Position Purpose

The Director of Digital Learning and Innovation leads the School’s efforts to enhance teaching and learning through technology. This role inspires faculty and students, establishes a digital learning strategy, and models best practices in instructional technology. By establishing a digital learning strategy, vetting and developing curriculum, providing direct instruction, and offering ongoing support, the Director guides student development of essential digital knowledge and skills while equipping faculty to integrate technology effectively into their teaching. In collaboration with faculty, administrators, and the IT team, the Director implements digital tools, leads professional development, and empowers students to use technology thoughtfully, responsibly, and ethically.

 Key Accountabilities

Strategy      

• Develop and implement a digital learning strategy in alignment with the School’s mission and the goal of preparing future-ready learners to responsibly leverage technology in creative and productive ways.
• Continuously remain abreast of emerging technology trends such as those in AI, coding, AR/VR, and adaptive learning.
• Collaborate with divisional leadership to design long- and short-range implementation plans for the School’s approach to digital teaching and learning.
• Partner with IT staff to ensure technology infrastructure and resources effectively support the School’s instructional technology and innovation vision.
• Manage the School’s instructional technology budget and negotiate instructional technology tool contracts.

Innovation and Future-ready Learning

• Expand and support coding, makerspace, and robotics initiatives, while identifying opportunities for new initiatives.        
• Explore and implement AI-powered teaching and learning tools to enhance both productivity and personalization.
• Seek partnerships with businesses and/or universities to bring innovative learning experiences to students and professional development experiences to educators.

Learning Culture

• Design and deliver faculty professional development sessions on topics related to digital teaching and learning.  Incorporate 1:1 coaching, small-group instruction, and classroom modeling opportunities.
• Provide thought leadership to the School community by developing, coordinating, and teaching workshops on topics such as digital tools, emerging trends, screen-time balance, and media literacy. Curate and deliver learning resources to School community members.
• Attend and contribute to regular grade-level, vertical, divisional, and all-employee meetings.      

Instructional Technology

• Create and maintain a first-through-eighth grade scope and sequence that supports the digital learning strategy and establishes the foundation for the skilled, appropriate, and ethical use of instructional technology throughout Lower and Middle School. Incorporate such skills as keyboarding, coding, robotics, app design and development, media literacy, and digital citizenship.
• Collaborate with division leadership and grade-level faculty to identify areas in the curriculum that are candidates for technology integration. Participate in the creation of an integration process that supports teachers through all stages of integration, including discovery, design, creation, implementation, and iteration.
• Maintain technology-related curriculum documentation in accordance with School standards.
• Demonstrate high technical proficiency and the ability to plan, organize, adapt lessons, teach, and communicate in-person, to a blended in-person/online class, and in synchronous and asynchronous online environments.
• Teach middle school electives on topics such as 3-D modeling, coding, app design, and engineering. Identify areas of interest and opportunity for students and develop new electives.
• Support culturally competent classrooms by creating and maintaining a respectful and conscientious environment.
• Understand and meet the developmental and academic needs of students of varying academic, social, and emotional abilities through differentiated instruction.
• Collaborate with IT staff to ensure appropriate setup and rostering of digital apps and tools, such as IXL, Membean, Literably, SeeSaw, and digital textbooks.
• Fulfill other duties as assigned, such as lunch, recess, and carpool duty. Participate fully in the School community through sponsorship of before- and/or after-school robotics teams.

Opportunities and Challenges

The Director plays a pivotal role in the lives of both faculty and students. The Director’s work impacts the ways in which faculty teach technology content and skills, as well as the ways in which students receive instruction and normalize the use of their knowledge and skills. The ability to create and maintain positive, productive, collaborative, professional relationships is key to success. The Director must:

• Model the School’s Code of respect, responsibility, honesty, and care.
• Demonstrate clarity and compassion in verbal and written communication.
• Demonstrate strong listening skills.
• Embrace the School’s Episcopal identity, ethos, and commitment to respecting the dignity of each individual.

Growth Mindset

• Collaborate with colleagues on the development of curriculum and practice of instructional strategies.
• Leverage the knowledge, skills, and abilities of the Student Formation Team in support of students’ academic, social, and emotional needs.
• Pursue growth in relevant technology skills and instructional strategies.
• Network with peers at other local and national independent and Episcopal schools.
• Demonstrate commitment to personal and professional growth.  Able to meaningfully receive, reflect on, and apply feedback to one's professional growth.
• Maintain a presence in professional learning communities and on academic leadership teams for EdTech, both internally and externally.
• Attend conferences and professional meetings to remain current with subject-specific curriculum, instructional strategies, culturally responsive instruction, and social and emotional learning.
• Participate in Lower and Middle School day and overnight trips.

Qualifications

Candidates should not only have a passion for technology and excellent teaching and interpersonal skills, but also a deep understanding of the developmental and learning stages of Lower and Middle School-aged students (first through eighth grades).

• A bachelor’s degree in education, instructional technology, or a related field is required; an advanced degree is preferred.
• Extensive classroom experience; depth in educational innovation through the use of technology; independent school experience preferred.
• Experience with learner-centered instructional approaches, such as Project Based Learning, Understanding by Design, and design thinking.
• Experience in adult education practices or in teaching or training adult learners.
• Experience in working in a makerspace or with design and fabrication equipment.
• Proven leadership, initiative, growth-mindedness, and communication skills.
• Desire to work in a strongly collaborative, learner-centric, inclusive environment.
• Ability to connect with students, colleagues, and families of diverse backgrounds to develop healthy, productive, and responsive relationships.
• Excellent organizational skills, internal motivation, and the capacity to establish and manage multiple priorities within a complex and fast-paced environment.
• Extensive experience with the use of instructional and productivity technology, including the ability to work in online Student Information and Learning Management Systems, to schedule and conduct classes via Microsoft Teams and Zoom, and to use the Microsoft 365 suite.

Physical Requirements

• Ability to lift approximately 30 lbs.
• Ability to work for extended periods of time, including weeknights and weekends when required.
• Ability to work with children and adults in indoor and outdoor settings.
• Ability to work in on-campus, home, and field trip settings.