READY School Incubator Fellowship

Design Studio Fellow (Unpaid, Part-Time) Location: Mostly Remote (One Required In-Person School Visit) Time Commitment: Approximately 5–10 hours per week for 8 weeks of active programming Compensation: Unpaid Fellowship Program Dates: Fall and Spring Cohorts Application Deadline: September 15, 2026 (Fall) Questions before you apply? Learn more about the fellowship, time commitment, eligibility, and selection process in our READY School Incubator Candidate FAQ Please note the selection process for Design Studio and Launch is the same. Launch applicants may be recommended for Design Studio if additional concept development is needed. Likewise, Design Studio applicants who demonstrate exceptional readiness may be invited to Launch. About READY READY is working to dramatically expand access to excellent schools for Rochester students. By 2034, READY aims to increase the number of students attending high-quality schools from 3,000 to 10,000. The READY School Incubator identifies, develops, and supports exceptional education leaders who are ready to design and launch transformational schools that meet Rochester's greatest educational needs. About the Design Studio Design Studio is a part-time fellowship for experienced education leaders who have a compelling school idea but need the structure, coaching, and community to strengthen it before launch. Through workshops, coaching, expert feedback, and a real-world pilot, Fellows refine their vision into a school model that is ready for authorization and implementation. Design Studio is the first stage of READY's School Incubator. Fellows who demonstrate strong readiness may be invited to continue into Launch, READY's full-time, salaried fellowship that supports leaders through school approval and opening. Completion of Design Studio does not guarantee admission into Launch. What You'll Do Throughout the fellowship, you will: Clarify the educational challenge your school will address. Develop a compelling and differentiated school concept. Conduct empathy interviews with students, families, and community members. Receive coaching from experienced school founders and education leaders. Visit high-performing schools to study effective practice. Pilot an aspect of your school concept with 8–10 students. Refine your concept based on evidence and feedback. What You'll Receive As a Design Studio Fellow, you'll receive: Individual coaching from experienced education leaders. Feedback from experts and practitioners. Structured tools and resources to strengthen your school design. Support planning and implementing your pilot. Personalized feedback on your readiness to launch a school. Who Should Apply We're looking for experienced education leaders who are passionate about creating outstanding learning experiences for students. Ideal candidates typically have: Five or more years of experience working in high-performing PreK–12 schools. Experience leading adults and improving student outcomes. Strong instructional leadership skills. A compelling early-stage school concept. An entrepreneurial mindset and willingness to learn. Interest in designing a school that addresses Rochester's educational needs and aligns with READY's priorities for school design: https://bit.ly/4pXUfn9 . You do not need to currently live in Rochester to participate in Design Studio. However, participants who advance to Launch must be willing to relocate to Rochester. Time Commitment Design Studio is designed to fit alongside your current role. Participants should expect approximately 5–10 hours per week, including: Live virtual workshops. Independent asynchronous work. Individual coaching sessions. One required in-person school visit, approximately 1.5 days plus travel. A short pilot with students. Program Timeline Fall 2026 Cohort Applications Due: September 25, 2026 Pre-Work: Week of October 19, 2026 Assessments, market analysis, and a coaching call. Core Design Studio: October 26, 2026–January 18, 2027 Virtual workshops, empathy interviews, instructional design, coaching, a required school visit, a pilot, and a final pitch. Spring 2027 Cohort Applications Due: January 2027 Pre-Work: Week of February 8, 2027 Design Studio: February–April 2027 Participants who successfully complete Design Studio may be invited to continue into Launch, which begins in September 2027. What You'll Leave With By the end of Design Studio, you'll have: A refined school concept aligned to Rochester's needs. A compelling vision and pitch. Evidence from an early pilot with students. A stronger understanding of Rochester's educational landscape. Personalized feedback on your readiness to launch. Potential invitation to join READY's Launch Fellowship. Before You Apply Before submitting your application, please review these two resources: READY School Incubator Candidate FAQ ( https://bit.ly/4hQUtdw ) , which explains the fellowship, selection process, and how READY evaluates school concepts. READY School Priorities ( https://bit.ly/4pXUfn9 ) , which describe the educational needs and school models READY is currently seeking to incubate in Rochester. At this stage, we are not looking for a fully developed school plan. Instead, we want to understand the educational challenge you hope to address, the students and community you intend to serve, and your initial vision for how your school could address that challenge. Reviewers will use the "Strong School Concept" criteria on p.2 of the Frequently Asked Questions to evaluate your concept. Design Studio is intended to help candidates improve their concepts for further design in the Launch fellowship. Successful candidates for Launch will have a concept that meet all of the criteria. Application Process As part of the application, you will be asked to submit: Your résumé. A brief overview (1–2 pages) of your school concept. A short reflection on why now is the right time for you to pursue school founding. A brief description of your connection to Rochester or Western New York. After you submit your application, READY will review all materials. Selected applicants will be invited to participate in the next stage of the selection process, which will involve interviews and feedback on your school concept. Apply by September 15, 2026.