Innovation Curriculum Coordinator (PK–12)

Department Academic Leadership / PK–12 Program Innovation Reports To Head of School Collaborates Closely With Associate Head of School, Division Directors (Early Childhood/Lower School, Middle School, High School), academic department chairs, Director of Learning Support and Wellness, library/media and technology personnel, counselors, advancement team, admissions/marketing, and faculty across PK–12; also collaborates with students, families, and external partners. Position Summary Canterbury School seeks an exceptional, visionary, and highly experienced educator to serve as Innovation Curriculum Coordinator (PK–12). This is a senior-level academic leadership role responsible for designing, advancing, and sustaining a coherent PK–12 strategy for innovation in teaching and learning across the School. Reporting directly to the Head of School, the Innovation Curriculum Coordinator serves as a key strategic partner in shaping Canterbury’s future-facing academic identity while honoring the School’s rigorous college-preparatory foundation. The Coordinator will lead the integration of educational technology, artificial intelligence, STEAM, design thinking, and interdisciplinary, project-based learning across divisions and departments. This role requires both intellectual leadership and practical execution. The successful candidate must be able to move fluidly between vision-setting, faculty coaching, curriculum design, parent communication, program implementation, and long-range planning. The Coordinator will work across traditional academic boundaries to support faculty and school leaders in creating meaningful, hands-on, inquiry-driven learning experiences that deepen student engagement, strengthen transfer of learning, and prepare students to thrive in a rapidly changing world. The ideal candidate is an expert practitioner, an accomplished coach of adults, a systems thinker, and an inspiring communicator who can build trust and momentum across a diverse school community. Strategic Facilities and Program Design Leadership is central to this role. The Innovation Curriculum Coordinator will play a leading role in the visioning, planning, and implementation of Canterbury’s nextgeneration STEAM/Innovation Center, helping shape the project from earliest concept and educational specifications through design collaboration, program planning, and launch readiness. This individual will ensure that the physical environment, instructional model, and curricular experiences are developed in tandem so that the Center is not simply a building, but a transformational engine for PK–12 teaching and learning. The Coordinator will also serve as a central contributor to the School’s next iteration of its strategic plan and campus master plan, particularly in areas related to academic innovation, futureready learning spaces, and program differentiation. This role directly supports Canterbury’s mission to maximize the potential of young people through a challenging, enriching, and supportive learning environment in which students build the foundation for lives of purpose, passion, and meaning. Artist. Athlete. Scholar. Core Responsibilities PK–12 Innovation Vision, Strategy, and Program Leadership Develop and lead a coherent PK–12 vision for innovation in teaching and learning that aligns with Canterbury’s mission, academic standards, and strategic priorities. Translate institutional goals into actionable, phased innovation initiatives with clear timelines, success indicators, and accountability structures. Serve as a strategic thought partner to the Head of School and academic leadership team on the future of curriculum, pedagogy, learning environments, and student experience. Identify and prioritize high-impact opportunities for innovation that are mission-aligned, developmentally appropriate, and sustainable. Help establish a shared language and framework for innovation across the School so faculty, families, and students understand both the purpose and the practice of the work. Technology Integration and Responsible AI Leadership Lead the effective, ethical, and pedagogically sound integration of technology and AI tools across PK–12 classrooms to enhance teaching, deepen inquiry, and personalize learning. Partner with faculty to ensure digital tools are used purposefully and in service of strong instructional design, rather than as isolated add-ons. Develop, implement, and regularly refine school-wide guidance for responsible AI use by students and faculty, including considerations related to academic integrity, bias, privacy, age appropriateness, and digital citizenship. Evaluate emerging educational technologies and AI-enabled tools through a clear instructional lens, including pilot design, feedback collection, and recommendation processes. Collaborate with relevant school personnel to support implementation, training, and adoption of approved platforms and tools. Curriculum Innovation and Interdisciplinary Program Design Work with faculty and academic leaders to design and implement interdisciplinary curriculum initiatives that connect concepts and skills across subject areas and divisions. Champion high-quality project-based and problem-based learning experiences that balance rigorous content mastery with creative application, collaboration, and real-world relevance. Integrate design thinking, maker-centered learning, and iterative problem solving into PK–12 curriculum planning and instructional practice. Support departments in revising units, assessments, and learning experiences to better reflect contemporary competencies, including critical thinking, communication, creativity, collaboration, and ethical reasoning. Help define what innovation looks like at Canterbury in ways that are distinctive, mission-consistent, and academically credible. STEAM Program Development and Experiential Learning Expansion Lead the ongoing development and alignment of STEAM programming across PK–12, ensuring progression, coherence, and age-appropriate challenge. Support and expand hands-on learning opportunities such as coding, robotics, engineering design challenges, digital media creation, scientific inquiry, and maker projects. Collaborate with division leaders and faculty to develop or strengthen electives, clubs, capstone experiences, innovation blocks, or other structures that allow students to pursue passion-driven work. Ensure that STEAM and innovation experiences are inclusive and accessible, engaging a broad range of learners and interests. Assess program offerings for quality, relevance, and impact, and make recommendations for refinement or expansion. STEAM Center Vision, Planning, and Launch Leadership Serve as a lead academic voice in the creation of Canterbury’s comprehensive STEAM/Innovation Center, helping shape the project from early concept through implementation and launch. Partner with the Head of School, advancement team, architects, consultants, and school leadership to define the educational vision, design principles, and programmatic priorities that should drive the Center’s planning. Develop educational specifications for the space, including flexible use zones, maker/design areas, collaboration spaces, technology infrastructure needs, safety considerations, storage, display/exhibition opportunities, and age-appropriate PK–12 access and progression. Ensure the Center’s design is driven by pedagogy and curriculum, not simply equipment acquisition or aesthetics. Lead planning for the curricular experiences, faculty training, operational systems, and program structures required to bring the Center to life in meaningful and sustainable ways. Collaborate on phased implementation plans, including pilot programs, budget priorities, equipment recommendations, staffing considerations, and launch sequencing. Help define how the STEAM/Innovation Center will function as a signature element of Canterbury’s academic identity and long-term strategic differentiation. Faculty Coaching, Professional Development, and Adult Learning Design and deliver high-quality professional learning for faculty and staff related to technology integration, AI literacy, instructional design, project-based learning, interdisciplinary curriculum, and innovation pedagogy. Provide sustained instructional coaching to teachers across divisions, including co-planning, lesson redesign, classroom modeling, observation, feedback, and reflective follow-up. Differentiate support for faculty based on experience, readiness, and role, while maintaining high expectations for growth and implementation. Curate and create practical faculty resources, guides, exemplars, and just-in-time supports that strengthen consistency and reduce implementation barriers. Foster a culture of experimentation, professional curiosity, and continuous improvement while grounding innovation work in evidence and student outcomes. Curriculum Review, Alignment, and Academic Program Modernization Conduct ongoing review of existing PK–12 curriculum and selected advanced offerings to identify opportunities for modernization, deeper relevance, and stronger alignment with future-ready competencies. Partner with academic leaders to recommend updates to courses, unit structures, assessments, and instructional pathways that preserve rigor while increasing authentic application and interdisciplinary learning. Support vertical alignment across divisions so that innovation experiences build progressively over time and complement the School’s broader academic goals. Ensure innovation efforts are integrated into the fabric of the academic program rather than existing as isolated initiatives. Scheduling and Structural Design for Innovation Collaborate with school leadership to explore and design schedule and calendar structures that create meaningful space for interdisciplinary work, innovation labs, project intensives, and cross-grade collaboration. Provide research-informed recommendations on scheduling models that support deeper learning and faculty collaboration while remaining practical within Canterbury’s context. Pilot and assess new structures when appropriate, including short-term intensives, thematic weeks, flexible blocks, or embedded innovation periods. Strategic Planning and Master Planning Contribution Play a central role in the School’s next strategic planning cycle, especially in articulating future-facing academic priorities, innovation goals, and programmatic investments. Contribute substantially to campus master planning conversations as the lead academic/programmatic voice for innovation and STEAM learning environments. Help ensure alignment among the School’s strategic plan, academic program goals, facilities planning, and fundraising priorities. Provide research-informed recommendations about how space design, schedule design, and curricular design can work together to support Canterbury’s long-term mission and market distinction. Student Engagement and Community Learning Partner with division leaders and faculty to design student-facing innovation experiences such as workshops, design challenges, exhibitions, and interdisciplinary showcases. Help create opportunities for students to experience creative problem solving, entrepreneurship, prototyping, and collaborative inquiry across grade levels. Support parent education efforts that build understanding and trust around innovation initiatives, including sessions on digital citizenship, AI in education, and future-ready skills. Communicate the purpose and value of innovation work in ways that are accessible, thoughtful, and aligned with Canterbury’s culture and expectations. Communication, Change Management, and Culture Building Serve as a visible and credible change leader who builds buy-in through clarity, transparency, relationship building, and consistent follow-through. Communicate progress, goals, and outcomes to internal and external stakeholders through updates, presentations, written communications, and program showcases. Celebrate early wins and faculty leadership while addressing concerns thoughtfully and constructively. Help cultivate a school culture in which innovation is understood as a disciplined, mission-driven process of improving student learning, not change for its own sake. External Partnerships, Networking, and Institutional Advancement Support Identify, develop, and sustain partnerships with universities, industry professionals, nonprofit organizations, and peer schools to enrich Canterbury’s innovation ecosystem. Bring external expertise and opportunities into the School through guest speakers, mentorships, collaborative projects, and other mission-aligned experiences. Stay connected to leading networks and professional communities in educational innovation and independent schools to inform Canterbury’s ongoing work. Collaborate with the Head of School and advancement team to articulate a compelling vision for innovation initiatives, learning spaces, and programmatic investments in donor and grant conversations. Contribute expertise to planning for future learning environments, makerspaces, or design labs so that facilities align with instructional goals and long-term program needs. Professional Responsibilities and School Life Participate fully in faculty, divisional, and leadership meetings as appropriate to the role and provide regular updates to the Head of School and relevant school leaders. Maintain current expertise in educational innovation, AI in education, instructional design, STEAM pedagogy, and change leadership through ongoing professional learning. Uphold the highest standards of professionalism, confidentiality, sound judgment, and ethical practice. Contribute positively to school culture and collaborate respectfully and effectively with colleagues across all divisions and departments. Complete other duties as assigned in support of the School’s mission and the successful implementation of Canterbury’s academic innovation priorities.