Overview

　　The director of science, K-6, science is responsible for overseeing the development and effective execution of Ascend’s Common Core-aligned curriculum and assessment, which incorporates both explicit teaching and inquiry learning in grades kindergarten to sixth grade. The director develops and delivers professional development to school leaders, and through them, teachers, and provides coaching of school leadership teams to ensure our curriculum and instruction is driving results for all students.

　　Ascend Public Charter Schools

　　Ascend is a network of K-12 public charter schools serving 6,000 students in 15 schools across Brooklyn—New York’s most populous borough. Our undertaking is to lead our students on a great intellectual adventure, provide them with an exceptional college preparatory education, and place them firmly on the path to success in college and beyond.

　　We guide our students to think critically and independently and to enjoy education as an end in itself. We teach a rich and rigorous liberal arts curriculum that nurtures students’ natural curiosity about the world. We foster a positive, non-punitive school culture where students feel connected, empowered, and safe to take academic risks. Even our school buildings are designed to reflect our high aspirations for teaching and learning and the notable accomplishments that occur within our walls.

　　To create this kind of vibrant learning community, we invest heavily in our faculty by providing ongoing professional training and support, and encourage our educators to collaborate closely and push each other to achieve great outcomes. Leading at Ascend means growing deeply in your career, expressing your voice, and playing a defining role in the future of your students, your school, and the Ascend network.

　　Ascend is committed to building a diverse, equitable, inclusive, and anti-racist (DEIA) community, both through our hiring practices and our focus on creating a culture and environment where diverse perspectives, ideas, and identities are valued and integrated into our way of working and educating students. Ascend staff represent a wide diversity of racial, socio-economic, gender, religious, and national identities—opening a window to the entire Ascend community on the richness of humanity. We welcome all applicants who share our mission and vision to join us in our deeply consequential work.

　　Responsibilities

　　The Director will champion Ascend’s inquiry-based science curriculum and common core aligned assessments, with an emphasis on data driven work, and deep capacity for professional development and training.

　　Under the direction of the Director of Academics, the Director will:Create, refine, adapt, curate, and pace commercial and “Ascend-developed” products that form the basis of the science programming with an emphasis on culturally responsive and anti-racist pedagogy for grades K-6Develop materials and support or lead professional development for various members of the schools’ leadership team and teaching staff, focusing on science content and the highest fidelity implementation of the science curriculaUtilize academic data to adjust and focus on curricula, instruction, assessment, and professional development.Develop and adapt Common Core-aligned formative and summative assessments in scienceContinuously research and study developments in science education and integrate best practices of excellent schools into Ascend’s curriculumRecommend annual refinements to the science program based on network trends, feedback from school-based leadership, and research of best practicesIn collaboration with other members of the science team and school-based leadership, participate in science content walkthroughs and implementation visits to monitor implementation of the science programBuild positive and efficient working relations with the Ascend central academic team and leadership teams at every schoolCollect and analyze videos of exemplary teaching practices around strong implementation of science instruction and curate an initial body of annotated student workIn collaboration with other members of the science team and the data and analytics team, analyze network-level data on assessments, benchmarks, and state exams to adjust and focus instruction, identify network trends, and establish achievement goalsCreate network-level (and school-based, if necessary) action plans to address science benchmarks and other achievement dataIn collaboration with other members of the science team, communicate important curriculum and assessment information to relevant stakeholders

　　Staff and reporting relationships

　　The director of science shall report directly to the Director of Academics.

　　Qualifications

　　Bachelor’s degree, with an advanced degree strongly preferredA sustained record of outstanding academic resultsFour or more years teaching experience with exceptional results in science instructionTwo or more years of experience developing staff and delivering outstanding professional developmentBachelor’s degree, with an advanced degree strongly preferreddeep understanding of the Common Core and New York’s Common Core-aligned state assessments, data-driven instruction (DDI); and the ability to drive DDI at scaledeep understanding of science pedagogies and programs and effective practice, culturally responsive and anti-racist science curriculum and instructionexpertise in the principles of science instruction and research findingssuperb organizational, project management, self-management skills, and problem-solving skillsexcellent presentation skills and the ability to support, train, and coach educatorspassion and commitment to urban education and our ultimate goal of closing the achievement gapinsistence on academic excellence and rigorexcellent communication skills (written and oral)a hunger for feedback and an openness to engage in a process of self-improvementalignment with the educational philosophy and core beliefs of Ascend Learning

　　Compensation

　　Initial salary offers for this position range from $105,000- 120,000. Salaries are determined using an equitable compensation scale that accounts for years of experience and levels of attained education.

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