[2025-2026] Director of Academics (English Programs)

2025-2026 Director of Academics (English Programs)

Job Title: Director of Academics

FLSA Status: Professional Exempt

Reports to: Chief Academic Officer

Yu Ming Charter School seeks dynamic, innovative, and experienced educators to join our team, committed to nurturing lifelong learners who are bilingual, bicultural and able to create change in their own lives and in our community. We seek teachers that are excited by the possibility of transforming the traditional model of education to be learner-centered through personalized and project based learning that cultivates both the cognitive and social emotional skills our students need to thrive in school and beyond.  Yu Ming teachers are leaders that thrive on exploration, collaboration, and seek to continuously learn and grow as individuals and team members.

ABOUT YU MING CHARTER SCHOOL

Yu Ming Charter School is a non-profit, tuition-free network of public schools located in Oakland and San Leandro and open to all residents of California. As a leader in Mandarin Immersion education, our mission is to nurture our inclusive and diverse community to become empowered, engaged, and outstanding global citizens. We currently serve 952 students across three campuses, and continue to grow our enrollment each year. Our intentionally diverse student body comes from many racial, ethnic, and socio-economic backgrounds representing 70 zip codes across the Bay Area and 29 home languages. Founded in 2011, Yu Ming is the first Mandarin immersion public charter school in the state. 

We believe every child, regardless of their background or zip code, deserves a free, high-quality education that prepares them today to succeed tomorrow. Ranked the #7 Elementary School and the #2 Elementary Charter School in California by U.S. News, Yu Ming is a 2019 National Blue Ribbon School of Excellence and a 2020 and 2023 California Distinguished School. Yu Ming’s future-forward model prepares young people to succeed and thrive in an interconnected and multicultural world through personalized and rigorous learning experiences, active student agency, whole child and community focus, and multilingual education.  As a result, our students far outperform their peers in the district, county, and state, regardless of socio-economic status, race, language background, and learning differences. We are closing the opportunity gap for our historically underserved students every day. To learn more about our innovative school visit our website www.yumingschool.org.

POSITION OVERVIEW

The Director of Academics (English Programs) will collaborate with the Chief Academic Officer to drive the development, implementation, and evaluation of curriculum, instruction, assessment, and professional development across the network. The Director of Academics will oversee the K-8 English Language Arts program ensuring curricular alignment and instructional excellence. The Director leads the English Learner Program including administration of the English Language Proficiency Assessments for California (ELPAC) and instructional support for our English Learners. The Director also oversees the middle school instructional program.

The Director of Academics will collaborate with the Chief Academic Officer to oversee Yu Ming’s instructional coaching model.  The Director will lead the implementation of the coaching system, tools, and professional learning for instructional coaches across the network. The Director will also participate in model sharing work with Spanish immersion partner schools, facilitating professional development and coaching leaders and teachers. The Director may take on site-based leadership responsibilities, partnering with the  principal of one campus in overseeing the Multi-Tiered Systems of Support (MTSS) to ensure that all  students receive the academic and social-emotional support they need to thrive.

CORE RESPONSIBILITIES

Instructional Support and Professional Learning, duties may include:

• Lead the design, implementation, and continuous improvement of professional learning for educators.


• Partner with school leaders to conduct classroom observations and ensure alignment with instructional vision and goals.


• Facilitate weekly instructional coaches meetings and provide ongoing support to coaches.


• Provide instructional coaching to teachers through observation and feedback cycles to strengthen instructional practice.


• Facilitate and/or support Teacher Professional Learning Communities (PLCs) to foster collaboration and continuous improvement.


• Supervise and/or support English Language Development (ELD) instructors in delivering high-quality designated ELD instruction.


• Lead or support professional development and coaching sessions for teachers and leaders at model-adopting Spanish-immersion schools to promote shared instructional practices.

Curriculum Development, duties may include:

• Lead and manage systems and processes for selecting, developing, and curating high-quality curricular resources for K–8 English Language Arts, English Language Development (ELD), and middle school Math and Science.


• Support teachers in implementing core curriculum through planning, intellectual preparation, and adaptation of instructional materials to meet diverse learner needs.


• Collaborate on the development and refinement of curriculum maps, pacing guides, and scope and sequence documents.

Data-Driven Instructional Leadership, duties may include:

• Support the management and use of academic data systems (e.g., Illuminate) to track, analyze, and communicate student academic progress


• Oversee administration of assessments for K-8 English Language Arts and the Middle School program


• Oversee administration of Initial ELPAC and Summative ELPAC for English Learners, including the hiring and management of ELPAC test examiners

School Site Leadership Responsibilities, duties may include:

• Partner with principal to support and oversee the implementation of Multi-Tiered System of Supports (MTSS) at a school site.


• Facilitate key student support meetings, including Coordination of Services Team (COST), Student Success Team (SST), and School Attendance Review Board (SARB).

Network Leadership Responsibilities, duties may include:

• Serve as an evaluator of teachers in the Teacher Development and Evaluation System.


• Participate in All-Schools Instructional Leadership Team meetings.


• Participate in the hiring process and inform staff recruiting and hiring decisions.

This job description is not intended to be an exhaustive list of all duties, responsibilities, or qualifications associated with this position. Employees may be required to perform other duties as assigned.

QUALIFICATIONS

• BA from accredited university required; MA in education-related field preferred


• Elementary or single subject certification required; Administrative credential preferred


• A minimum of five years of successful teaching experience in an urban public school setting, demonstrating significant student achievement gains and strong pedagogical expertise.


• A minimum of five years of prior leadership experience (e.g., School Leader, Dean, Department Chair, Instructional Coach, or similar administrative role) in a diverse school setting with a track record of improving student outcomes.


• Demonstrated knowledge and experience with curriculum development, program design, and implementation.


• Experience managing, coaching, and developing educators to improve instructional practices and student learning.


• Fluency in Spanish preferred (for model sharing work with partner schools)

TIME COMMITMENT

12 month time commitment. 180-day school year, 8 student-free professional development days for collaboration with colleagues. Common building hours are 8:00am-3:30pm Monday, 8:00am-4:00pm Tuesday-Friday. 

SALARY AND BENEFITS

Yu Ming offers a generous salary and benefits package which includes: 

• $107,000-$123,000 annual base salary, with placement determined based on years of experience.


• 100% core benefits coverage on select plans


• Free Access to an Employee Assistance Program offering a variety of services including counseling and legal aid


• Participation in CalSTRS Retirement System


• 10 days paid time off per calendar year, plus school holidays and breaks


• 7 Sick days per calendar year

TO APPLY

Interested candidates should apply at
https://yumingcharterschool.bamboohr.com/jobs/

Application submission screening and initial phone interviews will be completed on a rolling basis.

Yu Ming Charter School is an equal opportunity employer committed to diversity at all levels.