Job Description

Founding Head of School | Triangle Region, NC | Starting June 2025

About Astra Academy 

Astra Academy is reimagining secondary education for the modern era. We’re building a revolutionary middle and high school learning environment that balances academic excellence with real-world preparation. Astra is keeping the best parts of traditional private schools while turning down the “college prep” pressure cooker, rejecting social media in favor of real experiences and relationships, and building from the ground up versus retrofitting AI into school to give teachers more leverage than ever before.

Core Beliefs:

• Project-based curriculum emphasizing entrepreneurship, leadership skills, financial & AI literacy
• Mental fitness program to build resilience and reduce anxiety
• Physical fitness program to encourage strength, endurance, and body positivity 
• Technology-enhanced learning with strategic AI integration
• Distraction-free environment fostering genuine social connections

Our Vision:

Students graduate as confident innovators with practical skills in:

• Building and launching real ventures
• Leveraging AI tools effectively
• Complex problem-solving
• Clear communication, interpersonal skills, and storytelling
• Mental and emotional resilience

Astra provides the foundation for both college success and real-world impact. 

The Role 

We are opening in Fall 2026 and are looking for a Founding Head of School. The ideal candidate has launched a new school before (perhaps a charter school). You’ll be responsible for foundational activities, such as: 

1. Creating a warm, vibrant student culture – You’ll make Astra a place where kids want to be, going beyond enforcing rules to create a healthy, positive social environment where each parent trusts that their kid is in good hands.

2. Recruiting unusually good teachers and setting the professional culture – Astra will be a magnet for OUTLIER teachers who are extraordinary at what they do. Mediocre teachers won’t make it here, and part of your role is ensuring the bar remains high.

3. Operationalizing the Astra Vision – This is not a standard school. Your role involves driving the integration of Astra’s focus on entrepreneurial skills, mental fitness, and ambitious real-world projects into a cohesive, transformative educational experience. Yes, you’ll oversee the essentials (math, English, science, history), but what makes you unique is your ability to bring the Astra vision to life across our non-traditional domains. 

In addition to this, you’ll manage the day-to-day operational responsibilities that ensure the school runs smoothly and achieves its ambitious goals. These include:

• Enrollment & Growth : Developing and implementing an admissions strategy to attract founding families.
• Teacher Development : Recruiting top talent, mentoring educators, and creating a culture of professional growth.
• Curriculum Leadership : Collaborating with the founding team to design a curriculum that reflects Astra’s focus on innovation, resilience, and real-world readiness.

Ideal candidate: 

• A track record of success leading a school, especially in its earliest stages.
• A high level of curiosity and openness about using AI as a teaching tool.
• A highly entrepreneurial “get things done” spirit that isn’t bound by job descriptions.
• High interpersonal intelligence and a warm, approachable demeanor that inspires trust.

Not a fit if:

• Your only experience is sustaining schools that already have things figured out.
• You want to focus more on finances and systems than on recruiting great teachers and building a unique student culture.

From Arvind, Astra’s Co-Founder:

I’ve spent the last year building the idea for Astra: testing concepts with students via summer camps and workshops, raising funding, searching for real estate, and working with other school founders to refine our mission.

Before this, I worked for 5 years at International Schools Partnership, managing 8 schools and collaborating closely with their leaders. I’m married to Regina, and we have two daughters—I’m building the school I want my kids to attend.

My role as Co-Founder is to create the structures that ensure operations and finance are streamlined and the admissions and marketing approach is world-class. Our small but mighty team includes passionate people who have been in the classroom with Teach for America, have worked on education initiatives at Google & OpenAI, have funded and operated successful private schools, and have co-founded a highly successful tech startup. We are backed by a strong group of institutional & individual investors. Now we need a world-class leader who can breathe life into our first school!

Compensation & Benefits

We know this is not just a job—it’s a calling. We’re committed to providing the resources and support to make Astra a place where you thrive, just as much as our students and teachers will. For this role, we offer:

• Highly competitive salary : $200K-$250K, depending on experience.
• Relocation assistance : If necessary, we’ll support your move to the Triangle area to ensure a seamless transition.
• Equity in Astra’s success : As the founding Head of School, you’ll have a stake in our mission.
• Comprehensive health, dental and vision coverage

Hiring Process

Our hiring process is designed to ensure we find the right leader to bring Astra to life. It includes:

1. An initial screening conversation to align on vision and expectations.
2. Virtual and in-person interviews with key members of the team.
3. An immersive “Founder’s Day,” where you’ll meet the broader community and share your vision for Astra’s first campus.

We’re excited to meet extraordinary candidates who are ready to take on this bold challenge.

Start Date: June 2025

Location: Raleigh-Durham, NC

Apply:

Send an email to hello@joinastra.org

Include resume & statement of educational philosophy

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