Academic Dean of ELL (High School)

Location: Nashville, Tennessee
Employment Type: Full-Time | 12-Month Position
Start Date: August 2026
Starting Salary: Starting at $65,000 (Final salary based on experience)

Lead Instruction. Develop Teachers. Transform Student Outcomes.

At STEM Preparatory Academy, we believe exceptional teachers create exceptional outcomes for students. As the Academic Dean of ELL , you will serve as an instructional leader responsible for developing teachers, strengthening instructional systems, and ensuring that English Language Learners and students receiving specialized services achieve at the highest levels.

This is not a traditional administrative position. The Academic Dean is a hands-on instructional coach who spends the majority of the day observing classrooms, coaching teachers, analyzing student achievement data, facilitating professional learning, and building the instructional capacity of educators.

As a member of the High School Leadership Team, you will lead the instructional vision for English Learner (ELL/ESL) and Special Populations programming while fostering an inclusive culture where every student receives equitable access to rigorous, grade-level instruction.

About STEM Preparatory Academy

STEM Preparatory Academy is a public charter school network serving students in grades 5–12 across two campuses in Nashville, Tennessee.

Our students represent more than 23 different languages, with Spanish, Somali, and Arabic being the most commonly spoken languages. We proudly serve a diverse student population, including a significant number of English Language Learners and students receiving special education services.

We are committed to ensuring every student graduates prepared for college, career, and life through rigorous instruction, meaningful relationships, and high expectations.

Position Overview

The Academic Dean of ELL & Special Populations is responsible for improving student outcomes by coaching teachers, strengthening instructional practice, leading data-driven improvement cycles, and ensuring compliance and excellence within programs supporting English Language Learners and students with disabilities.

This leader directly supervises ELL educators while partnering closely with Special Education teachers, instructional leaders, and administrators to build a cohesive instructional program that promotes equity and academic excellence.

The Academic Dean models exceptional teaching practices, develops adult learners, leads professional development, and ensures instructional decisions are grounded in student achievement data.

Primary Responsibilities

Instructional Leadership

• Coach and develop ELL and Special Populations teachers through individualized instructional coaching.
• Conduct weekly classroom observations and provide timely, actionable feedback.
• Lead Intellectual Prep Protocols and lesson internalization meetings.
• Review unit plans, lesson plans, assessments, and instructional materials to ensure alignment with Tennessee standards.
• Model high-quality instructional strategies and facilitate demonstration lessons.
• Support co-teaching models and inclusive instructional practices.
• Build teacher capacity through continuous coaching and reflective practice.

Professional Development

• Design and facilitate high-quality professional learning for teachers.
• Lead content-based professional development aligned to school improvement priorities.
• Develop teachers through practice cycles, observation feedback, and collaborative planning.
• Build systems that promote teacher effectiveness, retention, and instructional excellence.
• Foster a professional culture centered on collaboration, growth, accountability, and joy.

Data-Driven Instruction

• Analyze weekly formative and summative assessment data.
• Maintain instructional dashboards tracking weekly, quarterly, and annual student achievement goals.
• Lead weekly data meetings with teachers.
• Analyze student work to identify trends, misconceptions, and intervention opportunities.
• Develop reteach plans and monitor progress toward academic goals.
• Ensure teachers effectively use data to drive instructional decisions.

Leadership & School Culture

As a member of the High School Leadership Team, you will:

• Build a positive, inclusive school culture aligned with STEM Prep's mission and values.
• Support teacher recruitment, hiring, onboarding, and retention.
• Partner with school leadership to implement school-wide instructional initiatives.
• Support arrival, dismissal, testing, lunch supervision, and school-wide events.
• Attend family engagement events, parent conferences, and community meetings.
• Serve as Principal designee when needed.
• Model professionalism, integrity, collaboration, and student-centered leadership.

Teacher Development & Performance Management

• Conduct formal and informal evaluations.
• Hold regular coaching meetings with direct reports.
• Establish teacher growth goals and monitor progress.
• Facilitate difficult conversations while maintaining strong relationships.
• Create individualized action plans for teachers needing additional support.
• Celebrate teacher growth and instructional excellence.

ELL & Special Populations Leadership

This position specifically supports the success of students receiving English Language (ELL/ESL) and Special Populations services by:

• Coaching ELL educators to improve instructional effectiveness.
• Supporting implementation of effective language acquisition strategies across classrooms.
• Collaborating with Special Education staff to strengthen inclusive instructional practices.
• Monitoring accommodations, language supports, and instructional interventions.
• Supporting compliance with federal, state, and local regulations regarding multilingual learners and special populations.
• Partnering with families to support student achievement and engagement.
• Promoting equitable access to rigorous grade-level instruction for every student.

Required Qualifications

• Bachelor's degree in Education or related field (Master's preferred)
• Valid Tennessee teaching license or ability to obtain Tennessee licensure
• Minimum of three years of successful classroom teaching experience in a tested subject
• Demonstrated success improving student achievement
• Experience coaching teachers or leading instructional teams
• Strong knowledge of standards-based instruction and curriculum planning
• Experience using student achievement data to drive instructional improvement
• Ability to build strong relationships while holding adults accountable
• Strong organizational, communication, and conflict-resolution skills
• Demonstrated commitment to Diversity, Equity, Inclusion, and educational excellence
• Ability to manage multiple priorities in a fast-paced environment
• Flexible availability beyond school hours when leadership responsibilities require it

Preferred Qualifications

• Master's degree in Educational Leadership or related field
• Tennessee Administrator License (or eligibility)
• Previous experience as an instructional coach, dean, department chair, assistant principal, or school leader
• Demonstrated success leading professional development
• Proven record of increasing student achievement beyond district and state averages
• Experience serving multilingual learners and diverse student populations
• Strong family and community engagement experience

What Makes a Great Academic Dean?

Our strongest leaders:

• Believe every student can achieve at high levels.
• Lead through coaching rather than compliance.
• Build trust while maintaining high expectations.
• Use data to drive every instructional decision.
• Develop adults with empathy, urgency, and accountability.
• Foster joyful, inclusive, and equitable learning environments.
• Embrace feedback and continuous improvement.
• Inspire others through service, collaboration, and excellence.

Why Join STEM Prep?

We invest deeply in our leaders by providing:

• Competitive salary based on experience
• Annual performance bonuses
• MNPS health benefits
• Tennessee Consolidated Retirement System (TCRS)
• Weekly leadership coaching
• Comprehensive onboarding and leadership development
• On-site childcare through Little Wonders
• Longevity bonuses at 3, 5, and 10 years
• Clear pathways for continued leadership growth
• A collaborative leadership team committed to student success

Join Our Leadership Team

If you are passionate about instructional excellence, coaching teachers, and ensuring English Language Learners and all special populations receive an exceptional education, we encourage you to apply.

At STEM Preparatory Academy, our leaders don't simply manage schools—they develop educators, transform instruction, and create opportunities that change students' lives.