Job Description

Who We Are

Fort Worth STEAM Academy is launching a tuition-free public charter middle school in East Fort Worth, opening August 2026. Our mission is to prepare every student for success in high school, college, and career through a rigorous STEAM-focused education, a joyful culture of high expectations, and strong community partnerships. As a founding team member, you won't just take a job—you'll help build a safe, structured, joyful school where curiosity and excellence thrive.

Summary

The Dean of Instruction (DOI) ensures instructional excellence across classrooms—owning curriculum & assessment, teacher coaching & professional development, accelerated instruction and intervention, and testing readiness—so that every student learns at high levels. You set the bar for bell-to-bell engagement, consistent routines, and strong classroom management, and you partner closely with the Dean of Culture to protect instructional time and with the Dean of Operations to align schedules and resources. 

Success looks like: a TEA rating of B or higher, ≥70% of students meeting growth goals in reading and math, strong first-month onboarding, ≥85% retention of high-performing teachers, and contribution to ≥93% Average Daily Attendance (ADA) through engaging instruction and consistent routines.

Reports to: CEO/Superintendent
Directly Manages: Interventionists (2), Elective Teacher (PE/Computer Science), Reading Teacher, Writing Teacher, Social Studies/Science Teacher, Math Teacher, Self-Contained SPED, SPED Co-Teacher
Location: Fort Worth, TX (on-site)
Schedule: Full-time, school calendar; some evenings/weekends for events

Compensation: 70K-75K 

Anticipated Start Date: This role will begin as a part-time contracted position (approximately 4–6 hours per week, evenings and/or weekends) in January 2026 to support planning and preparation. The position will transition to a full-time role in June 2026, aligning with the close of the prior school year. This structure is designed to allow candidates currently working in schools to finish out their commitments while gradually engaging with Fort Worth STEAM Academy's launch.

Who We're Looking For: Values-Driven and Mission-Focused

This is a rare opportunity to help build a safe, structured, joyful public charter middle school where rigorous STEAM learning thrives. We're seeking teammates who live our values daily and turn them into student results.

• Achievement: Set bold, measurable goals, use data relentlessly, own outcomes, and prioritize high-impact work.
• Teamwork: Collaborate across roles, communicate directly with empathy, uphold high standards, and put the team above ego.
• Continuous Improvement: Seek feedback fast, find root causes, iterate on systems, and treat setbacks as learning data.
• Innovation: Spot problems early, test bold ideas quickly, share learnings, and scale what works to advance the mission.

Key Responsibilities

Instructional Excellence — Goal: TEA B+; ≥70% of students meet growth goals

• Support teachers to implement TEKS-aligned (Texas Essential Knowledge and Skills) scope & sequence and unit plans and follow the CFA/Interim calendar (Common Formative Assessments).
• Review weekly lesson plans and give bite-size, actionable feedback prior to instruction.
• Conduct daily walkthroughs with on-the-spot coaching to protect bell-to-bell learning and tight routines.

Coaching & Professional Development — Goal: ≥70% of students meet growth goals ; ≥85% teacher retention

• Run weekly 1:1 coaching (practice + live coaching) with clear action steps tied to student data.
• Lead PD on high-leverage moves (checks for understanding, questioning, small-group execution); model lessons and co-plan with teachers.
• Launch a 45-day new-teacher ramp (culture + instruction + data) with mentor pairings and weekly check-ins.

Assessment, Data & Testing Readiness — Goal: TEA B+; ≥70% of students meet growth goals

• Facilitate data meetings each cycle; including supporting the creation of reteach plans, progress-monitoring checks, and follow-up walk-throughs.
• Ensure testing readiness each window: coverage maps, mock administrations, blueprint-aligned item practice, accurate rosters/accommodations.
• Publish a concise weekly academic dashboard.

Culture, ADA Partnership, & Enrollment — Goals: ≥93% ADA; 145+ enrolled by week 2; ≥85% teacher retention

• With the Dean of Culture, ensure bell-to-bell engagement, consistent classroom management, and advisory/homeroom fidelity to strengthen students' sense of belonging.
• Participate in hiring (demo lessons/performance tasks), conduct observations/feedback (T-TESS-aligned), and complete mid-year/end-of-year reviews; recognize excellence and coach growth.
• Provide a visible instructional presence at recruitment/orientation, first-month academic onboarding, and family data nights.

Acceleration Instruction & Special Pops Support — Goal: TEA B+; ≥70% of students meet growth goals

• Implement required accelerated instruction and Tier 2/3 interventions; maintain rosters, dosage, and impact tracking.
• Ensure daily delivery of accommodations and strong co-teach practices; coordinate with the Special Education Lead for IEP fidelity (Individualized Education Program) and with Testing/EB (Emergent Bilingual) for designated supports.

Minimum & Preferred Qualifications

Minimum Qualifications

• Bachelor's degree; 3–5+ years successful classroom teaching with strong student results; 1–2+ years coaching teachers or leading teams strongly preferred.
• Deep knowledge of TEKS, assessment blueprints, data cycles, and effective instructional practices.
• Demonstrated success leading accelerated instruction/intervention and closing subgroup gaps.
• Skilled coach and communicator; calm under pressure; reflective, growth-oriented mindset.
• Data-savvy (Google Sheets/Excel); able to build simple dashboards/trackers.
• Commitment to FWSA's mission: a safe, structured, joyful school with rigorous STEAM learning for all.

Preferred Qualifications

• Texas public charter experience; familiarity with T-TESS, PLCs, and interim assessment platforms.
• Experience with co-teach models, SPED/504/EB supports, and test-readiness planning.
• ESL and/or SPED background; Bilingual Spanish

Certifications/Licensure

• Required: DPS fingerprint clearance per Texas Education Code §22.0835.

Preferred/Role-based: Valid Texas teaching certificate; Reading/ESL/SPED endorsements; Principal/Instructional Leader certificate (or equivalent).

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