Director, Allentown School District (ASD) Partnership

The Da Vinci Director of ASD Partnership will serve as the co-leader of a new and innovative partnership between ASD and the Da Vinci Science Center providing ASD students with consistent access to state-of-the-art experiences in Science, Technology, Reading, Engineering, Arts, and Math (STREAM).  In collaboration with the ASD Project leaders, the Director will set and implement a vision for ASD Partnership programs and the new STREAM Academy with Central Elementary School. Specific programming includes classroom science programs aligned with new PA Science, Technology & Engineering, Environmental Literacy and Sustainability (STEELS) standards for grades K -5, after school programs, family science nights, Fab Lab programs, PreK programs, and Career Pathways Certificate programs. Primary responsibilities include 1) Serves as the primary Da Vinci point of contact and administrative leader for ASD Partnership; 2) Co-leads curriculum development and oversight of instruction, professional development, and assessment; 3) Co-develops the vision for the partnership, quality standards and desired impact of programs and clearly conveys this vision to staff; 4) Supervises and creates a positive learning environment for a team of Da Vinci educators and specialists responsible for partnership activities and builds professional capacity of team; 5) Provides administrative oversight of project components including resource acquisition; and 6) With ASD , engages and builds productive relationships with families and the community.  The Director is an integral member or leader of several project teams. This is a 6-year grant funded position.

What You Bring

You are a visionary and hands-on leader with specific expertise in leading education teams and designing innovative STEAM and literacy programs that meet new PA standards, foster cross-disciplinary connections, and incorporate emerging technologies. You are a highly effective communicator and administrator, keeping all stakeholders engaged and informed throughout the process.  You have a passion for unlocking student and staff potential. You strive for inclusive excellence, making diversity, equity, inclusion, access and belonging a priority in everything you do.  You employ a variety of methods for accomplishing the vision and impact and are meticulous about collecting and sharing data to drive improvement.  You cultivate positive relationships both within and outside the Center.

Primary point of contact and Da Vinci administrative lead for ASD Partnership

·         Serve as primary internal and external contact for ASD partnership, ensuring a high level of customer service and quality communication.

·         Oversee project budget, scheduling, and implementation.

·         Work directly with Allentown School District project leaders to identify project milestones and create and execute plans to achieve them.

·         Coordinate with school district, lead program teams, and champion the project through internal and external communication channels.  Serve on the Allentown School District Administrative Leadership Team and the Central Elementary School Governance Council.

·         Create and execute communication plans to keep all stakeholders engaged and informed throughout all phases of the project. 

Development and monitoring of curriculum, instruction, professional development, and assessment for ASD Partnership Programs

·         Play a lead role on the ASD Curriculum Development Team and the Da Vinci Education Leadership Team.

·          Work closely with ASD project leaders and the Curriculum Development Team to establish units of study for each grade level that maximize use of science center resources and support new science standards.

·          Co-lead the development and implementation of STREAM experiences that take full advantage of Science Center experts in different fields, exhibit experiences, fully-equipped spaces such as the Fab Lab and Multi-Media Production Studio, and industry partnerships.

·         Work with ASD project leaders to create and implement a professional learning plan for ASD teachers and administrators.

·         Work with ASD project leaders and Da Vinci professional learning staff to deliver professional learning opportunities for administrators and teachers, including workshops, co-teaching and non-evaluative teacher observations.

·         Coordinate with other Da Vinci and ASD project leaders to identify, develop, and fulfill program components at Central and across the district such as After School Programs, Mobile Fab Lab programs, Career Pathways programs, and Family Science Nights.

·          Work with the project leaders to design an assessment plan, monitor student academic progress, inform teaching and learning, and evaluate overall program impact.

Set vision for partnership, quality standards, and desired program impact

·          With ASD, create and articulate a shared vision for the program, incorporating input from multiple stakeholders.

·         Review research, local and national resources, and community input to develop program components, implement best practices, and define outcomes.

·          Remain well-informed about new PA STEELS Standards, Next Generation Science Standards, innovative STEAM programs, and Career Pathways.

·         Define and communicate quality standards for program implementation and work towards these standards.

·         Working with ASD partners and the external evaluator, create plan for evaluating program impact, create tools, and collect and report results.

Supervise and create positive learning environment for team of ASD and Da Vinci educators and build professional capacity

·          Hire, orient, train, and schedule Da Vinci educators.

·          Make diversity, equity, and inclusion a priority in hiring, training, and day to day operations.

·          Ensure Da Vinci staff compliance with policies and procedures.

·         Contribute to a positive team culture and safe team environment for learning.

·         Convey the vision for the program to staff and support its implementation.

·         Create and implement Da Vinci employee development plans.  Provide training to support development and delivery of STREAM experiences.

·          Identify employee goals that align with annual operating plans and track progress.  Provide annual performance reviews.

·          Provide consistent coaching, mentoring, and feedback including classroom observations.

Acquire and distribute resources

·         Oversee project budget, following all financial guidelines and procedures.

·         With ASD partners, identify resources needed to accomplish goals and create plans to acquire resources.

·          Write case statements and grant reports as needed.

Engage and build productive relationships with families and community

·         Work with the school district to plan family engagement events, including but not limited to family science nights, and maximize attendance.

·         Invite family and community members to collaborate in planning programs.  Gather input from families and community members in a variety of ways, including through the School Governance Council.

·         Learn about the needs of the community and families and advocate for program components to meet the needs. 

·         Create a hub for family resources.

·          Implement student recognition plan.

·          Engage community partners to meet the goals of ASD Partnership Programs.

Qualifications

·         Bachelor's degree in STEM field or STEM Education required, higher degree a plus.  

·         Experience teaching and developing educational content is required.

·         Strong background and experience in STEAM and literacy education is required.

·         Strong team player; ability to collaborate effectively with internal and external partners.

·         Experience leading a team of educators is preferred.

·         Strong ability to conceptualize and develop project schedules, including major milestones and critical paths, for the successful completion of projects on time and on budget.

·         Experience with budgets, staffing, deadlines, metrics, deliverables, and ability to think strategically about the resources needed for sustainability and growth.

·         Exceptional communication skills, both oral and written; excellent public speaking and presentation skills.

·         Demonstrated problem solving skills and ability to work with staff at all levels in a complex, collaborative environment; ability to foster and sustain inclusive workplace values and relationships.

·          A commitment to diversity, equity, and inclusiveness in programming is required.

·         A sense of wonder, fun, and risk-taking; and a desire to spark curiosity in self and others.

·         Bilingual in English and Spanish preferred.