STEM Director

Job Title: STEM Director
Location: 910 W Van Buren St., Chicago, IL 60607
Reports To: Chief Executive Officer
Salary: Starting at $100,000, commensurate with experience
Employee Type: Regular Full Time
Start Date: September 2025

Distinctive Schools creates diverse, joyful, welcoming communities rooted in social justice and rigorous learning. We support all learners to be engaged, curious, and to achieve their full potential. Our students become confident advocates, creative problem-solvers, and collaborative leaders.

Overview

The STEM Director will serve as the network leader for science, technology, engineering, and mathematics instruction across all Distinctive Schools campuses. This role is responsible for setting a clear vision for high-quality, equitable STEM education and providing the leadership and expertise needed to ensure rigorous, innovative, and engaging STEM learning experiences for all students.

This individual will collaborate closely with school and network academic leaders to implement research-based instructional practices, support teacher development, and strengthen STEM pathways from K–12. The ideal candidate brings deep content knowledge, instructional leadership, and a passion for advancing STEM access and excellence in underserved communities.

Responsibilities

Strategic Leadership & Vision

• Champion and lead a bold, network-wide vision for STEM education that aligns with Distinctive Schools’ mission, values, and academic priorities.

• Drive the strategic development, implementation, and evaluation of STEM initiatives to ensure coherence, excellence, and alignment with academic standards and student success outcomes.

• Ensure vertical and horizontal alignment of curriculum, instruction, and assessment with Illinois Learning Standards, Next Generation Science Standards, and nationally recognized STEM frameworks.

• Collaborate closely with the Chief Academic Officer, Executive Director of Academics and school leaders to integrate cutting-edge instructional models that foster inquiry-based learning, real-world problem solving, and student innovation.

Program & Curriculum Development

• Design and refine rigorous, culturally responsive STEM curricula across all grade levels that promote creativity, equity, and academic excellence.

• Develop instructional materials and assessment tools that support high-quality STEM instruction and interdisciplinary, project-based learning models.
  Partner with school teams to meaningfully embed STEM across all content areas and ensure relevance to student interests and future-ready competencies.

• Expand access to advanced STEM coursework and pathways, including computer science, engineering, dual credit programs, and career-connected learning opportunities, especially at the high school level.

• Serve as the subject matter expert on STEM education and steward the program budget in collaboration with the Academic Team to ensure effective resource allocation.

Teacher & Leader Development

• Design and deliver high-impact professional learning experiences for STEM educators, instructional leaders, and coaches that promote pedagogical innovation and excellence.

• Facilitate collaborative initiatives with school-based staff and external partners to co-create vibrant, interdisciplinary STEM experiences.

• Provide individualized coaching, modeling, and capacity-building support to elevate instructional quality and student achievement in STEM.

• Demonstrate effective STEM teaching practices through co-teaching, lesson modeling, and instructional rounds.

Data-Informed Practice

• Analyze student achievement and program data to measure impact, inform continuous improvement, and align efforts with broader academic priorities.

• Build school capacity to use data to drive instructional shifts, personalize learning, and plan targeted interventions for student success.

Partnerships & Innovation

• Cultivate and maintain strategic partnerships with STEM-focused nonprofits, industry leaders, universities, and community organizations to expand real-world learning opportunities for students.

• Identify and secure grant funding and philanthropic investments to scale and sustain innovative STEM programming and access.

• Serve as a thought leader in STEM innovation, bringing national best practices, future-forward trends, and workforce insights to Distinctive