Science Teacher and Department Chair

ABOUT US

The Jewish Leadership Academy is a world-class Jewish Middle and Upper School dedicated to developing the skills, curiosity, and potential of Miami’s most ambitious students for a life of purpose, commitment, and service.

JLA is committed to:

• Challenging inquisitive minds to think critically and creatively in pursuit of the highest academic standards across all disciplines.
• Putting values into action by embedding leadership training and community service into the heart of the educational program.
• Engaging the mind and stirring the soul to connect with the Jewish past and the Jewish present, the Jewish People and the Jewish State, through the broad and embracing lens of Modern Orthodoxy.

JLA seeks an outstanding faculty of all faiths who believe in and actively support the school’s mission to educate Jewish students at the highest academic levels while connecting them deeply to their heritage and faith. We strive to create and maintain a values-driven faculty culture that is committed to high standards and rooted in respect for all. Above all, we seek faculty who have a genuine love for teaching.

STEM DEPARTMENT

The STEM Department at JLA offers students an in-depth and rich sequence of core and elective courses designed to develop problem-solving skills, foster creativity, and spark curiosity about the world. Our science program spans the full range of disciplines, including physics, chemistry, biology, earth science, forensic science, and physical science, and emphasizes both conceptual understanding and applied, hands-on learning through labs. Our work is supported by a full-time Lab Technician who manages laboratory preparation, materials, equipment, and safety, enabling faculty to focus on high-quality instruction.

As Department Chair, the successful candidate will play a central role in shaping the vision, coherence, and continued growth of the science program, ensuring vertical alignment, instructional excellence, and a culture of collaboration and innovation across the department.

JLA is a uniquely rewarding place to teach and specifically to teach STEM. We serve a highly motivated, high-achieving student body, and all of our academic courses are taught at an honors level or above. Students arrive eager to engage deeply with challenging material, and our parent community is exceptionally supportive, involved, and aligned with the school’s mission. Faculty also benefit from a state-of-the-art campus and laboratory spaces, in addition to a compensation package that is among the strongest in the country.

We seek faculty with a growth mindset who are eager to broaden their teaching practice, integrate new tools and technologies, and guide ambitious learners. For educators who thrive in rigorous, joyful, intellectually vibrant environments, JLA offers an extraordinary professional home.

POSITION

We are seeking a versatile Middle & Upper School Science Teacher who will also serve as Department Chair. This individual will teach across multiple scientific disciplines while providing instructional leadership, supporting faculty development, and advancing the strategic vision of the STEM program.

While we give particular consideration to candidates with a background in physics, teaching assignments may also include earth science, biology, chemistry, forensic science, and/or physical science.

RESPONSIBILITIES

Teaching Responsibilities:

• Teach assigned science courses across middle and upper school
• Foster a rigorous, inquiry-based classroom culture grounded in curiosity and critical thinking
• Lead hands-on laboratory experiences and authentic scientific investigation

Department Chair Responsibilities:

• Provide vision and leadership for the science department, including curriculum development and vertical alignment (grades 6–12)
• Coach and support science faculty through observation, feedback, and professional growth planning
• Lead department meetings and facilitate collaboration, data-informed instruction, and curriculum refinement
• Partner with school leadership on hiring, onboarding, and evaluation of science faculty
• Oversee course development, scope and sequence, and integration of interdisciplinary and real-world applications
• Ensure consistency in instructional quality, assessment practices, and student experience across courses
• Support the integration of technology, innovation, and emerging best practices in STEM education

Community & School Responsibilities:

• Advisory, media literacy, research, service learning, or mentorship role as part of our unique Friday schedule
• Tutorial sessions twice weekly
• Participate in robust professional development throughout the year
• Lead or contribute to faculty professional learning within the department and across the school
• Support special onboarding and leadership programming with students during the first 3 weeks of the school year

QUALIFICATIONS

• Minimum of five years of teaching experience at the middle or upper school level
• Undergraduate degree in a scientific discipline (physics, chemistry, biology, earth science, engineering, or a closely related field; advanced degree preferred)
• Experience with hands-on labs, guided experimentation, and open-ended inquiry
• Ability to teach across multiple areas of science, with strong preference for candidates able to teach physics
• Ability to connect with and inspire students
• Desire and ability to work collaboratively in high-functioning teams across departments
• Excellent people skills and strong communication abilities (oral and written)
• Mastery of Google Workspace for Education and comfort with new technologies
• Understanding of project- and inquiry-based learning, as well as design thinking
• Experience working with high-achieving or gifted students is an asset

BENEFITS

• Highly competitive salary
• Full health, dental, and vision coverage for the employee
• 8% annual retirement match
• Daily breakfast and lunch
• Generous PTO
• Relocation stipend
• Opportunities for professional development and growth
• Short- and long-term disability and life insurance