Founding International Baccalaureate (IB) Coordinator

Elevate Charter Schools • Danbury, CT

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About The Position

Danbury International Academy Charter School (DCS) is launching with a mission to provide a diverse, inclusive, and globally minded education grounded in the International Baccalaureate (IB) framework. The school aims to nurture curious, compassionate, and confident learners ready to thrive in an interconnected world through an inquiry-driven, concept-based education. DCS emphasizes joyful, safe, and intellectually engaging classrooms where students build strong academic foundations alongside social-emotional skills, cultural awareness, and multilingual abilities. As a founding school, DCS is committed to equity, belonging, and global citizenship, preparing students to lead with empathy and think with curiosity. Elevate Charter Schools (ECS) is partnering with Edmonds Cofield Preparatory Academy for Young Men and is leading the search for their Founding School Team, including this role at DCS.

Requirements

• Bachelor's degree or higher.
• At least 3–5 years of teaching or instructional leadership experience, ideally within an IB school.
• Demonstrated expertise in inquiry-based instruction, concept-based curriculum, and interdisciplinary learning.
• Experience designing curriculum, assessments, and professional learning aligned to IB frameworks.
• Strong understanding of IB standards and practices, including authorization and evaluation processes.
• Ability to coach, support, and inspire teachers in implementing rigorous, globally minded instruction.
• Strong communication, organization, and project-management skills.
• Unshakable commitment to educational equity, global citizenship, and culturally responsive pedagogy.
• Deep alignment with the mission, mindsets, identity, and values of ECS and DCS.

Nice To Haves

• Master's degree in education or related field.
• 5+ years of teaching or instructional leadership experience, ideally within an IB school.
• Experience in a founding school or start-up environment.
• Experience working with multilingual learners and culturally diverse communities.
• Bilingual or multilingual skills.

Responsibilities

• Lead the design, implementation, and ongoing refinement of the IB Middle Years Programme (MYP), ensuring alignment with IB standards and practices.
• Serve as the primary liaison between DCS and the International Baccalaureate Organization (IBO), managing communication, documentation, and authorization processes.
• Develop and maintain the Programme of Inquiry (POI), unit planners, assessment frameworks, and interdisciplinary learning structures.
• Ensure that IB philosophy, learner profile attributes, and global contexts are embedded across all aspects of school culture and instruction.
• Guide the school’s long-term planning for future DP expansion and potential PYP alignment.
• Lead the development of inquiry-driven, concept-based curriculum aligned to IB frameworks and state standards.
• Support teachers in designing units, assessments, and learning experiences that promote critical thinking, global awareness, and student agency.
• Ensure vertical and horizontal alignment across grade levels and subject areas.
• Model best practices in inquiry, interdisciplinary learning, and performance-based assessment.
• Provide ongoing coaching, feedback, and instructional support to teachers in IB-aligned pedagogy.
• Design and facilitate high-quality professional development on inquiry cycles, global contexts, assessment, and the IB learner profile.
• Build teacher capacity to implement rigorous, culturally responsive, and globally minded instruction.
• Lead collaborative planning structures, including unit design meetings, interdisciplinary teams, and reflection cycles.
• Develop and oversee schoolwide assessment systems aligned to IB expectations and state requirements.
• Support teachers in designing formative and summative assessments that measure conceptual understanding and real-world application.
• Analyze student data to inform instruction, intervention, and program improvement.
• Ensure consistent use of reflection, feedback, and student self-assessment practices.
• Partner with families to build collective understanding of the IB model, global citizenship, and inquiry-based learning.
• Lead community events, workshops, and showcases that highlight student learning and global perspectives.
• Build partnerships with local organizations, cultural institutions, and global learning networks.
• Teach 1–2 classes such as Global Design, Global Studies, Innovation, or Advisory, depending on program needs and staffing capacity.
• Model inquiry-driven, concept-based instruction that reflects IB philosophy and demonstrates best practices for interdisciplinary learning.
• Use classroom teaching as a laboratory for instructional innovation and teacher development.
• Build the foundational systems, structures, and documentation required for IB authorization.
• Develop a replicable model for inquiry-driven instruction and interdisciplinary learning.
• Support the recruitment, onboarding, and training of founding teachers.
• Collaborate with school leadership to design schoolwide routines, culture systems, and academic structures.
• Embrace feedback, adapt flexibly, and model a growth mindset in a dynamic founding environment.

Benefits

• Employer-paid medical, dental, and vision insurance for individual employees.

What This Job Offers

• Job Type: Full-time
• Career Level: Entry Level