SparkLab Leader

Pender County Schools

Official Job Description

TITLE:  SparkLab Leader

PRIMARY FUNCTION:

Pender County Schools,  as part of the SparkNC initiative, seeks to hire a creative, innovative individual to support students across a network of North Carolina public school districts to engage in a new model focused on expanding pathways to high-tech fields. Students will have the opportunity to explore high-tech fields while earning high school credit through a unique, multi-district collaboration that is learner-centered, industry-relevant, and competency-based.

The SparkLab Leader will join a unique network of innovative educators across North Carolina who will support students as they progress through various in-person, blended, and virtual SparkNC learning experiences. This person will provide education, encouragement, and inspiration to students. The ideal candidate will have a passion for creativity and transforming education. We are looking for someone who would be excited for a nontraditional opportunity to facilitate and support learning experiences that meet the needs of each and every learner. The SparkLab Leader will collaborate with other SparkLab Leaders, district and school staff, the SparkNC team, and partners from our business community to breathe life into cutting-edge learning experiences linked to high-tech fields.

The successful applicant for this role will be deeply driven by two ambitions: (1) a desire to expand pathways into high-tech fields for North Carolina students, and (2) a deep and abiding commitment to supporting learning experiences that make public schools more learner-centered, equitable, flexible, and adaptive.

QUALIFICATIONS:

The ideal candidate will possess the following:

• Bachelor’s or Master’s Degree (preferred)
• Middle or high-school teaching experience (preferred)
• Desire to rethink foundational assumptions that have shaped existing systems, programs, and practices in K-12 education
• Ability to manage the SparkLab during and outside of traditional school hours
• Willingness to adapt to rapidly changing needs and priorities
• Knowledge of evidence-based pedagogical approaches that engage all students
• Experience with, and dedication to, creating and refining engaging experiences in learner-centered environments
• Familiarity with technology and with the use of technology in designing and delivering high-quality learning experiences
• Experience with UDL, Design Thinking and/or Project-Based Learning
• An entrepreneurial drive to learn, build, and lead

                 ESSENTIAL FUNCTIONS:

About the SparkNC Initiative

High-tech industry is growing rapidly in North Carolina and nationally, with a large and expanding pool of high-paying jobs available to those with the requisite interest, knowledge, skills, and abilities. Many of these jobs are going unfilled because young people aren’t aware of the opportunities, view them as unattainable, or don’t see clear pathways to pursue them.

SparkNC empowers students to discover careers in high-tech fields like cybersecurity, artificial intelligence and machine learning, software development, and computer systems engineering. We help schools move away from traditional classes and rigid schedules. Instead, students choose what, where, and how they learn and educators have flexibility to use innovative strategies to deliver instruction in engaging ways to students across the state.

SparkNC offers an extensive and constantly evolving menu of learning experiences to give students different paths to gain knowledge, build skills, and showcase what they learn in personalized digital portfolios of work. We also help students connect with industry experts through in-person events, team-based internships, and other rich experiences.

We are deliberative and strategic, but also impatient and driven to action. We are passionate about transforming learning, particularly for those who have been disengaged or left behind by traditional systems. We believe strongly in public education and the power of innovative educators to build impactful, personalized learning experiences for all kinds of students.

The SparkLab Leader will serve as the lead learner in a new and evolving model. The SparkLab Leader will be actively engaged in the iterative design of the model and will fulfill the following roles:

Recruitment and Retention

• Create and implement a marketing plan to increase students, staff, parent, and community awareness of SparkNC
• Actively recruit students year round from the school and/or district, especially populations underrepresented in high-tech fields
• Create a safe and supportive learning environment with routines and structures that align with the district’s values and promote a safe learning environment
• Content Development and Delivery
• Design and deliver learning experiences tailored to the unique needs and interests of students
• Partner with other SparkLab Leaders and industry experts to deliver in-person, blended and remote learning experiences to students across the SparkNC interdistrict network
• Coordinate the technical components of learning experiences (e.g., follow district protocol for field trips and guest speakers, troubleshoot and report technical issues, etc.)

Personalized Learning Environment

• Ensure that students continually develop the durable skills needed to prepare them for a wide array of postsecondary opportunities
• Co-create progress checkpoints with students to ensure they achieve their academic and career goals
• Establish feedback loops to continually check for and validate student’s understanding of the learning experiences
• Validate student’’s work, and coordinate with district leads and SparkNC to issue credit accordingly

Partnership & Professional Development

• Develop and maintain strong partnerships local community, institutions of higher education, and/or high-tech businesses to increase field-based and school-based opportunities for students
• Actively participate in job-embedded professional learning including opportunities required by SparkNC (e.g., monthly virtual meetings and up to four in-person professional learning sessions throughout the year on dates and at locations determined by SparkNC)
• Maintain clear communication with district leadership and SparkNC about the student progress, persistent challenges, and suggestions for improvement

REPORTS TO: Principal and Digital Learning Director

PHYSICAL DEMANDS:

While performing the duties of this job, the employee is sometimes required to sit. The employee frequently is required to use hands to finger, handle, or feel; reach with hands and arms, and talk or hear. The employee is regularly required to stand and walk. The employee must regularly lift and/or move up to 10 pounds and occasionally lift and/or move up to 25 pounds. Specific vision abilities required by this job include close vision, and ability to adjust focus.

WORK ENVIRONMENT:

While performing the duties of this job, the employee regularly works in indoor classroom conditions and regularly works near a video display. The noise level in the work environment is usually moderate. The work is typically performed in the Classroom Office. Daily contact is made with all classified employees, teachers, administrators and students in person.

Salary Grade:  State Salary Scale - this is a grant funded position through the Levin Foundation

TERMS OF EMPLOYMENT: 12 Months

FLSA STATUS:  Exempt

OSHA:  The employee is not to handle any human body fluids, biological agents, laboratory chemicals, or be exposed to hazardous materials such as noise, asbestos, or carcinogens.

ADA: The employer will make reasonable accommodations to enable individuals with disabilities to perform essential job functions in compliance with the Americans with Disabilities Act of 1990.