Spark Lab Leader

Position: SPARK LAB LEADER
Spark Lab Leader

Rowan-Salisbury Schools as part of the Spark

NC initiative, seeks to hire a creative, innovative individual to support learners across a network of North Carolina public school districts to engage in a new model focused on expanding pathways to high-tech fields. Learners will have the opportunity to explore high-tech fields while earning high school credit through a unique, multi-district collaboration that is learner-centered, industry-relevant, and competency-based.

Section I. About the Spark

NC Initiative

Spark

NC offers opportunities for learners to access rigorous and experiential pathways leading to jobs in high-tech industry-in areas including artificial intelligence & machine learning, cybersecurity, software development, data analytics, game development and design, computer systems engineering, and user experience design. Spark

NC seeks to expand to serve learners throughout North Carolina.

The high-tech industry is growing rapidly in North Carolina and nationally, with a large and expanding pool of high-paying jobs available to those with the requisite interest, knowledge, skills, and abilities. Many of these jobs are going unfilled because young people aren't aware of the opportunities, view them as unattainable, or don't see clear pathways to pursue them.

Spark

NC opens doors for learners to discover, experience, and navigate pathways toward high-tech jobs. We help learners expand skill sets, build networks, gain confidence, and chart personalized pathways toward these jobs through engaging, connected experiences, resources, and guidance along our Learning Continuum:

We are deliberative and strategic, but also impatient and driven to action. We are passionate about transforming learning, particularly for those who have been disengaged or left behind by traditional systems. We believe strongly in

public education and the power of innovative educators to build impactful, personalized learning experiences for all kinds of learners.

Section II. About Rowan-Salisbury School System

Section III.

The Role of the Spark Lab Leader

The Spark Lab Leader will join a unique network of innovative educators across North Carolina who will support learners as they progress through various in-person, blended, and virtual Spark

NC learning experiences. This person will provide education, encouragement, and inspiration to learners enrolled in an experience called the "Spark

NC High-Tech Learning Accelerator." The ideal candidate will have a passion for creativity and transforming education. We are looking for someone who would be excited for a nontraditional opportunity to design and support learning experiences that meet the needs of each and every learner. The Spark Lab Leader will collaborate with other Spark Lab Leaders, district and school staff, the Spark

NC team, and partners from our business community to breathe life into cutting-edge learning experiences linked to high-tech fields.

The successful applicant for this role will be deeply driven by two ambitions: (1) a desire to expand pathways into high-tech fields for North Carolina learners, particularly those disproportionately impacted by COVID-19 and those from groups that have historically been excluded from these fields; and (2) a deep and abiding commitment to supporting learning experiences that make public schools more learner-centered, equitable, flexible, and adaptive.

Section IV. The Opportunity

The Spark Lab Leader will serve as the "lead learner" in a new and evolving model. The Spark Lab Leader will be actively engaged in the iterative design of the model and will fulfill the following roles:

Recruitment and Retention

* Actively recruit learners from across the district to enroll in the High-Tech Learning Accelerator, with a focus on learners disproportionately impacted by COVID-19 and populations historically excluded from careers in tech

* Create a safe and supportive learning environment with routines and structures that align with the district's values and promote a learning environment conducive to the intellectual, physical, social, and emotional development of all learners

Content Development and Delivery

* Deliver in-person, blended, or virtual learning experiences that may be accessible to learners across the network, and learning experiences delivered in person to learners on site; the learning experiences described here will be equivalent to the amount of content typically delivered in a three-week period within a traditional high school course.

* Coordinate the technical components of learning experiences (e.g., schedule guest speakers, secure supplies, troubleshoot technical issues, etc.).

* Co-design new, modular learning experiences with other Spark Lab Leaders, Spark

NC team members, or business partners.

Personalized Learning Environment

* Ensure that learners continually develop the durable skills needed to prepare them for a wide array of postsecondary opportunities.

* Co-create progress checkpoints with learners to ensure they achieve…