26-27 Dean of STEAM Access and Innovation

ABOUT CARMEN

Carmen Schools of Science & Technology (Carmen) is a public charter school network in Milwaukee, WI with a mission to graduate all students as critical thinkers and self-directed learners prepared for success in college, meaningful careers, community involvement, and family life. The Carmen Schools network includes five schools with 1,900 students in grades 6th-12th.

POSITION SUMMARY

The Dean of STEAM Access and Innovation plays a pivotal instructional and strategic role at Carmen High School's Southgate campus, an urban, non-selective public charter school serving roughly 1,100 students on Milwaukee's south side. This role is responsible for leading the vision, daily operation, and community impact of the school's STEAM lab; teaching multiple STEAM courses; managing STEAM-related logistics and programming; and coordinating after-school STEAM clubs. A central mission of this position is to develop STEAM and career-connected pathways that open doors to high-growth fields where students of color have been historically underrepresented, helping students build skills, strengthen motivation, and prepare for competitive college majors and careers. The Dean of STEAM Access and Innovation embodies Carmen's core values of Empathy, Belief, and Growth, and models the essential mindsets of: Believing in the limitless potential of every student, leaning into feedback to accelerate growth, choosing to engage in critical conversations consistently.

Campus Carmen School: Southgate

Employment Status: Open to full-time or part-time candidates. Part-time candidates would be expected to teach the four classes.

QUALIFICATIONS

Required

• Licensure issued by Wisconsin's Department of Public Instruction (or eligibility for such licensure) in ALL subject areas to be taught
• Bachelor's degree in STEAM education, engineering, computer science, or a related STEAM field.
• Demonstrated success teaching STEAM content at the middle or high school level.
• Strong organizational, communication, and project-management skills.
• Commitment to equity, culturally responsive teaching, and expanding access to STEAM pathways.
• Ability to work occasional evenings, weekends, and summer hours as needed.

Preferred

• Experience in an urban, non-selective school environment.
• Successful teaching experience, urban school(s) preferred
• Experience with makerspaces, design labs, robotics, engineering projects, or advanced STEAM technologies.
• Experience building community or industry partnerships.
• Bilingual proficiency (Spanish) is a strong plus.

Core Competencies & Mindsets

• Empathy: Demonstrates care, understanding, and responsiveness to diverse student needs.
• Belief: Holds a deep, unwavering belief in the capabilities of every student.
• Growth: Models continuous learning and responds to feedback with openness.
• Limitless Potential Mindset: Assumes competence and possibility for all students.
• Feedback Orientation: Actively seeks, gives, and uses feedback to accelerate improvement.
• Courageous Communication: Engages in critical conversations directly, respectfully, and consistently.
• Instructional & Operational Excellence: Strong planning, execution, and follow-through in both teaching and lab management.

ESSENTIAL DUTIES & RESPONSIBLITIES

STEAM Lab Vision & Leadership

• Oversee all aspects of the STEAM lab, ensuring it is a safe, innovative, and student-centered learning environment.
• Develop, articulate, and implement a vision for STEAM instruction and integration that aligns with Carmen's mission and supports access to high-growth STEAM fields.

Curate and maintain tools, technology, and materials necessary for hands-on, inquiry-based learning.

• Oversee STEAM lab during lunch/after school for student utilization
• Lead and coordinate after-school STEAM clubs, ensuring regular meetings, strong student engagement, and alignment to STEAM pathways.

Support and mentor staff or volunteers assisting with club programming.

Organize STEAM events, workshops, and student exhibitions

Instructional Excellence

• Teach 3-4 STEAM courses (e.g., PLTW, engineering, robotics, computer science, applied sciences) using culturally responsive and rigorous instructional practices.
• Design units and projects that promote problem-solving, collaboration, and career-connected learning.
• Incorporate real-world applications, industry standards, and emerging technologies.

Pathway & Program Development

• By supporting the Director of Career Programs and Partnership, establish clear, scaffolded STEAM pathways that prepare students-particularly students of color-for competitive college majors and careers in underrepresented, high-growth industries.
• Support students' participation in STEAM competitions, showcases, internships, and capstone projects.
• STEAM Lab Operations & Logistics
• Oversee safety procedures, inventory systems, and technology access.
• Ensure the space is well-organized, accessible, and ready for instructional use throughout the year.

Data-Informed Practice & Continuous Improvement

• Use student performance data and feedback to evaluate and refine instructional practices and STEAM pathway programming.
• Engage in regular reflection, coaching cycles, and professional learning aligned with Carmen's growth-oriented culture.
• Collaborate with school leadership and colleagues to strengthen vertical alignment and cross-disciplinary connections.

WORK ENVIRONMENT

The position will work predominantly Monday - Friday at our Southgate campus with some travel to individual campuses and occasional travel for recruitment events.

COMPENSATION & BENEFITS

Carmen Schools also offers excellent health and worksite benefits, free life insurance, free employee assistance program (EAP), free short-term disability insurance, 403b retirement plan with match, flexible spending accounts, and generous paid time off.

EQUAL OPPORTUNITY EMPLOYER

Carmen complies with applicable state and local laws governing non-discrimination. We are committed to equal employment opportunities (EEO) to all employees and applicants for employment without regard to race, color, gender, disability, genetic information, marital status, age, religion, sexual orientation, or national or ethnic origin. This policy applies to all terms and conditions of employment, including, but not limited to, hiring, placement, promotion, termination, lay-off, recall, transfer, leave of absence, compensation, and training.

Carmen expressly prohibits any form of unlawful employee harassment based on race, color, religion, gender, sexual orientation, national origin, age, genetic information, disability, or veteran status. Any actions or behaviors that create an uncomfortable work environment and prohibit an employee to perform their expected duties will not be tolerated.