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Elementary Director of Academics
Posted on 2025-12-08 6:01:00 PM
Listing expires 2025-12-15 12:00:00 AM
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Elementary Director of Academics
Required Qualifications: A current Administrative license or enrollment in a program to obtain licensure, Master’s Degree, 5 years teaching experience.
FLSA: 10.5 Month, exempt, 1.0 position. In the first year, the salary will be adjusted to reflect a full 12-month work year. In subsequent years, the position will follow the standard 10.5-month schedule.Desired Start Date: July 1, 2026
Salary Range: $70,000 to $85,000 per year, based on education and experience.
Report to the MSA Elementary Principal
Location: MSA Elementary Campus
MSA Elementary People Paradigm
The work of being an educator should be joyous and fulfilling, yet amid the complexities of modern education, that joy is often lost. We aim to offer educators a professional home — a place where joy is rekindled in a safe, purposeful, and collaborative environment grounded in rigor and relationships. MSA staff value teamwork and share responsibility for nurturing a culture of genuine trust and mutual care — one that reflects the ethos, “I will always have your back because I know you will always have mine.” MSA teachers are expected to be good teammates — and can expect to be surrounded by good teammates in return. We take collective ownership for both the problems and the progress, believing that real fulfillment comes not from ease, but from craftsmanship — from building solutions together with integrity and care. While we may not have every answer to the challenges that arise, we believe that together we have what it takes to find them.We hold that:
Challenge is an act of respect — rigor and joy belong together.
Freedom and responsibility go hand in hand.
Collaboration and communication make our work better and more meaningful.
Equity, empathy, and inclusion anchor every classroom and relationship.
Adaptability, humor, and humility mark a mature professional community.
Position Overview
The Elementary Director of Academics is the school’s instructional anchor—helping teachers, teams, and systems work in harmony to ensure that every student experiences joyful, rigorous, and equitable learning every day. As the Principal’s closest partner in shaping the instructional vision, this leader builds the structures, tools, and professional learning experiences that help teachers refine their craft and bring coherence to curriculum, assessment, and MTSS practices.Rooted in the People Paradigm, the Director of Academics models the values of ownership, candor, safety, and togetherness. This role blends instructional expertise with relational leadership—coaching teachers with care, facilitating data-informed teamwork, and cultivating a professional culture where adults feel trusted, challenged, and supported. Through steady partnership, clear vision, and a craftsman’s mindset, the Director of Academics helps the school build solutions together and sustain a community where both educators and students can flourish.
Key Responsibilities
Instructional Leadership & VisionPartner with the Principal to shape and implement a clear, coherent vision for high-quality teaching and learning aligned with the school’s mission and People Paradigm.
Lead the ongoing development of curriculum, instruction, and assessment practices to ensure rigor, equity, and joy in every classroom.
Translate big-picture goals into practical systems, tools, and supports that help teachers thrive.
Model instructional excellence through visibility in classrooms, regular coaching, and collaborative reflection with staff.
Professional Learning & Staff Development
Collaboratively design, coordinate, and facilitate high-impact professional development aligned to school priorities and teacher needs alongside an instructional leadership team.
Build a culture of continuous learning by modeling curiosity, humility, and candor in your own professional practice.
Mentor teachers and grade-level leads in applying data, feedback, and reflection to strengthen practice.
Design and lead the professional learning community (PLC) process to ensure collaborative inquiry, collective ownership, and meaningful action.
Curriculum, Data, & Assessment Systems
Oversee curriculum adoption, organization, and implementation to ensure alignment with standards and student needs.
Manage instructional resources and purchasing to maintain coherence, quality, and fiscal responsibility.
Coordinate the school’s assessment systems — ensuring data is timely, accurate, and used to inform instruction.
Analyze and communicate school-wide data trends, supporting staff in identifying priorities for intervention and growth.
Facilitate data-driven reflection meetings that promote shared accountability and problem-solving.
Coaching & Instructional Support
Provide regular, targeted classroom observations and individualized coaching that honor teacher strengths while promoting continuous improvement.
Lead instructional coaching process through the development and implementation of a consistent, supportive observation and feedback cycle for all teachers.
Support teachers in setting professional goals aligned with student learning outcomes and school priorities.
Offer actionable, evidence-based feedback that blends candor with care — advancing the craft of teaching.
Celebrate progress and innovation, reinforcing the joy and dignity of professional growth.
Systems Leadership & MTSS
Partner with the Principal and Student Support Team to strengthen the MTSS framework, ensuring interventions are timely, equitable, and data-informed.
Support SST and grade-level teams in using data and collaboration to meet diverse learner needs.
Ensure that instructional systems, schedules, and supports align to maximize learning time and staff capacity.
Help coordinate communication between instructional and student support staff to ensure cohesive implementation across tiers.
Provide leadership and support to interventionist and multilingual team.
Culture & Collaboration
Model and sustain the values of the People Paradigm — ownership, safety, rigor, candor, and togetherness — in all aspects of leadership.
Foster a professional culture where trust, reflection, and craftsmanship define adult collaboration.
Partner with the Principal in building a school culture that celebrates challenge as an act of respect and teamwork as the path to excellence.
Contribute to hiring, onboarding, and mentoring new staff to ensure cultural and instructional alignment.
Lead with empathy, clarity, and humor — creating psychological safety for adults while maintaining high expectations for professional growth.
Leadership Partnership
Serve as a thought partner to the Principal in strategic planning, problem-solving, and operational decision-making.
Represent the instructional vision of the school in internal and external meetings.
Assume delegated leadership responsibilities as needed in the Principal’s absence.
Licensure: Valid Minnesota teaching or administrative license required
Minimum of five years of successful classroom teaching and demonstrated instructional excellence.
Proven experience in instructional coaching, curriculum leadership, or professional development design.
Deep knowledge of curriculum, assessment, data-driven instruction, and adult learning.
Strong communication, relational, and problem-solving skills with the ability to lead collaboratively.
Demonstrated commitment to equity, empathy, and inclusion, paired with humility, adaptability, and a sense of humor.
Working Conditions
10.5 month position with regular attendance required
Occasional evenings or weekends for school events, conferences, or professional learning
Collaborative, fast-paced educational environment requiring adaptability and interpersonal awareness
Reasonable accommodations may be made to enable individuals with disabilities to perform the essential functions.
Duties are performed in a typical school setting. There are minimal environmental hazards and risks associated with the nature of the work.
Benefits
Employees with 0.5 FTE (working 20 or more hours per week) or higher are eligible for benefits listed below.
Please reach out to info@mnmsa.org to request a copy of our benefits handbook.
Paid Employee Benefits
Health Insurance: MSA covers 100% of Single or 50% of Family Coverage.
Dental Insurance: Single or Family Coverage. Math & Science Academy contributes 100% to the employee and 50% to the dependent(s) monthly dental premiums. Eligible dependents may participate in the plan. Those costs are the responsibility of the employee.
Vision: Coverage, Single, or Family Coverage. Vision is voluntary and 100% paid by the employee. MSA also reimburses employees up to $200 each year for prescription glasses or contact lenses.
Prescription Drug Coverage: Part of health insurance, see current benefits manual.
Life and AD&D: MSA provides Group Term Life (GTL) through Principal Financial of 2 times your salary to $50,000. Eligible employees are automatically enrolled in GTL at no cost.
Voluntary Life: Voluntary Term Life Insurance and Accidental Death and Dismemberment (AD&D) insurance can be purchased by the employee through Principal Financial.
Each staff member is covered with both short term and long term disability insurance by MSA.
MSA offers a voluntary 403(b) for staff that qualify for benefits. MSA will match 50% of the staff contribution up to a maximum of 2% of the staff’s earned yearly salary for that fiscal year (not including extracurricular pay, supplemental pay, or any other extra pay).
MSA will make all legally required State Statute contributions to TRA for all licensed teacher staff and PERA for non-licensed staff and hourly staff. There are no third party costs related to the TRA and PERA plans.
Paid Time Off (PTO) benefits:
Licensed staff, working full school calendar: 12 days of PTO, prorated based on FTE status.
Hourly staff, school calendar based: 10 days of PTO, prorated based on FTE status.
District and Office Staff, year round: 20 days of PTO, prorated based on FTE status.
Administrative Staff: 30 days PTO, prorated based on FTE status.
MSA will pay out all unused PTO at the end of the fiscal school year, based on the employees calculated hourly rate.
To the extent that the employee is responsible for any portion of the premium not paid by MSA, the employee’s portion of the premium will be paid by payroll deduction.
Nonmonetary Benefits
Ongoing Professional Development resources and training that include up to $1,000 in professional development funds for licensed roles and $200 in professional reading or memberships for licensed roles. This may be prorated based on FTE status.
MSA complies with all state and federal laws regarding leave of absences.
Under Minnesota Statute, a charter school must employ or contract with necessary teachers, supervisory personnel, and support personnel, as defined by section 122A.15, who hold valid licenses to perform the particular service for which they are employed in the school. In addition, if a teacher employed by a district makes a written request for an extended leave of absence to teach at a charter school, the district must grant the leave. You also maintain your TRA benefits, since MSA is a public school. Refer to MN Statute 145E.11 to view enrollment preference requirements.
Provide regular, targeted classroom observations and individualized coaching that honor teacher strengths while promoting continuous improvement.
Lead instructional coaching process through the development and implementation of a consistent, supportive observation and feedback cycle for all teachers.
Support teachers in setting professional goals aligned with student learning outcomes and school priorities.
Offer actionable, evidence-based feedback that blends candor with care — advancing the craft of teaching.
Celebrate progress and innovation, reinforcing the joy and dignity of professional growth.
Systems Leadership & MTSS
Partner with the Principal and Student Support Team to strengthen the MTSS framework, ensuring interventions are timely, equitable, and data-informed.
Support SST and grade-level teams in using data and collaboration to meet diverse learner needs.
Ensure that instructional systems, schedules, and supports align to maximize learning time and staff capacity.
Help coordinate communication between instructional and student support staff to ensure cohesive implementation across tiers.
Provide leadership and support to interventionist and multilingual team.
Culture & Collaboration
Model and sustain the values of the People Paradigm — ownership, safety, rigor, candor, and togetherness — in all aspects of leadership.
Foster a professional culture where trust, reflection, and craftsmanship define adult collaboration.
Partner with the Principal in building a school culture that celebrates challenge as an act of respect and teamwork as the path to excellence.
Contribute to hiring, onboarding, and mentoring new staff to ensure cultural and instructional alignment.
Lead with empathy, clarity, and humor — creating psychological safety for adults while maintaining high expectations for professional growth.
Leadership Partnership
Serve as a thought partner to the Principal in strategic planning, problem-solving, and operational decision-making.
Represent the instructional vision of the school in internal and external meetings.
Assume delegated leadership responsibilities as needed in the Principal’s absence.
Qualifications
Education: Master’s degree or higher in education, instructional leadership, or a related field.Licensure: Valid Minnesota teaching or administrative license required
Minimum of five years of successful classroom teaching and demonstrated instructional excellence.
Proven experience in instructional coaching, curriculum leadership, or professional development design.
Deep knowledge of curriculum, assessment, data-driven instruction, and adult learning.
Strong communication, relational, and problem-solving skills with the ability to lead collaboratively.
Demonstrated commitment to equity, empathy, and inclusion, paired with humility, adaptability, and a sense of humor.
Working Conditions
10.5 month position with regular attendance required
Occasional evenings or weekends for school events, conferences, or professional learning
Collaborative, fast-paced educational environment requiring adaptability and interpersonal awareness
Reasonable accommodations may be made to enable individuals with disabilities to perform the essential functions.
Duties are performed in a typical school setting. There are minimal environmental hazards and risks associated with the nature of the work.
Benefits
Employees with 0.5 FTE (working 20 or more hours per week) or higher are eligible for benefits listed below.
Please reach out to info@mnmsa.org to request a copy of our benefits handbook.
Paid Employee Benefits
Health Insurance: MSA covers 100% of Single or 50% of Family Coverage.
Dental Insurance: Single or Family Coverage. Math & Science Academy contributes 100% to the employee and 50% to the dependent(s) monthly dental premiums. Eligible dependents may participate in the plan. Those costs are the responsibility of the employee.
Vision: Coverage, Single, or Family Coverage. Vision is voluntary and 100% paid by the employee. MSA also reimburses employees up to $200 each year for prescription glasses or contact lenses.
Prescription Drug Coverage: Part of health insurance, see current benefits manual.
Life and AD&D: MSA provides Group Term Life (GTL) through Principal Financial of 2 times your salary to $50,000. Eligible employees are automatically enrolled in GTL at no cost.
Voluntary Life: Voluntary Term Life Insurance and Accidental Death and Dismemberment (AD&D) insurance can be purchased by the employee through Principal Financial.
Each staff member is covered with both short term and long term disability insurance by MSA.
MSA offers a voluntary 403(b) for staff that qualify for benefits. MSA will match 50% of the staff contribution up to a maximum of 2% of the staff’s earned yearly salary for that fiscal year (not including extracurricular pay, supplemental pay, or any other extra pay).
MSA will make all legally required State Statute contributions to TRA for all licensed teacher staff and PERA for non-licensed staff and hourly staff. There are no third party costs related to the TRA and PERA plans.
Paid Time Off (PTO) benefits:
Licensed staff, working full school calendar: 12 days of PTO, prorated based on FTE status.
Hourly staff, school calendar based: 10 days of PTO, prorated based on FTE status.
District and Office Staff, year round: 20 days of PTO, prorated based on FTE status.
Administrative Staff: 30 days PTO, prorated based on FTE status.
MSA will pay out all unused PTO at the end of the fiscal school year, based on the employees calculated hourly rate.
To the extent that the employee is responsible for any portion of the premium not paid by MSA, the employee’s portion of the premium will be paid by payroll deduction.
Nonmonetary Benefits
Ongoing Professional Development resources and training that include up to $1,000 in professional development funds for licensed roles and $200 in professional reading or memberships for licensed roles. This may be prorated based on FTE status.
MSA complies with all state and federal laws regarding leave of absences.
Under Minnesota Statute, a charter school must employ or contract with necessary teachers, supervisory personnel, and support personnel, as defined by section 122A.15, who hold valid licenses to perform the particular service for which they are employed in the school. In addition, if a teacher employed by a district makes a written request for an extended leave of absence to teach at a charter school, the district must grant the leave. You also maintain your TRA benefits, since MSA is a public school. Refer to MN Statute 145E.11 to view enrollment preference requirements.