Director, Idea & Design Lab — Innovation & AI

(Full-time, Upper School, Grades 5-8) Start Date: August 24, 2026 To Apply Submit a cover letter, resume, and contact information for three professional references by email to Chelsey Carr, Director of Curriculum & Faculty Development, at View email address on click.appcast.io . Reference the job title in the subject line of your email. No phone calls, please. About the Position The Peck School, a coed, K-8, independent school in Morristown, NJ, seeks a Director of the Idea & Design Lab for the upcoming school year. This position is an excellent opportunity for an innovative and highly motivated educator-leader to join a wonderful community that prizes lifelong learning. The Osborn Idea & Design Lab is more than a classroom. It is the creative heartbeat of Pecks Upper School, where curiosity, innovation, engineering, and emerging technologies come together to solve authentic problems. We are seeking an educational innovator who envisions the Lab as a dynamic hub of exploration and invention, a place where students cannot wait to create, and teachers actively seek opportunities to bring their classes. Whether students are prototyping with 3D printers, designing with laser cutters, building and programming robots, soldering circuits, exploring AI, or bringing ideas to life through rapid iteration, the Director fosters a culture in which imagination is matched with purposeful design. This is an opportunity to shape one of the School's most exciting learning environments and continually redefine what future-ready, hands-on learning can look like. As a core member of a highly collaborative team, the Director of the Idea & Design Lab drives forward transformational learning. In 5th through 8th-grade classes and electives, the Director will teach and foster creativity and innovation, knowledge and understanding of the design process, and provide hands-on learning experiences for students using technology. Additionally, the Director will work closely with all Upper School (grades 5-8) teachers and the technology team to ensure technology is seamlessly integrated into the curriculum, supporting learning goals and objectives. The candidate will also serve as an integral member of the tech team, informing and executing strategic planning and providing a clearly delineated and executed scope and sequence that underpins our technology curriculum and training. Overview of Responsibilities Educational Technology & AI Leadership: Serve as one of the Upper School's educational technology leaders, helping shape how emerging technologies, including artificial intelligence, enhance teaching and learning. Partner with faculty to identify meaningful opportunities for AI integration, lead professional learning, evaluate new tools thoughtfully, and help ensure students develop the knowledge, habits, and ethical understanding needed to use these technologies responsibly and effectively. Faculty Support & Curricular Development: As the Director, serve as the Upper School Tech Integration Specialist, meeting regularly with grade-level teams (5-8) to discuss current and upcoming units of study. Support and enrich student understanding by making curricular connections and sharing best practices for technology integration with faculty. Ensure foundational technology skill development, LMS management, and program innovation. Leverage the technology skills of faculty to amplify student learning. Professional Development: Design and facilitate engaging professional learning that empowers faculty to thoughtfully integrate technology and AI into their teaching. Foster a culture of experimentation, collaboration, and continual growth as teachers explore new ways to amplify student learning. Lead in the Ethical Use of Technology: Promote Pecks mission statement and core values through responsible and ethical use of technology. Model and teach digital citizenship skills, including online safety, AI literacy, cyberbullying awareness, and responsible use. Classroom Instruction: Teach technology and design classes in grades 5-8, instructing students on various skills and techniques related to design, engineering, coding, electronics, and other design process and maker activities. Foster a culture of curiosity, experimentation, and creativity among all students. Student Engagement: Encourage students to identify and pursue their own Project-Based Learning projects, supporting their independent learning journeys. Lead the Robotics team. Mentor 8th-grade students as needed for their technology-related Capstone projects. Manage the Osborn Idea & Design Lab: Foster an innovative and welcoming learning space that emphasizes Design Thinking. See Tech, Innovation, Design - The Peck School Resource Management Manage and maintain the ID Lab, ensuring it is well-organized and equipped with the necessary tools, materials, and technology. Oversee inventory and procurement of supplies and equipment, including 3D printer, laser cutter, sewing, and embroidery machines. Safety and Maintenance Enforce safety guidelines and protocols to ensure students' well-being and the integrity of equipment. Conduct and/or coordinate equipment maintenance and repairs as needed. Qualifications/Experience Hold a Bachelors Degree. Previous experience inspiring middle school students and developing impactful curriculum. Strong understanding of computational thinking routines and block- and text-based coding, as well as engineering, design principles, and making. Proficient in Google Workspace and web-based software and programs. Proclivity towards making/fabrication. Demonstrate and engage in professional development in this field. Understanding of 3D printers, laser cutters, sewing and embroidery machines, soldering, basic electronics, Micro:Bits/Arduino/Raspberry Pi, AR/VR, machine learning/AI. Competencies Classroom Management: Encourage positive student behavior and a strong classroom community through effective classroom management. Communication Skills: Use excellent oral and written communication skills to maintain open lines of communication with peers, administrators, faculty, students, and parents. Provide updates on student progress, understanding of skills, and classroom activities while cultivating strong home-school partnerships. Have the ability to work with students in a supportive and productive manner. Collaboration Skills: Consistent, positive collaboration with a team of talented faculty and supportive administrators. Excellent time management skills and an understanding of how timeliness and responsibility affect the whole. Community Engagement: Engage in and support a positive, healthy faculty culture. Engagement at Peck looks like investing in the whole life of our school, from attending interscholastic sports games or the musical to participating in committees and task forces that advance school initiatives and support community-wide events throughout the year. Cultural Awareness: Demonstrate the ability and desire to understand, appreciate, and interact with people from other cultures or belief systems. Dedication to supporting students academic, social, and emotional well-being. A Peck Teacher A Peck Teacher is passionate about teaching and learning, is professional, and demonstrates excellence in teaching. Peck Teachers plan and deliver engaging lessons that inspire student success and promote consideration of others. They know each student well, build relationships, and facilitate a safe, respectful, and inclusive learning environment. Peck Teachers effectively communicate with members of the school community and partner with Peck families to guide and enrich a students development. They demonstrate comprehensive content knowledge, and, as lifelong learners, they expand their teaching skills repertoire. Peck Teachers are respected community members who engage actively with the Peck community. Working at Peck The Peck School strives to create a culture of belonging. We welcome the unique contributions of individuals from diverse backgrounds. Qualified applicants are offered top-tier pay, exceptionally strong benefits, and a robust professional development program. The Peck School uses a banded salary schedule for faculty that is based on years of experience and informed by benchmark data. With this in mind, a full-time faculty member's salary may range from $65,000 to $110,000+. Peck also provides a comprehensive benefits plan to eligible employees, including group health, dental, and vision insurance, health savings accounts, flexible spending accounts, a 403(b) retirement plan, paid time off (sick, vacation, holidays), and professional development opportunities. For more information on benefits, please refer to Peck's benefit summary . To learn more about The Peck School and working at Peck , please visit us online. recblid 4lgve72u6ymrjo4lrpx6z4wfo94vky #J-18808-Ljbffr The Peck School