Academic Director, BEAM Discovery

About BEAM
Bridge to Enter Advanced Mathematics (BEAM) creates pathways for students from low-income, low-access backgrounds to become scientists, mathematicians, engineers, and computer scientists. We provide BEAM students the same access to high-quality preparation in STEM as their more affluent peers, and we invest deeply in our students  success, with programming from middle school through college graduation focused on joyous, exciting, and rigorous mathematics, building vibrant communities, and supporting students in key life transitions such as college admissions and financial aid.

BEAM has grown from a small summer program serving 17 students in the summer of 2011 to a year-round, national program, serving 450+ students at six summer program sites and 600+ students in year-round programming in New York City and Los Angeles this school year. In addition, our BEAM National pilot program now reaches around 1000 elementary-aged students in seven different states, working to create a new nationwide pathway modeled on our local work.

We ve seen our students  successes first-hand, and it s backed by data: a quasi-experimental study found that students who attended our 7th grade summer program were 1.3X as likely to declare a STEM major as a matched comparison group.

About BEAM
Role Overview

The Academic Director is the instructional leader for a BEAM site, responsible for ensuring high-quality, student-centered math instruction and supporting faculty growth. BEAM Discovery is the first step in BEAM s 10-year Pathway Program, offering students an engaging introduction to advanced mathematical thinking in a supportive, inquiry-driven environment. As Academic Director, you will guide the academic vision for your campus, support faculty growth, and ensure that BEAM s inquiry-based, student-centered math instruction comes to life every day.

• Ensure high-quality, inquiry-based math instruction aligned with BEAM s mission and values.
• Coach, support, and evaluate faculty, including Junior and Senior Faculty.
• Facilitate collaboration spaces that promote shared learning and instructional coherence.
• Align academic goals with site operations in partnership with site leadership.

The Academic Director partners closely with the Site Director, Associate Site Director, Director of Student Life, and Guidance Counselor as part of a cohesive leadership team. While the primary focus is academic excellence and faculty development, the role also supports site-wide operations as needed to ensure a strong student experience.

I. Pre-Program Preparation

You lay the groundwork for a successful summer by building faculty readiness and aligning with the leadership team.

Self-Preparation and Planning

• Complete BEAM leadership and faculty coaching training.
• Review the Site Leadership Handbook and program expectations.
• Support final selection and onboarding of faculty.
• Contribute to student course assignment processes.
• Participate in virtual leadership meetings, synchronous faculty training, and the virtual course planning retreat.

Pre-Camp Week (On-Site)

• Leadership Team Retreat: Align with leadership on roles, academic expectations, and camp-wide norms; help plan team building and staff culture activities; ensure classroom spaces, materials, and logistics are ready.
• All Staff Pre-Camp Training: Lead all faculty-specific training (academic modules, instructional expectations); facilitate faculty course preparation, lesson adaptation, and problem-solving planning; assign and review any academic training tasks; confirm I-9 and onboarding compliance for faculty.

Academic Leadership (Primary Function)

• Conduct at least three observation and feedback cycles for each faculty member.
• Provide ongoing coaching and support tailored to each teacher s needs.
• Co-facilitate twice-weekly collaboration spaces with Senior Faculty focused on lesson planning, content understanding, and student-centered pedagogy.
• Guide faculty in implementing Open Math Time best practices.
• Provide and document formal summative evaluations for faculty.
• Support new faculty in understanding and implementing BEAM s instructional philosophy.

Site Leadership

• Serve as the primary bridge between faculty and the leadership team regarding academic needs.
• Participate in daily or weekly leadership meetings.
• Communicate academic updates, challenges, and resource needs.
• Troubleshoot scheduling or classroom logistics in partnership with leadership.
• Provide emergency instructional coverage if needed.

Community Leadership

• Ensure classrooms reflect BEAM s commitment to inquiry, belonging, and student ownership.
• Support faculty in implementing student engagement strategies and any necessary accommodations.
• Address escalated classroom-based behavior concerns.
• Model positive academic and social leadership across the site.

Operational and Logistical Support Supports academic logistics that intersect with instruction, not the primary operations…