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High School STEM Department Head

Health Sciences Charter School

1140 Ellicott Street

Buffalo , NY 14209

Classified - Position - Other (Classified)

Job Number 3300052147

Start Date

Open Date 06/01/2025

Closing Date

Job title - High School STEM Department Head

Reports to - Principal

Status - Full-time, Exempt

Position Summary: Health Sciences Charter High School seeks a visionary High School STEM Department Head to lead our Science, Technology, Engineering, and Mathematics programs. This instructional and administrative leader will guide the strategic direction and continuous improvement of STEM teaching and learning. The core purpose is to cultivate departmental excellence through research-based practices, intensive instructional coaching, effective Professional Learning Communities (PLCs), data-driven decision-making, and ensuring a rigorous, relevant STEM curriculum aligned with our health sciences focus. This role is key to building teacher capacity, promoting innovative pedagogy, and ensuring high student achievement for post-secondary success.

Responsibilities:

Instructional Leadership & Coaching (Primary Focus:

+ Lead a consistent, growth-oriented coaching cycle for STEM faculty, including observations, collaborative planning, feedback sessions, modeling, and co-planning support.

+ Provide timely, specific, actionable feedback focused on strengthening research-based STEM instructional strategies (e.g., inquiry-based learning, differentiation) and their application in health sciences.

+ Model exemplary, standards-aligned STEM instruction (PBL, technology integration, inquiry methods) and offer co-teaching support.

+ Guide STEM teachers in setting professional growth goals, refining strategies, developing classroom management techniques, and connecting STEM curriculum to health science applications.

+ Serve as the department's primary resource for STEM content, pedagogy, instructional technology, curriculum, and assessment strategies; curate and disseminate relevant resources.

+ Balance instructional coaching with formal teacher evaluation, fostering trust while implementing the evaluation system with a focus on growth.

PLC Facilitation & Leadership:

+ Establish, facilitate, and sustain high-functioning STEM department PLCs focused on improving student learning and results.

+ Guide teams in developing productive norms fostering trust, collaboration, inquiry, and shared responsibility.

+ Ensure PLCs engage in continuous cycles of inquiry addressing the four critical questions of learning.

+ Lead PLCs in collaborative analysis of assessment data to monitor learning, inform instruction, share strategies, and measure intervention impact.

+ Employ effective facilitation strategies to empower teacher voice and leadership within PLCs.

Data Analysis & Use:

+ Oversee the systematic collection, analysis, and dissemination of student achievement data within the STEM department (state tests, benchmarks, common assessments).

+ Model and lead teachers/PLCs in interpreting data to identify needs, inform planning/differentiation, group students, and improve practice. Foster a culture of data use for continuous improvement.

+ Regularly monitor departmental and student progress towards goals using data. Support teachers in helping students monitor their own learning data.

+ Prepare clear data reports for stakeholders to communicate performance and inform planning.

Curriculum & Assessment Oversight:

+ Lead the ongoing development, implementation, and refinement of a rigorous, aligned STEM curriculum meeting standards and incorporating the health sciences focus (e.g., bioinformatics, biostatistics).

+ Guide the selection and effective integration of high-quality instructional materials, lab equipment, technology, and resources.

+ Oversee the development, administration, and analysis of common STEM assessments, ensuring alignment and rigor.

+ Proactively collaborate with teachers to integrate health sciences concepts, case studies, ethics, and career exploration into STEM courses.

Department Management & Administration:

+ Develop, manage, and monitor the STEM department budget.

+ Collaborate with administration on master scheduling, course offerings, and teacher assignments for the STEM department.

+ Serve as the primary communication link between STEM faculty and school administration; facilitate regular department meetings.

+ Participate in the recruitment, screening, interviewing, and selection of new STEM faculty; coordinate new teacher orientation and mentoring.

+ Ensure departmental understanding and adherence to school policies and procedures.

School Community Engagement & Other Duties:

+ Support effective communication between teachers, students, and families regarding the STEM program.

+ Maintain readiness to provide substitute instruction for absent department members when necessary.

+ Actively participate as a member of the school's leadership team, contributing to school-wide planning and initiatives.

+ Engage in ongoing professional development in STEM, leadership, coaching, health sciences, and culturally responsive pedagogy.

+ Perform additional duties as assigned by the Principal.

Qualifications:

Education & Certification

+ Master's Degree in a relevant STEM field OR in Educational Leadership, Administration, Curriculum & Instruction, or related education field.

+ Valid state teaching certification/license in a secondary STEM subject.

+ Valid state certification/license for School Building Leader (SBL), School Administrator/Supervisor, or equivalent, OR documented eligibility and plan to obtain within a specified timeframe.

Experience

+ Minimum five (5) years highly effective, full-time secondary STEM teaching experience with a strong track record of improving student achievement.

+ Minimum two (2) years significant educational leadership experience (e.g., instructional coach, department chair, team leader) with direct experience coaching or supervising teachers.

+ Demonstrated experience leading or facilitating PLCs focused on instructional improvement.

+ Proven experience using student performance data to analyze needs, inform instruction, and monitor progress.

Skills & Knowledge

+ Deep understanding of content and pedagogy in at least one secondary STEM discipline; broad knowledge of STEM standards (e.g., NGSS, CCSS-M) and curriculum frameworks.

+ Expertise in evidence-based instructional coaching practices (observation cycles, feedback, modeling, reflection).

+ Proficiency in facilitating adult learning and leading collaborative teams, especially within the PLC framework.

+ Strong analytical skills to interpret data, guide data dialogues, and support data-informed decision-making.

+ Knowledge of current research, trends, and best practices in STEM education, curriculum, technology, assessment, and professional development.

+ Exceptional communication, interpersonal, collaboration, organization, time-management, and problem-solving skills.

+ Proficiency with educational technology (LMS, SIS, data analysis tools).

+ Strong commitment to the HSCHS mission, vision, and values; understanding of charter school context.

+ Demonstrated commitment to advancing equity, inclusion, and culturally responsive practices for all students.

Preferred Qualifications

+ Prior experience teaching or leading in a high school with a health sciences, biomedical, or specialized STEM focus.

+ Experience developing/adapting STEM curriculum to integrate health/biomedical science applications, case studies, or ethics; familiarity with bioinformatics, biostatistics, or health informatics.

+ Experience with project-based learning (PBL) or inquiry-based learning in STEM.

+ Experience in grant writing or managing grant-funded programs.

+ Experience establishing partnerships with community organizations, universities, or industry in STEM/healthcare.

+ Doctoral degree in a STEM field or Educational Leadership.

Please make sure to complete an application by clickinghere (https://wnyric.atenterprise.powerschool.com/ats/app\_login?COMPANY\_ID=00005387) for this job posting.

Job Attachment View Attachment

Salary: From 70000.00

Salary: To 80000.00

Appointment Status Permanent

Position Status Full time

Start Date 08/18/20255

Contact Person's Name Kiya Bell

Contact Person's Title Director of HR

Contact Person's Phone 7164365335

Contact Person's Email [email protected]