Location: Nashville, Tennessee

Employment Type: Full-time, in-person, 12-month network-based leadership role for the upcoming 2024-2025 school year. 

Salary: The salary range for this position is $81,840-$94,160. Placement within that range is based on years of comparable school leadership experience. 

About Valor: 

Founded in 2014, Valor Collegiate Academies is a top-performing, public charter school network in Nashville, Tennessee, serving 1900 students in Grades 5-12. We operate two middle schools, Valor Flagship and Valor Voyager, that feed into our high school, Valor College Prep. Our mission is to create a community where diverse students of all backgrounds have equitable access to a high-quality education that prepares them to live inspired and purposeful lives. This mission is made possible through an innovative school model that balances rigorous academics and whole-child education in an intentionally diverse environment. Learn more about Valor here: https://valorcollegiate.org/our-model/

About the Role:

Valor Collegiate Academies is seeking a Director of Science who is excited to share our mission of empowering scholars to live inspired and purposeful lives. The Director of Science will report to the Chief Academic Officer and work closely with the CAO, Principals, Assistant Principals and Teachers in the development and implementation of a cohesive curriculum, instruction and assessment program across grades 5-12.

Key Responsibilities:

Key responsibilities include, but are not limited to: 

Set and lead a cohesive vision for Science Curriculum, Instruction and Assessment 

• Partner with the Chief Academic Officer to update the science curricular, assessment and instructional approach

• Source, curate, and revise top quality student and staff facing curricular and assessment materials for grades 5-12

• Lead the implementation of HS and MS Computer Science in alignment with the TN requirement for Computer Science for all MS and HS students 

• Work collaboratively with instructional staff throughout the design and development process of the curricular material

• Coordinate development and updating of our science assessment strategy, including quarterly benchmark assessments for grades 5-12

• Analyze science data across our network quarterly to inform revisions and professional development

Develop Leaders and Teachers to effectively implement our instructional approach

• Lead biweekly Science Instructional Leader development

• Develop and deliver high quality professional development and instructional support tools to support middle and high school teachers to support their understanding of our instructional approach

• Facilitate teaching team weekly meetings, coordinate curricular and assessment shifts for the team, support intellectual preparation of their subject areas, and lead high-quality, actionable data analysis (1-3 teams)

• Coach a portfolio of science teachers across grade levels (3-5 teachers)

General Valor Leader Responsibilities: 

Network leaders are also expected to:

• Enforce, uphold, and exhibit the organization’s values, student and faculty management policies, and culture. 

• Own an arrival, midday, and/or dismissal duty to support school-based needs. 

• Sit on Valor’s Top 1% Academics team and support the vision of the team through exemplary work. 

• Attend weekly faculty Circles on Wednesdays from 4:00-5:00PM 

• Lean in to support across the network or with school-based teams as needed, under the guidance and direction of your manager

Critical Experiences & Qualifications:

At Valor, we believe our diversity makes us strong and we are committed to building a team of educators with diverse experiences, backgrounds, and expertise. Candidates with the following are highly encouraged to apply for this position: 

Qualifications & Experiences

• Bachelor’s degree required, with an advanced degree preferred

• 5 years of work experience in a role that required a deep curriculum focus and science knowledge (e.g., teacher, curriculum designer, instructional leader, program designer)

• 2 yrs experience coaching and/or developing adults and managing change

• Track record of dramatically improving outcomes for students 

• Experience developing science curricular materials aligned with state and advanced placement or pre-AP courses.

• Demonstrated track record of managing multiple projects and deadlines, and of consistently delivering high-quality work even in the face of obstacles

• Experience with, or enthusiasm for, the integration of a social-emotional learning and academics; committed to bringing a strong diversity, equity, and inclusion lens to the work

Other Skills, Characteristics & Driving Beliefs

• Ability to efficiently and effectively complete detail oriented tasks

• Exceptional interpersonal skills and relationship-building skills and a history of working well as part of a team 

• Strong written and verbal communication skills

• Deep belief that all students deserve an excellent education

• Flexible, thrives in ambiguity, optimistic, and hungry to grow and improve 

Interview Process:

Our hiring process is both an opportunity for us to determine whether you are a good fit for Valor and an opportunity for you to decide whether Valor is the right fit for you. Here is what you can expect in the process for this role:

1. Resume Review

2. Phone Interview with Valor's Talent Team (for external candidates)

3. Virtual Performance Task 

4. Interview with Valor Leaders 

5. Reference Checks 

6. Offer Extension

Compensation & Benefits:

• Salary range for this position is $81,840-$94,160. Placement within that range is based on years of comparable school leadership experience. 

• Robust retirement and benefits plan through Metro Nashville Public School

• Comprehensive health (medical, dental, and vision) and retirement benefits

• Fully-paid 8 week parental leave policy

• 15 days of PTO annually, plus access to an org-wide PTO Sharing program

• Free access to an on-site strength & conditioning facility, Vanderbilt Health Clinic, retirement counseling, and mental health support and resources

• Employee laptop and unlimited supplies

• Full-time employees wishing to enroll their child at Valor in grades 5-12 will be placed at the top of the new student waitlist. 

Commitment to Diversity, Equity, and Inclusion:

Valor believes in the importance of being a diverse, equitable, and inclusive organization that enables students and staff to thrive. As an equal opportunity employer, we do not discriminate on the basis of race, religion, color, national origin, gender, sexual orientation, age, marital status, veteran status, or disability status. We actively seek applications from people of all backgrounds to strengthen our community and the perspectives needed to thrive in a diverse world.