Director of the Idea & Design Lab

Location: Morristown, New Jersey | Type: Full Time | Start Date: August 24, 2026

About the Role

The Peck School, a coed, K-8, independent school in Morristown, NJ, seeks a Director of the Idea & Design Lab for the upcoming school year. This position is an excellent opportunity for an innovative and highly motivated educator-leader to join a community that prizes lifelong learning. The Osborn Idea & Design Lab is the creative heartbeat of Peck’s Upper School, where curiosity, innovation, engineering, and emerging technologies converge to solve authentic problems.

We are seeking an educational innovator who envisions the Lab as a dynamic hub of exploration and invention—a place where students eagerly create and teachers actively integrate hands-on learning. Whether students are prototyping with 3D printers, designing with laser cutters, building and programming robots, soldering circuits, exploring AI, or bringing ideas to life through rapid iteration, the Director fosters a culture where imagination meets purposeful design. This role offers the opportunity to shape one of the School's most exciting learning environments and continually redefine what future-ready, hands-on learning can look like.

As a core member of a highly collaborative team, the Director of the Idea & Design Lab drives transformational learning in 5th through 8th-grade classes and electives. The Director will teach and cultivate creativity, innovation, and a deep understanding of the design process while providing hands-on technology experiences. Additionally, the Director will collaborate closely with Upper School teachers (grades 5-8) and the technology team to seamlessly integrate technology into the curriculum, aligning with learning goals and objectives. The role also involves strategic planning and executing a clearly defined scope and sequence for the technology curriculum and training.

Responsibilities

• Educational Technology & AI Leadership: Serve as one of the Upper School's educational technology leaders, shaping how emerging technologies, including artificial intelligence, enhance teaching and learning. Partner with faculty to identify meaningful opportunities for AI integration, lead professional learning, evaluate new tools, and ensure students develop the knowledge, habits, and ethical understanding needed to use these technologies responsibly.
• Faculty Support & Curricular Development: Act as the Upper School Tech Integration Specialist, meeting regularly with grade-level teams (5-8) to discuss current and upcoming units of study. Support and enrich student understanding by making curricular connections and sharing best practices for technology integration. Ensure foundational technology skill development, LMS management, and program innovation while leveraging faculty expertise to amplify student learning.
• Professional Development: Design and facilitate engaging professional learning that empowers faculty to thoughtfully integrate technology and AI into their teaching. Foster a culture of experimentation, collaboration, and continual growth as teachers explore new ways to enhance student learning.
• Lead in the Ethical Use of Technology: Promote Peck’s mission and core values through responsible and ethical technology use. Model and teach digital citizenship skills, including online safety, AI literacy, cyberbullying awareness, and responsible use.
• Classroom Instruction: Teach technology and design classes in grades 5-8, instructing students in skills and techniques related to design, engineering, coding, electronics, and maker activities. Foster a culture of curiosity, experimentation, and creativity among all students.
• Student Engagement: Encourage students to identify and pursue their own Project-Based Learning projects, supporting their independent learning journeys. Lead the Robotics team and mentor 8th-grade students for their technology-related Capstone projects.
• Manage the Osborn Idea & Design Lab: Foster an innovative and welcoming learning space that emphasizes Design Thinking. Oversee inventory and procurement of supplies and equipment, including 3D printers, laser cutters, sewing and embroidery machines. Enforce safety guidelines and protocols to ensure student well-being and equipment integrity. Conduct and/or coordinate equipment maintenance and repairs as needed.

Qualifications

• Hold a Bachelor’s Degree.
• Previous experience inspiring middle school students and developing impactful curriculum.
• Strong understanding of computational thinking routines, block- and text-based coding, engineering, design principles, and making.
• Proficiency in Google Workspace and web-based software and programs.
• Proclivity toward making/fabrication and engagement in professional development in this field.
• Understanding of 3D printers, laser cutters, sewing and embroidery machines, soldering, basic electronics, Micro:Bits/Arduino/Raspberry Pi, AR/VR, and machine learning/AI.

Skills

• Classroom Management: Encourage positive student behavior and build a strong classroom community through effective management.
• Communication Skills: Use excellent oral and written communication skills to maintain open lines of communication with peers, administrators, faculty, students, and parents. Provide updates on student progress, skill development, and classroom activities while cultivating strong home-school partnerships. Ability to work with students in a supportive and productive manner.
• Collaboration Skills: Consistently collaborate positively with a team of talented faculty and supportive administrators. Demonstrate excellent time management skills and an understanding of how timeliness and responsibility impact the whole community.
• Community Engagement: Engage in and support a positive, healthy faculty culture. Participation at Peck includes investing in the whole life of the school—from attending interscholastic sports games or the musical to joining committees and task forces that advance school initiatives and support community-wide events.
• Cultural Awareness: Demonstrate the ability and desire to understand, appreciate, and interact with people from other cultures or belief systems. Dedication to supporting students’ academic, social, and emotional well-being.

About the School

The Peck School, a coeducational K-8 independent school in Morristown, New Jersey, inspires students to learn rigorously, grow in character, and lead healthy, productive, and principled lives. Since its founding in 1893, Peck has stood for excellence in education. We seek professionals who wish to join our vibrant community—individuals excited to share their expertise and collaborate to create a culture of belonging.

Benefits & Pay

The Peck School offers top-tier pay, exceptionally strong benefits, and a robust professional development program. Salaries for full-time faculty are based on a banded salary schedule informed by years of experience and benchmark data, ranging from $65,000 to $110,000+.

Eligible employees receive a comprehensive benefits plan, including:

• Group health, dental, and vision insurance.
• Health savings accounts and flexible spending accounts.
• A 403(b) retirement plan.
• Paid time off (sick leave, vacation, holidays).
• Professional development opportunities.