Director, STEM Strategy

Office:

Office of Teaching and Learning

Date Posted:

12/19/2025

Salary Range:

1-5 / $115,320 - $130,146

NTE Date:

N/A

Position Overview

The mission of the Office of Teaching and Learning (OTL) is to provide educators with curricular resources, academic programs, and aligned professional development to ensure rigorous and joyful learning experiences for every student. OTL team members support school-based staff in implementing DCPS's existing academic programs while simultaneously working to rethink and redesign school programming, academic and curricular resources and educator professional development.

Divisions/Teams

• Content and Curriculum: The Content and Curriculum division sets the vision for equity and excellence for each content area in DCPS schools by researching, creating, and curating curricular materials and providing aligned professional development experiences to ensure that all students have access to rigorous and joyful learning experiences every day in every content area. Additionally, the team sets a vision for serving the whole child and closing the opportunity gap through leading the work in academic programming, innovation and high-potential learners.
• Extended Learning and Academic Recovery: The Extended Learning and Academic Recovery division oversees most of DCPS' K-12 summer school programs including enrichment and retention programs in alignment with the laws and regulations of the District of Columbia. Additionally, the team oversees the largest group of afterschool programs with the 21st Century Community Learning Centers grant and meets the needs of high potential students in grades K-5 through the Schoolwide Enrichment Model (SEM.)
• Language Acquisition: The Language Acquisition division welcomes families of linguistically and culturally diverse backgrounds to DCPS, leads the process of identifying English Learner students, and supports schools in developing programs that supports English language acquisition and academic growth.
• Professional Learning and Educational Technology: The Professional Learning and Educational Technology division sets a vision for professional development for DCPS as well as creates systems, tools, and structures to increase the efficacy of professional learning and educational technology initiatives. This work includes LEAP, cluster-based PD, district PD and other learning opportunities. The team works across all DCPS offices to increase the cohesion of professional development and broad sharing of knowledge, while exploring new avenues and opportunities for meaningful development and learning for our educators.
• Specialized Instruction: The Specialized Instruction division works to reduce the opportunity gap between students with IEPs and their non-disabled peers; and increases equity and excellence in schools through specific academic programming, related services, professional learning, school leadership development, family engagement, dispute resolution, and community partnerships.

The Content and Curriculum division is responsible for leading OTL's work in the areas of English Language Arts, Mathematics, Science, Social Studies, World Languages, and Dual Language. Additionally, the team oversees related formative assessments, interventions, and the development of curriculum and professional development for teachers.

Team members support school-based staff in implementing DCPS's existing academic programs while simultaneously working to rethink and redesign school programming, academic and curricular resources and educator professional development.

The Director, STEM Strategy is responsible for the development, implementation, and oversight of the district strategy towards student acceleration in STEM and equitable opportunities for advancement. The Director will analyze the effectiveness of curriculum, assessments, interventions, and professional development with a specific focus on ensuring alignment to research-based practices and innovative pathways increasing equity in STEM for students. Additionally, the Director will collaborate closely with the elementary and secondary math and science directors to ensure comprehensive and innovative programming in math is consistent across the agency and operates in cycles of continual improvement.

The Director, STEM Strategy will report to the Senior Director, STEM.

Essential Duties and Responsibilities

The below statements are intended to describe the general nature and scope of work being performed by this position. This is not a complete listing of all responsibilities, duties, and/or skills required. Other duties may be assigned.

• Works with the Directors of Elementary and Secondary Math and Science to research strategic and innovative initiatives in math education to improve teacher practice and student performance.
• Collaborates with the Directors of Elementary and Secondary Mathematics and Science in the development of vision and strategy for DCPS acceleration and advancement in math to include effective implementation and evaluation of math curriculum, assessments and interventions, and their impact on measuring and increasing student outcomes.
• Sets clear, specific, and ambitious performance measures related to the overall implementation of strategic initiatives in STEM to include a focus on academic acceleration and increased opportunities for student advancement in STEM content.
• Works with colleagues within OTL and across offices to ensure comprehensive monitoring of student growth, identification of targeted growth areas for specific groups of students, and effectiveness of implementation of aligned interventions.
• Works closely with OSIS to increase strategic implementation of math and science curriculum and interventions, as well as works collaboratively with the directors of elementary and secondary math and science in the facilitation of conversations regarding the analysis of student outcomes in math and science through the implementation of MTSS.
• Develops programmatic policies to support advancement of students in STEM through increasing equitable access to course content and oversees pilots for key initiatives.
• Works with content directors, instructional superintendents and school leaders to assess district needs of STEM instruction and resources and collaborates in the identification of resources and creation of professional development opportunities to address those needs and increase the quality of STEM instruction in DCPS.
• Provides professional development to district and school-based leadership.
• Oversees the analysis and presentation of math and science data and progress of data-driven initiatives for content directors, senior leadership, and external audiences, as well as the communication of progress to key stakeholders ensuring a process for garnering and responding to their input is included.
• Creates detailed timelines for each initiative; assesses and tracks progress regularly using various computer programs and tools; and drives project completion leveraging clear communication regarding responsibilities and deadlines.
• Interviews and surveys other colleagues and management teams to determine opportunities for improvement; researches specific issues; and develops detailed recommendations and implementation plans to resolve issues.
• Builds relationships and liaises with various internal departments to drive collaboration and project success; and interacts with and responds effectively to urgent requests from multiple internal and external DCPS stakeholders to include school communities, staff, central office staff, and external design partners to determine opportunities for continual improvement.

Qualifications

• Bachelor's degree and five to seven years of related work experience.
• Master's degree preferred.
• Previous exposure to or experience in the math education sector a plus.
• A deep desire to excel, persevere, and proactively identify opportunities to innovate.
• Experience managing large scale projects.
• Experience using qualitative and quantitative data to design and evaluate programs.
• Extremely high expectations of oneself, colleagues, and clients; ability to communicate those expectations in a direct and motivating way; deep commitment to professional growth and learning; and thrives in a culture of continuous feedback.
• Excellent written and oral communication skills.
• Strong organizational skills and ability to work under tight deadlines; ability to multitask and self-manage the deadlines of competing projects.
• Experience creating and managing systems to collect and monitor programmatic data, meeting benchmark indicators, and innovating solutions when necessary.
• Ability to learn quickly, work in a fast-paced and evolving environment, and handle multiple priorities effectively.
• Outstanding interpersonal, teamwork, and management skills.
• Strong acumen engaging in conversations and producing work products centered in equity and inclusion best practices.

• STUDENTS FIRST: We recognize students as whole children and put their needs first in everything we do.
• COURAGE: We have the audacity to learn from our successes and failures, to try new things, and to lead the nation as a proof point of PK-12 success.
• EQUITY: We work proactively to eliminate opportunity gaps by interrupting institutional bias and investing in effective strategies to ensure every student succeeds.
• EXCELLENCE: We work with integrity and hold ourselves accountable for exemplary outcomes, service, and interactions.
• TEAMWORK: We recognize that our greatest asset is our collective vision and ability to work collaboratively and authentically.
• JOY: We enjoy our collective work and will enthusiastically celebrate our success and each other.

We are an equal opportunity employer and are committed to creating an inclusive, accessible workplace. We welcome and encourage applications from individuals with disabilities. Accommodation and/or application assistance is available upon request at all stages of the application and employment process. To request accommodation, please contact