Rocky Mountain Prep - Federal
Location: Metro Denver (Southwest Denver)
Reports to: Executive Director of Schools
Start Date: SY26
Competitive Salary Range: $115,000-$160,000.

About Rocky Mountain Prep

Rocky Mountain Prep is a network of 12 public charter schools in the Denver metro area, serving more than 5,100 students from early childhood through 12th grade. We are grounded in rigorous academics, meaningful relationships, and a deep commitment to equity.

Our PEAK values (Perseverance, Excellence, Adventure, and Kindness) guide everything we do, from classroom instruction to school leadership.

We believe in meeting students where they are, challenging them with high expectations, and ensuring they are seen and celebrated.

The Opportunity: Lead a School from Transformation to Excellence

This is a unique opportunity for a bold, people-centered leader to build on the momentum of transformation and guide RMP-Federal Middle School toward becoming one of the highest-performing schools in Denver.

RMP-Federal is a school with a committed staff, engaged families, and a community of partners deeply invested in its success. The school has experienced both bright spots and challenges– student joy and adult dedication alongside opportunities to strengthen consistency in culture, systems, and instructional quality.

Now, RMP-Federal is poised for a pivotal next chapter

The next principal will not be stepping into a start-from-scratch situation. Instead, you'll inherit a school with an active leadership team, strategic partnerships, and a clear path forward. Your charge will be to refine what’s working, address key areas of growth, and accelerate results with integrity, coherence, and compassion.

Strategic Context

RMP-Federal is part of a strong feeder pattern, co-located with RMP-Ruby Hill Elementary and directly fed by RMP-Southwest Elementary. Students matriculate into RMP-SMART High School, a green-rated school on the Colorado School Performance Framework.

This structure creates an exceptional opportunity for aligned, cradle-to-college academic experiences and a tight-knit, community-based network of schools.

Recent investments at RMP-Federal have focused on:

• Rebuilding staff and student culture

• Increasing instructional consistency and skills

• Strengthening leadership structures

• Ensuring consistent instructional coaching

• Establishing high expectations for students and staff
   

Your role will be to:

• Direct a highly effective leadership team with your APs and office administrators

• Bring clarity and coherence to the school’s instructional priorities

• Strengthen adult culture rooted in a shared bar of excellence and high trust

• Reaffirm relationships with families and external stakeholders

• Lead strategic collaboration with principals across the feeder pattern

This is a community with momentum and deserves a grounded, visionary leader to sustain and scale its success.

Why We’re Hiring Early

We are looking to hire Federal’s next principal in Spring 2026, with a start date that allows for a deep, intentional onboarding process ahead of the 2026–2027 school year.

This transition period allows you to:

• Build relationships with students, staff, and families before major decisions are made

• Analyze data and observe current systems with fresh eyes

• Partner with outgoing students and families,  current leadership, APs, and network teams to understand what’s in motion and support further collaboration and implementation

• Connect with community stakeholders and families

• Design/Lead your school-based Summer PD with vision and credibility ahead of the new school year

We believe school transformation takes preparation, trust, and momentum—not just urgency.

What You’ll Lead

Instruction, Academics, and School Operations

• Ensure curriculum implementation and instruction are rigorous, equitable, and inclusive—especially for multilingual learners and students with disabilities

• Guide data-driven instructional cycles that result in measurable student growth

• Coach APs and teachers with clarity, compassion, and accountability

• Elevate tiered support systems, ensuring that every student has access to what they need to thrive

• School operations responsibilities

  • Lead strategic budget development and financial management, aligning resources to instructional priorities, equity commitments, and measurable student outcomes

  • Design and refine staffing structures that maximize instructional quality, leadership capacity, and operational sustainability

  • Cultivate strong, proactive relationships with Denver Public Schools (DPS) partners to ensure compliance, advocacy, and seamless collaboration across district systems

  • Oversee facilities and campus operations to ensure a safe, organized, and student-centered learning environment that reflects high expectations and pride

School Culture and Belonging

• Build a culture where students feel seen, challenged, and joyful

• Partner with RMP’s culture team to strengthen restorative practices, routines, and elevate opportunities for student leadership

• Lead adult culture rooted in psychological safety, mutual accountability, and shared values

• Celebrate student identity, success, and community connections
   

Leadership and Team Development

• Lead a cohesive and unified school leadership team with aligned roles, responsibilities, and routines

• Develop leadership capacity through coaching, distributed leadership, and clear decision-making protocols

• Ensure the leadership team models a culture of growth-mindset, resilience, and trust
   

Community Engagement & Family Partnership

• Rebuild and strengthen family trust through authentic engagement and transparent communication

• Cultivate relationships with key community stakeholders, faith leaders, and neighborhood organizations

• Partner with Ruby Hill and Southwest Principals to ensure strong alignment across the feeder pattern

• Collaborate with the SMART High School Principal to ensure 8th graders are ready—academically and emotionally—for high school
   

Operational and Talent Systems

• Align resources, staffing, and budget to school priorities

• Ensure operational systems are tight, sustainable, and student-centered

• Lead hiring, retention, and staff development aligned to school culture and values
   

What You Bring

We’re looking for a leader who is both a systems thinker and a people-builder. Someone who brings:

• Proven success in improving outcomes for historically underserved students

• Experience in school turnaround, transformation, or redesign

• Deep instructional expertise with a passion for coaching and adult learning

• A strong equity lens and commitment to inclusive practices

• The ability to navigate complex school and district dynamics with clarity and care

• High emotional intelligence, presence, and belief in the power of relationships

• A track record of building effective leadership teams and school cultures

• Long-term commitment to place-based leadership and community investment

What Success Looks Like

In your first 18–24 months, success means:

• Academic outcomes are on a measurable upward trend

• Student culture is joyful, consistent, and identity-affirming

• Staff culture reflects high trust, shared ownership, and strong performance

• Family trust is strong, and partnerships are visible across the school

• Your leadership team is stable, collaborative, and focused

• RMP-Federal is not only improving—it is becoming a school of choice
   

What You’ll Receive

In addition to competitive compensation and a full benefits package (outlined below), you will receive:

• Individualized onboarding and executive coaching from your Executive Director of Schools

• Weekly strategic support from our Network Support Team

• Access to school improvement consultants and resources

• Flexibility in shaping your school’s staffing model (Depending upon hiring timeline)

• Leadership development and cross-school collaboration with peer principals

• A community of people who will root for your success

​​​​​​​Compensation and Benefits

Salary Range: $115,000–$160,000 based on experience and education
Relocation or signing bonuses may be available for the right candidate.

Benefits include:

• Comprehensive health insurance (medical, dental, vision)

• PERA retirement benefits

• Paid leave (vacation, sick, personal, and organizational holidays)

• Paid parental, medical, and disability leave

• Mental health and wellness supports

• Pre-tax savings accounts (FSA, HSA, dependent care)

Learn more about our full benefits package [insert link].

To Apply

If you are an experienced instructional leader ready to lead a thoughtful, strategic, human-centered transformation, we invite you to apply.

We believe that representation matters to our students, our teams, and the future of education. We strongly encourage candidates from historically marginalized communities to apply.

Legal Notices

Applicants must demonstrate eligibility to work in the United States. RMP does not sponsor visas at this time.

RMP is an equal opportunity employer and does not discriminate based on race, color, religion, national origin, gender, age, disability, sexual orientation, or any other legally protected status.