Stem Department Chair (Mathematics & Sciences)

Davis Chicago•Chicago, IL

12h

About The Position

Davis School Chicago is hiring a founding STEM Department Chair to build and lead its mathematics, science, engineering, and computer science program while teaching every day. The Chair is the academic and instructional leader of the department and a member of the school’s academic leadership team, reporting to the Principal. In the launch years, the role includes a substantial teaching load; as the school grows, it is designed to include more dedicated time for curriculum development, classroom observation and coaching, and professional development planning. The Chair will establish a cohesive departmental vision and develop an innovative, vertically aligned, college-preparatory curriculum that reflects the school’s mission and values. The role includes authority to design the STEM course sequence from first principles, with ambitious models welcome so long as the program meets or exceeds AP frameworks and prepares students for selective colleges. The Chair will promote interdisciplinary learning, evidence-based instruction, student-centered pedagogy, authentic assessment, scientific inquiry, creativity, innovation, problem-solving, and intellectual curiosity. As a founding leader at a school opening in fall 2027, the Chair will help build the department, its faculty culture, programs, systems, and traditions from the ground up. The school describes its culture as combining deep human warmth with uncompromising intellectual excellence. It is a proudly Jewish, college-preparatory high school, and the role values engagement with Jewish identity and community; being Jewish is not a requirement. The anticipated annual salary range is $77,543–$137,099, with an additional leadership differential of $4,000–$8,000 based on leadership experience. Salary placement depends on relevant experience and educational attainment and follows the school’s established compensation structure. Benefits include paid time off, holiday pay, medical insurance, and a 401(k) plan with employer match.

Requirements

Master’s degree in Education, Educational Leadership, Science, Mathematics, Engineering, Computer Science, or a related field.
At least 3 years of successful secondary (grades 6–12) STEM teaching experience.
Some form of leadership experience with adults.
Ability to teach daily while building and leading a department.
Experience or capability in instructional leadership, curriculum and assessment design, teacher coaching, and building a collaborative department culture.

Nice To Haves

Doctorate.
Illinois Professional Educator License, preferably in high school mathematics and science.
National Board Certification; described as a major plus/highly preferred.
High school (grades 9–12) teaching experience.
Department, administrative, or instructional leadership experience.
Experience at a college-preparatory, independent, Jewish day, or faith-based school.
Fewer years of experience may be considered when accompanied by exceptional craft; the school states it hires for mastery, not seat time.

Responsibilities

Develop and articulate a STEM education vision aligned with the school’s mission, strategic priorities, and educational philosophy.
Design, implement, evaluate, and continuously improve a vertically aligned STEM curriculum across mathematics, science, engineering, and computer science.
Architect the STEM course sequence, ensuring curricular coherence, rigor, relevance, and preparation for selective colleges; meet or exceed AP frameworks.
Promote interdisciplinary learning connecting STEM with humanities, Jewish studies, arts, and real-world issues.
Monitor research, best practices, and innovations in STEM education, including artificial intelligence, engineering, computer science, sustainability, and innovation education.
Analyze student achievement data and assessment outcomes to strengthen teaching and learning.
Build a department culture that values inquiry, creativity, innovation, problem-solving, and intellectual curiosity, informed by accomplished-practice standards for mathematics and science teaching.
Build relationships with universities, research institutions, technology organizations, healthcare systems, and industry partners; develop signature STEM experiences.
Represent STEM education within the school and broader community and showcase student achievement through competitions, presentations, exhibitions, and public events.
Recruit, hire, onboard, mentor, supervise, and evaluate department faculty.
Foster a collaborative professional culture focused on growth, reflective practice, instructional excellence, accountability, collegiality, and shared responsibility for student success.
Coach teachers through regular feedback and support; lead department meetings, professional learning, curriculum reviews, and collaborative planning.
Facilitate weekly common planning centered on student work and lead a peer observation and coaching cycle focused on targeted instructional areas.
Co-lead the school’s instructional leadership team.
Teach daily and model exemplary teaching and instructional leadership.
Support faculty in creating engaging, student-centered classrooms that challenge students and nurture student voice and agency.
Ensure curriculum and instruction prepare students for selective colleges and universities; master the AP frameworks anchoring the STEM sequence.
Promote inquiry-based learning, mathematical reasoning, laboratory research, project-based experiences, and authentic assessments.
Advance the effective integration of educational technology and emerging instructional tools.
Develop co-curricular STEM programs, including robotics, mathematics competitions, science research, coding, engineering, and innovation initiatives.
Champion portfolio-worthy student work, including original research, engineering projects, publications, and competition results.
Partner with college counseling and families to support students’ academic growth and STEM goals.
Maintain a visible, engaged presence in school life and help cultivate belonging, respect, dialogue, and intellectual engagement.
Serve as a thought partner to the Principal and academic leadership team; participate in strategic planning and school-wide initiatives.
Contribute to accreditation, assessment, and school improvement efforts.
Assist with departmental budgets, laboratories, makerspaces, equipment, and technology resources.
Ensure safety standards, risk management policies, laboratory protocols, and applicable reporting, accreditation, and regulatory requirements are followed.
Coordinate department scheduling, course offerings, and staffing needs.
Help establish traditions, signature programs, and distinguishing features of the Davis Chicago STEM program.