Faculty - Science/Chair

Overview Saint Andrew’s School, Boca Raton, FL, United States, has engaged DovetailED to lead this search. Interested candidates should email a cover letter (addressed to Assistant Head of School, Chris Harth), a resume, and a list of at least three professional references consolidated as a single PDF document to Zack Lehman at View email address on click.appcast.io and Jill Salmon, Recruiter, at View email address on click.appcast.io. Please do not contact the school directly. The Opportunity: Leading with Purpose in the Age of AI. The incoming Science Department Chair joins Saint Andrew’s at an exciting moment in the life of the school. As we continue to advance the “World Class Excellence” pillar of our Strategic Plan, the Chair will partner with school leadership (and ISM) to lead a comprehensive curricular review that does not just update our program, but reimagines and reconfigures it for 2030 and beyond. Key Strategic Priorities Reimagining Science Pathways: Aligning with our 2025-26 institutional theme of “Purpose,” the Chair will help lead the process to redesign the PK-12 scope and sequence with a view toward helping students find the intersection of their deep interests and the world’s needs. This involves considering flexible, personalized paths that allow students to pursue specialized arcs in Engineering, Biotechnology, and Data Science while discovering their own larger purpose. Unifying the Innovation Ecosystem: The Chair will serve as an important bridge between disciplines, creating “connective tissue” that links Robotics, Engineering, Computer Science, and the Entrepreneurship program. By optimizing the use of our maker spaces, the Dr. Albert Cohen Family Center for Entrepreneurial Studies, and the Schmidt Family Science Center, the Chair will work collaboratively to foster an environment where “doing science” means solving real-world problems – integrating the design thinking of engineering with the ethical reasoning of the humanities. Architecting AI Engagement & Innovation: Building on our working AI Roadmap, the Chair will help move the department toward AI literacy and fluency, where students work alongside AI to prototype solutions and audit models. The Chair will help define the role of technology in our science programs by operationalizing our “Human First, AI Augmented” philosophy, ensuring that while students utilize advanced technological tools, the teacher remains the heart of instruction. Cultivating Engagement & Belonging: Building on the foundations of our recent “Belonging” and “Engagement” themes, the Chair will use data-driven insights to champion a culture where every student – regardless of background – feels a deep sense of “interpersonal connectedness” in the school’s classrooms and labs and is empowered to be an “engaged citizen” who leads positive change. Position Summary Academic Department Chairs collaborate with the Assistant Head of School, the Dean of Studies, and the Lower, Middle, and Upper School division heads, as well as IB coordinators, in the development and delivery of mission-aligned curriculum and instructional practices. The Chair is responsible for leading the successful implementation of high-quality educational programs and managing the professional performance of the faculty in their department, while modeling the Portrait of a Scot and contributing positively to the life of the school. The Chair of the Science Department provides instructional coaching for departmental faculty and is responsible for the development and implementation of an aligned sequencing of science coursework. Collaborating with the Assistant Head of School, Dean of Studies, and Division Heads, the Chair will lead the development and delivery of a mission-aligned curriculum that emphasizes “doing science” through phenomena-based learning and the engineering design process. A key priority for this role is to operationalize the findings of the School’s ongoing STEM review, specifically by using engineering design as the “connective tissue” between disciplines and ensuring that inquiry-based investigation becomes the norm across all divisions. Duties and Responsibilities Provide leadership, mentorship, and guidance to faculty while promoting positive morale and creating productive relationships with colleagues, students, parents, and administrators Collaborate with the Assistant Head, Division Heads, and Director of Human Resources to manage the support and development of departmental faculty according to the Guide to Performance Management Collaborate with the Dean of Studies, Division Heads, and department faculty to develop and implement the scope and sequence of academic coursework, curricular content, course material, and assessment practices, including as part of ongoing curricular/programmatic review process Collaborate with the Dean of Studies and Division Heads regarding faculty teaching assignments, in conjunction with the Assistant Head of School Collaborate with Division Heads and Dean of Studies regarding student placement in department courses Serve on the Academic Affairs Committee and on-point with departmental hiring committees Manage the department budget in conjunction with the Chief Financial and Operating Officer Manage equipment and facility needs of the department in conjunction with Facilities and Business offices Coordinate the daily operation of the department Work with members of department to identify, prioritize, and actualize departmental goals Facilitate regularly scheduled department meetings and discipline-specific professional development Work with parents, faculty, and relevant senior administrators when student concerns arise Serve as an advocate for the success of all students and examine data to implement effective practices to increase student success, in collaboration with Division Heads, faculty, and administrators Explore partnerships, internships, research opportunities, and competitions in which our students can grow and shine, including with other educational institutions, non-profits, and corporate entities (near and far) Coordinate department representation at school-wide events (e.g., open houses, curriculum coffees, etc.) Coordinate department-specific events Teach up to three sections Perform other duties as assigned Qualifications Bachelor’s degree in science or engineering discipline required, with a graduate degree highly preferred Demonstrated experience with NGSS (Next Generation Science Standards) or similar inquiry-based or phenomena-based frameworks Experience leading applied STEM co-curriculars (e.g., robotics) or integrating design thinking into projects Experience integrating Engineering Design processes into core science curriculum strongly preferred A strong background in curriculum and instruction in discipline-specific content Outstanding teaching skills, with a minimum of 5 years teaching experience preferred Outstanding leadership and coaching skills Clear written and oral communication skills, as well as the ability to manage challenging conversations Excellent organizational and project management skills Ability to work effectively with people of diverse backgrounds and promote a positive work environment Commitment to a growth mindset and continuous professional development Physical Demands: Must be able to sit, stand, walk, bend, lift, and for the majority of the work day. May be required to lift up to 25lbs. Equal Opportunity Saint Andrew’s School is committed to providing equal opportunity in all employment practices without regard to age, gender, race, religion, color, sexual orientation, gender identity or expression, national origin, ancestry, citizenship status, marital or familial status, pregnancy, disability or handicap, genetic information, military status, or any other protected status in accordance with the requirement of all federal, state, and local laws. Saint Andrew’s School is a drug-free workplace. All employees must successfully maintain an acceptable Level II criminal background check. Saint Andrew’s School may, in its discretion, modify or adjust the position to meet the school’s changing needs. #J-18808-Ljbffr National Association of Independent Schools