About Ascend Ascend is a network of high-performing charter schools serving students across Brooklyn. Our mission is to ensure that all students have access to an education that empowers them to unlock their full potential, achieve academic excellence, and pursue a future of boundless opportunity. We cultivate rigorous learning environments where students develop critical thinking skills, confidence, and a lifelong love of learning. At Ascend, educational equity is a driving force. We are committed to closing the achievement gap by delivering high-quality instruction, fostering a culture of high expectations, and equipping every student with the knowledge and skills needed to excel in college and beyond. Through this unwavering commitment, we prepare students not only to succeed academically but to seize every opportunity that lies ahead. About the Role The Director of Science, K-8 is a dynamic leader who develops, implements, and oversees a comprehensive science program that achieves measurable learning outcomes for students in kindergarten through eighth grade. Reporting to the Network Director of Science, the Director of Science K-8 will drive the science program's vision, implementation, and development across our elementary and middle schools, ensuring that leaders and teachers are equipped with the knowledge, skills, and resources to achieve. The Director of Science, K-8, will lead the refinement and evolution of our K-8 Science curriculum, working closely with the Associate Director of STEM to ensure we continue strengthening our curricular program to support best-in-class implementation and instruction across our schools. They serve as the primary subject matter expert for K-8 Science curriculum, providing authoritative guidance and leadership on scientific pedagogy, content standards, and instructional strategies across the network. Competencies Instructional Expertise * Demonstrates comprehensive expertise in K-8 Science curriculum development and implementation, with a proven ability to coach teachers and instructional leaders in delivering high-quality science education. * Established record of improving student achievement across all performance levels in STEM subjects, both through direct instructional leadership and by developing effective teaching practices in others. * Skilled at creating rigorous, inclusive learning environments that drive academic growth for all students. * Strong capacity to invest, train, and coach adults in implementing science instructional practices in elementary and middle schools. * An expert at leading Intellectual Preparation, Student Work Analysis, and Data Analysis meetings that equip teachers to lead exemplary instruction in K-8 Science classrooms. * Demonstrates expertise at designing intentional adult learning experiences through professional development, shared observation, student work and data study, and intellectual preparation meetings. Strategic Curricular Design * Ability to articulate how STEM content progression builds across grade levels and academic models, ensuring vertical alignment and developmental appropriateness. * Skill in analyzing and responding to student achievement data at multiple levels (individual, classroom, grade, and school-wide) to inform STEM instructional improvements Data Driven Leadership * Proficiency in utilizing questions, question taxonomy, and objective-aligned data to identify areas of strength and opportunity across student, classroom, grade, and school-wide contexts * Mastery of the design data response plans to close academic gaps in STEM. * Ability to use data to inform and invest leaders and teachers in specific decision-making and response plans. Purpose-Driven & Committed to Impact * Deeply invested in the mission, vision, core values, and value proposition of Ascend, and grounds all curricular decisions in these values. * Builds trusted relationships with teachers and school leaders, ensuring that curricular decisions support learning at our campuses. * Communicates academic information in an accessible, non-technical manner, building the network's capacity to make decisions grounded in our core instructional design principles. Responsibilities, including, but not limited to: * Lead the design of our curricular selection, pacing, and implementation across the K-8 Science program. * Lead the vision, scope and goals for all Ascend K-8 Science materials and their implementation. * Lead the design and implementation of best-in-class STEM professional development for our teachers and leaders. * Provide schools with ongoing high-quality feedback on implementing their K-8 Science program. * In partnership with the Directors of Science and Science, design and implement learning experiences for our K-8 instructional leaders that ensure they master the implementation of Intellectual Preparation Meetings, Data Analysis Meeting, Student Work Analysis, and Live Coaching systems. * In collaboration with the Schools Team, build positive and efficient working relations with the Ascend central schools team, the Ascend Learning team, and each school's leadership team. Qualifications * Bachelor's degree, with an advanced degree strongly preferred * Four or more years of teaching experience with exceptional results in Science instruction * Two or more years of experience developing teachers and delivering outstanding professional development with experience developing leaders strongly preferred