Director, Science

Reports to: Executive Director, Math and Science | 239-day contract | FLSA Status: Exempt

Position Purpose

Leads the design, implementation, and continuous improvement of a coherent PK–12 science system anchored in high-quality instructional materials and the district’s instructional framework. This role ensures that science instruction across all grade levels is rigorous, standards-aligned, and consistently executed, with strong lesson internalization and the use of common assessments and Demonstrations of Learning (DOLs) to drive instructional response. The Director ensures the design, writing, and refinement of high-quality lessons and instructional resources that enable teachers to deeply internalize content and deliver instruction effectively. Supervises science coordinators and holds responsibility for aligning curriculum, instruction, assessment, and professional learning into a unified system—eliminating fragmentation and ensuring all students, including emergent bilinguals and students with disabilities, access grade-level content with appropriate scaffolds that maintain rigor.

Responsibilities

• Leads the design and implementation of districtwide PK–12 science curriculum and common assessments grounded in high-quality instructional materials (HQIM) and evidence-based science practices.
• Ensures all lessons and instructional resources are tightly aligned to HQIM, reflect best-in-class science practices, and are built for strong Tier 1 instruction for all students.
• Ensures instructional coherence across all grade levels through consistent use of HQIM, aligned lesson design, and the district’s Instructional Framework.
• Guides the design, writing, and refinement of HQIM-aligned lessons and instructional resources that drive deep teacher internalization and effective, rigorous lesson delivery.
• Ensures scaffolds are intentionally designed and embedded within HQIM-aligned lessons to increase access for all students—including emergent bilinguals and students with disabilities—without reducing rigor.
• Supervises, coaches, and evaluates science coordinators, ensuring a high-performance culture through clear expectations, strong performance management, and accountability for quality, timelines, and impact.
• Ensures coordinators are aligned to HQIM implementation, curriculum design, and instructional priorities, and are producing high-quality outputs that drive teacher and student outcomes.
• Collaborates across Curriculum & Instruction, School Leadership, and other departments to ensure HQIM, science priorities, and instructional supports are aligned into a unified system.
• Ensures professional learning is tightly aligned to HQIM, the district’s Instructional Framework, and science priorities, directly supporting effective lesson internalization and delivery.
• Establishes and maintains systems to monitor curriculum quality, fidelity of HQIM implementation, strength of Tier 1 instruction, and impact on student achievement across PK–12.
• Designs and implements assessment systems, including common assessments and Demonstrations of Learning (DOLs), aligned to HQIM and grade-level standards to measure mastery and inform instructional refinement.
• Analyzes instructional and program data to evaluate progress toward goals and identify areas for improvement in HQIM implementation, lesson quality, and student outcomes.
• Monitors the overall impact of science initiatives, ensuring alignment to district goals and measurable outcomes.
• Shares progress reports and ensures the development of aligned action steps to address identified needs.
• Supports the implementation of extended learning opportunities in collaboration with district personnel and community partners, aligned to science priorities and HQIM.
• Maintains a flexible work schedule to meet the demands of the role, including regular campus visits, professional learning sessions, and occasional evenings or weekends to support district priorities and ensure high-quality implementation.
• Selects, trains, supervises, and evaluates coordinators, acceleration science teachers, and support staff, and makes recommendations relative to assignment, retention, discipline, and dismissal.

Qualifications

• Bachelor’s degree from accredited college or university required; major in Education, Science, or content-related field preferred.
• Valid Texas Teaching Certification in the area of Science preferred.
• Minimum of 5 years of progressively responsible experience in education, including a combination of classroom, campus, district, or related leadership roles required.
• At least 3 years of successful classroom teaching experience in Science, with a verifiable track record of driving strong student outcomes required.
• At least 2 years of instructional leadership experience at the campus or central office level required.
• Demonstrated, verifiable track record of driving measurable improvements in student achievement in school and/or district central office settings within the past 5 years required.
• Experience in curriculum design and implementation of high-quality instructional materials (HQIM) required at campus and/or district level preferred.
• Experience leading instructional work across multiple schools or teams, including managing through indirect authority, preferred.

Skills

• Deep knowledge of PK–12 science instruction, including foundational and secondary science, and the design of coherent, grade-level systems.
• Knowledge of best-in-class science practices that accelerate student outcomes at scale, and the ability to translate those practices into curriculum, instruction, and assessment.
• Expertise in the implementation and scaling of high-quality instructional materials (HQIM) to drive rigorous Tier 1 instruction.
• Strong knowledge of lesson design, including standards alignment, embedded scaffolds that maintain rigor, acceleration within grade-level content, and the use of Demonstrations of Learning (DOLs).
• Knowledge of assessment systems, including common assessments, progress monitoring, and alignment to accountability expectations.
• Knowledge of effective instructional practices for diverse learners, including emergent bilingual students and students with disabilities, within Tier 1 settings.
• Skill in designing and aligning curriculum, instruction, and assessment into a coherent PK–12 system.
• Skill in leading large-scale instructional initiatives, including HQIM implementation and curriculum development.
• Skill in building and managing high-performing teams, including establishing clear expectations, driving a high-performance culture, and executing strong performance management.
• Skill in developing high-quality instructional resources that enable strong teacher internalization and effective lesson delivery.
• Skill in using qualitative and quantitative data to drive decisions, improve instruction, and monitor impact on student outcomes.
• Skill in collaborating across departments to ensure alignment, coherence, and effective execution of district priorities.
• Strong written and verbal communication skills, with the ability to influence and align stakeholders at all levels of the organization.
• Ability to translate strategy into clear, executable systems that improve classroom instruction and student outcomes.
• Ability to manage complexity across multiple workstreams while maintaining focus, coherence, and quality.
• Ability to lead through both direct and indirect authority to drive alignment and results.
• Ability to analyze student outcome data, identify trends, and communicate clear, actionable insights.
• Ability to plan, prioritize, and execute work in a fast-paced environment with competing demands.
• Ability to build strong working relationships across departments, campuses, and the broader community.
• Ability to maintain high standards of professionalism, accountability, and continuous improvement.

Pay

$118,479 - $142,748

Schedule

239 days per year

Physical and Mental Demands

• Tools/Equipment Used: Standard office equipment including computer and peripherals.
• Posture: Prolonged sitting; occasional stooping, squatting, kneeling, bending, pushing/pulling, and twisting.
• Motion: Frequent repetitive hand motions, including keyboarding and use of mouse; occasional reaching.
• Lifting: Occasional light lifting and carrying (less than 15 pounds).
• Environment: Works in an office setting; may require occasional irregular and/or prolonged hours.
• Attendance: Regular and punctual attendance at the worksite is required for this position.
• Mental Demands: Maintains emotional control under stress; works with frequent interruptions.

Travel Requirements

Travels to school district buildings and professional meetings as required.