Job description
Who We Are
Launching the first public charter school network to serve the incredibly vibrant and diverse South Nashville community, in 2010 our team set out to do what everyone told our Founder couldn’t be done: provide a rigorous, inquiry-based STEM education for Nashville’s structurally underrepresented subgroups, preparing each student, regardless of home language or immigration status, to graduate from college. Nearly a decade after our doors opened to our founding 5th grade class, we operate two fully built out high-performing schools serving the highest percentage of limited english proficiency students in our sector: STEM Prep Academy Middle School (grades 5-8) and STEM Prep High School (grades 9-12). In 2014, we expanded our impact to launch one of the largest newcomer programs in the country, the Nashville Newcomer Academy, serving new arrival immigrant and refugee students and their families from around the world.
Today, our team is comprised of over 100 of the most tenacious, persistent, and mission-aligned teachers, leaders, and support staff working to secure the college-graduation mission for each and every one of our students and their families. By 2025, we aim for the diversity of our staff to mirror the population we serve. We have the national growth data, the accolades and awards, the parent testimonials, the college scholarship funds, and the founding alumni, the college-graduating class of 2023, to prove that what we set out to do is in fact possible. We show up for our students and for each other every single day, motivated by the incredibly hard work it takes to give our students what they deserve (what everyone said couldn’t be done).
Join us.
At STEM Prep, we believe that the very best schools are deeply and broadly tied to the communities they serve. The Director of Family Recruitment & Engagement is responsible for ensuring that our schools are making that aspiration a reality. The Director of Family Recruitment & Engagement is responsible for overseeing the lifecycle of a STEM Prep family. They will set a clear vision, not only for community outreach and student recruitment, but also the experience and engagement of individual families throughout their time at STEM Prep. We aren’t looking for someone to simply increase our enrollment; we are looking for someone to lead us in creating and deepening community relationships in service of our families. Given the demographics of our student body, the most qualified candidates will also be bilingual and bring with them an established network in the Southeast Nashville community.
What You Will Do
- In partnership with the Chief of Staff, develop and lead the network’s model and strategy for family engagement from recruitment through graduation.
- Design tracking and reporting mechanisms to ensure enrollment targets are met.
- Develop and implement robust communication mechanisms both internally and externally with key stakeholders.
- As the leader of Family Engagement, design and lead both formal and informal trainings on deepening community partnerships and family communication, as well as other relevant All Staff Professional Developments.
- Manage the community outreach coordinator.
- Interface with STEM Prep families - both current and future. Ensure families feel supported and cared for through both wrap-around services and the development of strong, interpersonal relationships.
- Represent STEM Prep while actively engaging in the surrounding community. Deepen current community relationships & create new ones that are strategically aligned to STEM Prep’s mission.
- Design and oversee a warm and thorough orientation season for new STEM Prep families, including summer orientation nights for each grade level in the network.
- Given the current political and social climate, the right candidate for this job is someone who can adapt to the needs of our families while maintaining student wellbeing + academic opportunity as their North Star.
- As an integral member of the broader STEM Prep team, become a trusted, familiar and welcomed face in all spaces - from classrooms to leadership team meetings - by building strong relationships across all teams.
- Participate in various department meetings, bringing a collaborative and open spirit to the table.
- Other duties as assigned.
What You Bring
- High School diploma or GED.
- Proficient in Spanish and English (required).
- 3+ years of experience doing family engagement work.
- 2+ years of management experience.
- Familiarity with Charter Schools and the Southeast Nashville community.
- Excellent communication skills (both verbal and written).
- Comfort with change.
- Eagerness for feedback from all stakeholders.
- Extraordinary ability to build bridges across lines of difference.
- Collaborative spirit.
Not all applicants will have skills that match a job description exactly. STEM Prep values diverse experiences in other industries, and we encourage everyone who meets the required qualifications to apply. While having “desired” qualifications make for a strong candidate, we encourage applicants with alternative experiences to also apply. If your career is just starting or hasn't followed a traditional path, don't let that stop you from considering STEM Prep.
WE COMMIT TO INVESTING DEEPLY IN OUR KIDS. WE COMMIT TO INVESTING DEEPLY IN YOU.
Competitive compensation & benefits.
- Annual Salary: On average, our teacher’s salaries out pay traditional district and choice sector teachers.
- Stipend eligibility (early decision, competitive roles, graduate school)
- Referral bonus ($1,000 for every teacher and leader candidate we hire)
- Licensure support
- Unlimited classroom supplies (and unlimited coffee!)
- Snack drawers
- Weekly professional development and personalized coaching.
Family & Wellbeing
- Paid Parental Leave (12 weeks paid leave for mothers AND fathers!)
- Retirement counseling
- Health center access
- Mental health counseling
WE WANT IMPACT.
We don’t believe in growth plans with goals around how many buildings we operate or how large our network is. We run through the wall to develop deep and lasting community partnerships that will transform the lives of our kids and families for generations to come. Our growth plan isn’t oriented towards meeting a financial goal or reaching a specific size. We are whole-heartedly committed to deepening our impact in this specific community. Here are some examples of our community-based efforts and impact so far:
- We don't teach History, we teach Historical Perspectives.
- Translation services at every event so parents are informed.
- English classes three times a week for all parents, including those who work third shift.
- When there is a family in crisis, we are the first people they call.
- When there is a quinceanera, every teacher is invited.
- We have the largest mental health staff of any network.
- Our alumni frequently visit and love to be back on campus. Our previous Certified Medical Assistant students even come back to volunteer their time!
We're different from the other schools. Our aim is to continue this level of deep impact and advance the outcomes, education and otherwise, for all students and families in the neighborhoods we serve.
STEM Prep Academy believes it is critical for our staff - teachers and leaders to reflect the communities that they serve. We actively support equal opportunity for all people. As such, we strongly encourage People of Color, Women, LGBTQIA2S+ Individuals, Individuals with Disabilities, First Generation College Graduates, and all other groups that have been historically marginalized to apply to become a member of the STEM Team. STEM Prep does not discriminate in its hiring or employment practices.
In compliance with Metro Nashville Public Schools' policy, all STEM Prep employees must pass a background check.
I acknowledge that professional reference checks are a part of the hiring process at STEM Prep Academy, and I agree to provide references if being considered for a position.
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