal strengths. In this position, the Fellow would have direct contact with students and families and participate in strategic management of a high-performing secondary school.

Multiple Site Fellowship

As part of the multiple site Fellowship, Fellows develop an action plan and complete projects that build their skill sets and assist multiple schools implement new and improved program elements. Projects range from developing financial models for opening new schools to building structures for succession planning.

All Fellows will have the opportunity to:

• Participate in monthly seminars on topics related to education
• Sit on committees related to their areas of interest
• Build relationships with senior system-level staff
• Face increasingly complex challenges on a daily basis
• Explore school leadership positions with YES Prep

MEET OUR FELLOWS

YES Prep is looking for candidates with diverse backgrounds who are committed to ensuring that all of our students receive an educational experience that results in college matriculation. Candidates will be given the opportunity to directly impact thousands of students through their work on campus and their work on committees and projects related to issues such as performance pay, budgeting, and instructional design.

Due to the individualized nature and demanding responsibilities of the Fellowship, all candidates should:

Hold a B.A. or B.S. from a four-year college or university.  A master’s degree is preferred. 

Be industrious, passionate, and willing to do whatever it takes to support students, parents, and the school community on the journey to college readiness and completion.

Have at least four to five years of successful teaching experience, experience leading teams of adults, and the ability to lead others through adversity while maintaining a positive, supportive environment. 

Quickly embrace the organizational culture and embody a level of commitment demonstrated by other YES Prep leaders over our twelve-year history.    

Andrew Goldin

Andrew spent semester one of his Fellowship supporting school leaders at YES Prep Revolution Campus, which houses three YES Prep schools. In semester two, Andrew worked as an Assistant Principal for YES Prep Gulfton. Following his Leading Excellence year, he stayed at Gulfton and became a principal.  After graduating from Harvard with his MBA, Andrew had myriad options but chose YES Prep because, “Participating in the Leading Excellence Fellowship provides opportunities to learn and tailor my skills to meet the expectations of YES Prep.  The accessibility of the leaders within the program is unparalleled to the traditional school leadership experience.  Everyone is welcoming to my requests to shadow and learn more about their area of responsibility.”

• BA, University of Pennsylvania
• Teach For America Corps Member, New York City, 2004
• MBA, Harvard Business School, 2009

Brenda Rangel

While at YES Prep Public Schools, Brenda will be assisting school leaders to achieve their campus strategic goals.  She will also be involved with projects in the areas of increase parental involvement, student achievement and persistence, and service learning.

• Taught for 7 years in Houston ISD
• Experience as a Principal, Dean of Students, and Dean of Instruction
• Masters in Curriculum and Instruction and in Educational Administration