Director of College & Career Pathways ( Managerial Tier C) (SY26-27) Full Time

Dearborn STEM Academy is a Boston Public School serving grades 7–12, dedicated to preparing students for success in college, career, and life through a rigorous, hands-on learning experience. Rooted in the integration of Science, Technology, Engineering, and Mathematics (STEM) with real-world application, Dearborn partners closely with higher education institutions, industry leaders, and community organizations to provide students with early college and innovation career pathways. The school emphasizes equity, innovation, and authentic learning experiences—from dual enrollment courses to internships and project-based learning—ensuring that every student graduates with the skills, confidence, and credentials needed to thrive in a rapidly changing, technology-driven world.

The Pathways experience at Dearborn begins in grades 7–10, where students build a strong foundation through core STEM courses and hands-on learning opportunities with community partners. At the end of 10th grade, students choose a Pathway to focus on during their final two years. In grades 11 and 12, they deepen their learning through Pathway-specific coursework, internships, and Early College classes at one of Dearborn’s partner institutions: Wentworth Institute of Technology, Franklin Cummings Institute of Technology, Roxbury Community College, or Bunker Hill Community College. Each student also completes a self-designed Capstone project, esearching a topic of personal interest. At the end of both junior and senior years, students share their learning and achievements by presenting their work to the broader school community. For more information on Dearborn STEM Academy, visit: www.dearbornstemacademy.org.

Position Description

The Director of College and Career Pathway Programs provides strategic leadership and oversight for the development, implementation, and continuous improvement of Dearborn STEM Academy’s comprehensive college and career pathways. Reporting to the Head of School, the Director leads and manages all aspects of Dearborn’s pathway programs—including program design, partnership development, faculty professional learning, student recruitment and advising, and collaboration with internal and external stakeholders to enhance program quality and expand early college opportunities. As the leader of a three-person department, including a Work-Based Learning Manager and Early College Associate, the Director is charged with implementing the Department of Elementary and Secondary Education’s (DESE) design principles for High Quality College and Career Pathways to ensure that all students have a quality secondary school experience and are prepared for success in postsecondary education and the workforce.

KEY RESPONSIBILITIES:

Program Leadership and Management

• Provide vision and strategic direction for all existing and new pathway programs in alignment with the school, district, and partner goals
• Lead the development, implementation, and evaluation of pathways and course offerings
• Collaborate with school administration to manage program budgets, grants, and reporting requirements
• Plan and organize exploratory, outreach, and informational sessions for prospective students and families across pathways, outlining expectations, procedures, policies, and criteria for the students’ successful completion of the technical and college-level coursework.
• Explore opportunities to innovate in pathway delivery, including the district’s consortium models.
• Supervise 2 FTEs and meet regularly with the team to outline and assess goals, vision, and deliverables, and address program needs and supports.

Partnership Coordination

• Serve as the primary liaison between the school, district, and higher education partners
• Coordinate articulation agreements, dual enrollment processes, and college course scheduling with partner colleges.
• Facilitate regular meetings with college faculty, school staff, and administrators to align expectations
• Represent Dearborn’s pathways across the city of Boston and DESE, and, when needed, serve on related committees and panels.
• Facilitate all contract negotiations and work plans with colleges and industry partners.
• Plan and facilitate program advisory board meetings related to pathways.

Student Support and Success

• Oversee student recruitment, selection, and orientation for all pathway programs
• Foster an inclusive environment that supports underrepresented and first-generation college students
• Develop systems to monitor academic progress and provide interventions for struggling students alongside the school counseling team
• Serve on the team charged with implementing the multi-year career and academic planning process (MyCAP) as a school-wide initiative.
• Support students’ social-emotional and college readiness development through mentorship, advising, and workshops
• Facilitate the pathways team’s collaboration with Dearborn’s Family Engagement Liaison to design multiple opportunities for family participation and voice, and to create a community environment where students are acknowledged, celebrated, and feel a part of something transformative
• Lead regular meetings with Dearborn staff to create specific structures to support Multilingual Learners and Students with Disabilities to successfully access, persist, and complete the pathway experience
• Establish proven tools and systems to coordinate and execute support initiatives, such as the tutoring and Dearborn’s Ambassadors programs
• Facilitate all planning teams across institutions to ensure successful student transitions into pathway programs

Collaboration and Communication

• Provide ongoing professional development for faculty and staff related to early college best practices
• Communicate program goals, successes, and outcomes to stakeholders, including families, administrators, and community partners
• Promote a culture of college-going expectations within the broader school community
• Meet regularly with pathways teachers and administrators to understand program needs and develop student supports
• Plan and facilitate weekly Pathways team meetings and biannual retreats, and provide ongoing support and feedback.

Grant Management, Data, Evaluation, and Reporting

• Ensure compliance with state, district, and postsecondary partner policies and procedures
• Collect and analyze data related to student enrollment, retention, and completion
• Prepare reports for district leaders, college partners, and state agencies
• Use data-driven insights to inform program improvement and student support strategies on a quarterly cadence
• Design and implement a process for student exit interviews, surveys, and focus groups each year
• Collaborate with the school’s registrar to ensure students in pathways are coded appropriately for SIMS and other state or local reporting requirements
• Collaborate with the Office Manager to manage timesheets, tracking, and payment of invoices for pathway grants
• Manage all compliance visits with funders and DESE
• Manage all grant applications and new proposal opportunities
• Facilitate the financial sustainability plan and fundraising strategy with the Head of School

QUALIFICATIONS – Required:

• Master’s degree in education, and/or STEM-related field
• Minimum 5-7 years of experience in project management, leadership, or direct youth-facing programming in one or more of the following areas: early college or CTE pathways, career-connected learning, dual enrollment, college and career advising, or student support initiatives
• Understanding of industry outlooks with regard to STEM pathways
• Strong program management skills, including planning, resource development, budgeting, and program evaluation
• Ability to work effectively with a wide range of stakeholders, including students, families, educators, administrators, and community partners, especially in urban public education settings
• Proven ability to design and facilitate high-quality professional learning experiences and technical assistance for adult learners
• Ability to present pathway information to various business and community groups to elicit support for increasing resources
• Strong data literacy, including the ability to analyze student-level or implementation data and apply findings to improve practice
• Excellent organizational skills and attention to detail; able to manage multiple complex projects simultaneously
• Technological proficiency, including the ability to create user-friendly systems, tools, and communications
• Clear evidence of leadership in eliminating racial opportunity and achievement gaps, and the ability to examine systems and policies through a racial equity lens

QUALIFICATIONS – Preferred:

• Experience in college and career readiness program design, implementation, or improvement in schools, districts, non-profits, or community-based organizations; relevant youth-facing experience (e.g., out-of-school programs, teaching, mentorship, career exploration programs) is also valued
• Previous school-level management experience and/or experience supporting multiple programs within a school community
• Understanding of the Massachusetts Department of Elementary and Secondary Education’s approach to state-designated pathways, and relevant grant and accountability frameworks
• Knowledge of Boston’s education, workforce development, and career-connected learning ecosystem

Terms: Managerial Tier C

Please refer to www.bostonpublicschools.org/ohc (under “Employee Benefits and Policies”) for more information on salary and compensation. Salaries are listed by Unions and Grade/Step.

NOTE: School-based managerial employees will work 223 days between July 1st and June 30th each year. The 223 day work-year will include the 180 days in which school is in session, and the additional days will be determined by the employee and the principal or headmaster of the school. This position subject to the City of Boston residency requirement.

School-based managerial employees are not eligible for vacation time or compensatory time. In the event of school cancellation due to snow or inclement weather, school-based managerial employees need not report to work.

The Boston Public Schools, in accordance with its nondiscrimination policies, does not discriminate on the basis of race, color, age, criminal record, physical or mental disability, pregnancy or pregnancy-related conditions, homelessness, sex/gender, gender identity, religion, national origin, ancestry, sexual orientation, genetics, natural or protective hairstyle, military status, immigration status, English language proficiency, or any other factor prohibited by law in its programs and activities. BPS does not tolerate any form of retaliation, or bias-based intimidation, threat or harassment that demeans individuals’ dignity or interferes with their ability to work or learn. If you require an accommodation pursuant to the ADA for the application process, please contact the Accommodations Unit at accommodations@bostonpublicschools.org.