Dean of Academics-STEM Focus Middle School
About Us Freedom Preparatory Academy Charter Schools is a network of PreK-12 free public charter schools serving students in Memphis, TN, and Birmingham, AL. Our mission is to prepare all students in grades PreK-12 to excel in college and in life. Since our founding in 2009, we have grown from a class of 96 sixth grade students to now serving over 1950 students across multiple campuses. In 2024, we expanded into Birmingham, AL, starting with grades K-1, with plans to grow to a K-5 campus. At Freedom Prep, we are committed to transforming education for students across the South, ensuring they have access to high-quality educational opportunities that empower them to thrive. Our students have consistently exceeded local and state averages in math and surpassed local benchmarks in English Language Arts on state assessments. Our mission is guided by three core beliefs: every child deserves a high-quality public education, character development is essential to student success, and exposure to diverse opportunities builds the confidence and skills needed to excel in college and in life. At Freedom Prep, we cultivate a structured, academically rigorous environment that fosters excellence in core subjects, promotes advanced academic skills, and encourages students to embody the core values of Respect, Responsibility, Integrity, Excellence, and Community. Position Summary This position supports and oversees various facets of the school’s operation that directly impacts learning in the instructional aspects. The Dean of Academics-STEM Focus will be responsible for direct oversight of all instructional staff in the school, including monitoring classroom instruction, managing internal and external assessment data, and curriculum development. Essential Job Functions Serves as instructional leader with oversight of curriculum development and student assessment (internal and external). Oversees professional development of all education staff. Supervises the daily instructional work of teachers. Conducts weekly teacher observations and provides feedback on performance. Communicates regularly with the Head of School concerning student achievement, curriculum development, professional development, staff evaluations, and budgetary needs for each. Ensures appropriate rigor on internal assessments by building assessments prior to the school year for content areas taught by direct reports, including benchmark scores to indicate appropriate level of mastery. Builds and/or vets yearlong sequence of objectives for each course taught by a direct report prior to teacher orientation. Implements effective internal assessment systems to monitor academic progress of students throughout the year. Implements and oversees systems for data analysis of all internal and external assessments. Ensures curriculum alignment with standards for the State of Tennessee. Seeks and shares curriculum best practices from other schools and professional journals. Reinforces school-wide rules and expectations in the classroom and lesson planning. Communicates effectively and maintains strong relationships with students, families and colleagues. Maintains the school culture of high academic and behavioral expectations through continuous reflection. Maintains accurate, complete and correct records as required by law, and district and administrative regulations. Works an extended school day to allow for collaboration, professional development, and ample communication with parents and other staff members. Performs other related duties as assigned or directed. Minimum Qualifications Education: Bachelor’s Degree required from an accredited college or university. Master’s Degree preferred. Certification: Tennessee Professional Educator License; Eligibility for Tennessee Professional Educator License; Considered highly-qualified based on NCLB guidelines. Experience: Four years of urban teaching experience preferred; 1 years experience leading and/or coaching teachers (with STEM Focus); Experienced classroom teacher with demonstrated, quantifiable and objective student performance gains that surpass state or local averages. Knowledge, Skills, and Abilities: Results-driven educational leader with a commitment to standards-based curriculum and data-driven instructional decisions. Good problem-solving ability and good judgment. Familiarity with cultural diversity. Ability to work collaboratively with staff, families, and community members. Creativity, resourcefulness, and reflective practices. Strong interpersonal skills and professional demeanor. Detail-oriented with strong organizational skills. Experience managing an urban classroom with structure, incentives, and high expectations to drive student success. Ability to work with a variety of learning abilities in a heterogeneous classroom setting. Benefits and Compensation We are excited to share that Freedom Prep prioritizes transparency in compensation. Salary scales are available online for view. Please check our website for details. Additional benefits include a focus on staff well-being and professional development, and opportunities to support licensure. Our Commitment Freedom Preparatory Academy is actively seeking to build an experienced team of educators. We do not discriminate on the basis of race, color, gender, handicap, age, religion, sexual orientation, or national or ethnic origin. We are an equal opportunity employer. J-18808-Ljbffr
