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: August 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 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 Schools’ academic programming.

Requirements (minimum)

Education

• Master's Degree

Qualifications

• Valid Professional Educator License or equivalent

• Valid Principal/Administration license or equivalent

• Principal or Executive Director-level experience in a related educational nonprofit organization

• Technology demands:

  • Proficient in cloud based solutions - GoogleSuite

• Travel to campuses as well as to network events and trainings on at least a monthly basis

• Ability to flex work hours to accommodate leadership schedules and nontraditional work hours/needs, especially with regard to regional support across different time zones

Physical demands

Work is typically performed in an office setting with occasional extended periods of time at computer terminals. Occasional visits to off-site or campus locations is required. Generally, the job requires 60% sitting, 20% walking, and 20% standing.

Benefits

• 25+ Paid holidays & reasonable (no limit) PTO
• 12 weeks family paid leave
• Comprehensive Healthcare (Medical, Dental, Vision)
• 403b match
  • Fully match up to 3%
  • 50% match up to 5%
• Professional development including tuition reimbursement
• Gym and wellness discounts
• And more

Job Description Disclaimer: Since no job description can detail all the duties and responsibilities that may be required from time to time in the performance of a job, duties and responsibilities that may be inherent in a job, reasonably required for its performance, or required due to the changing nature of the job shall also be considered part of the jobholder's responsibility.

EEO: Distinctive Schools is an equal opportunity employer and does not discriminate against any employee or applicant for employment on the basis of race, color, religion, sex, gender, national origin, age, disability, veteran status, marital status, sexual orientation, gender identity, gender expression, or any other personal characteristic protected by applicable law.

Distinctive Schools is committed to the full inclusion of all qualified individuals. In keeping with our commitment, Distinctive Schools will take the steps to assure that people with disabilities are provided reasonable accommodations. Accordingly, if reasonable accommodation is required to fully participate in the job application or interview process, to perform the essential functions of the position, and/or to receive all other benefits and privileges of employment, please contact talent@distinctiveschools.org or call 773.828.4191