Director of High School Academics- January 2027 Start Date

About the Role

Start Date: January 2027

Mission of NCS: The mission of Neighborhood Charter Schools is to empower every scholar to discover their unique potential and develop the knowledge, character, and courage to shape a better future for themselves, their communities, and the world. Through an exceptional, rigorous, and inclusive K-12 education, we cultivate scholars who lead with LIGHT, equipping them to think critically, embrace lifelong learning, and lead with purpose. We foster a community where every scholar, including autistic children and scholars with IEPs, belongs, every difference is celebrated, and every learner is empowered to thrive. Every Learner. Every Pathway. Every Chance to Thrive.

The Opportunity: NCS is launching its first high school, and the Director of High School Academics will build its academic program from the ground up. This is a founding role: in partnership with the Chief Academic & Schools Officer, you will set the instructional vision for grades 9-12 and build the curriculum, assessment, and coaching systems that carry it as the school grows one grade at a time. The Director sets the vision for network academic resources and support for the high school, defines academic expectations and deliverables, and owns the high school assessment strategy. You partner with the High School Principal to translate that vision into campus-specific execution. You also work alongside the K-8 Academic Team to ensure a coherent K-12 program, so that students move from 8th to 9th grade with no gaps in content, skills, or supports. In the founding years, you will lead curriculum and instructional coaching directly. As the high school expands to 11th grade, you will hire and manage two Assistant Directors (STEM and Humanities) and shift toward leading through them.

Reporting Structure

The Director reports to the Chief Academic and Schools Officer (CASO) and works closely with the High School Principal and Assistant Principals, the K-8 Academic Team, and the MD of Student Support Services. Once the high school reaches 11th grade, the Director will manage two Assistant Directors (STEM and Humanities).

Responsibilities

Vision and program design

• Set the instructional vision for grades 9-12, grounded in NCS's commitment to inclusion as instructional design, not accommodation
• Assist in the design of the high school course sequence and graduation pathway in line with New York State diploma requirements, including credit accrual, course offerings, and pathways to advanced and college-level coursework
• Partner with the High School Principal to align on roles, campus-specific execution, and the master schedule
• Partner with the K-8 Academic Team to build vertical alignment across grades 8 and 9. During SY 26-27, support Grades 5-8 teaching and learning

Curriculum

• Select, adapt, and, where needed, write high school curriculum and scope and sequences across all core content areas
• Manage curriculum partners and writers
• Ensure curriculum is implemented with fidelity and that teachers have the resources they need
• Evaluate instructional materials in collaboration with school leadership
• Ensure curriculum is accessible to students with disabilities, including autistic students, and to multilingual learners

Assessment and data

• Own the high school assessment strategy, from interim and in-house exams to state assessments
• Track and adapt to New York's evolving graduation and assessment requirements, including changes to the Regents exams
• Build systems for monitoring student progress toward graduation, including credits, course passing, and on-track indicators
• Lead teachers and leaders in using data to drive instructional decisions

Instructional coaching and leadership development

• Observe classrooms and give actionable feedback to teachers
• Lead grade-level and department meetings focused on lesson planning, intellectual preparation, and student work analysis
• Coach Assistant Principals on content- and curriculum-focused instructional leadership
• Lead the codification of high school grading, credit, and transcript policies

College and career readiness

• Build academic pathways that prepare every student for college and career, including advanced coursework and dual enrollment options
• Partner with Student Support Services on transition planning for students with IEPs

Team building

• Participate in hiring founding high school teachers
• Hire, onboard, and manage the STEM and Humanities Assistant Directors as the school expands to 11th grade
• Serve as a key member of the network academic team and the high school leadership team
• Other responsibilities as determined by the CASO

Requirements

• A committed leader aligned with the mission of NCS and its inclusive model
• A builder who is energized by launching something new and is comfortable with ambiguity in a school's founding years
• A collaborative professional who works flexibly within a diverse team of teachers and leaders
• Bachelor's degree (required); NY State SBL/SDL certification (preferred); Master's degree (preferred)
• 5+ years of high school teaching experience and 2+ years of instructional coaching or leadership experience (preferred)
• Experience as a department chair, grade-level chair, or in a school or network leadership role is highly desirable
• Working knowledge of New York State high school graduation requirements, Regents exams, Portrait of a Graduate, and credit and transcript systems
• Experience launching or scaling a new school,