Faculty, BEAM Summer

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.

• Pure Topics: Abstract ideas such as graph theory, combinatorics, number theory, tessellations, and symmetry. Focus is on reasoning, proofs, and stretching mathematical imagination.
• Applied Topics: Connect math to the real world through circuits, programming, data, voting theory, or modeling. Show students how math explains and solves practical challenges.
• Strategic Math Thinking: Contest‑style puzzling that builds creative problem‑solving techniques, pattern recognition, and systematic reasoning.
• Solving Big Problems: Deep, collaborative problem sets that build endurance, pattern hunting, case analysis, and introductory proof structures. (This is BEAM's only semi‑scripted course.)

We are looking for math and STEM educators who love working with middle schoolers and are excited to join a residential community. This role encompasses teaching, community engagement, and partnership with counselors and site leadership. Faculty design and teach their own courses, participate fully in camp life, collaborate with academic coaches, and help maintain a supportive, structured environment.

• Design engaging, student‑centered math courses aligned to BEAM Summer Away offerings.
• Prepare daily lesson plans, problem solutions, and materials in advance.
• Adapt instruction for the specific learners in your classroom.
• Incorporate practices that support multilingual learners using visuals, structured reasoning, and language‑accessible explanations.
• Maintain pacing expectations and collaborate with coaches when adjustments are needed.

• Establish and maintain classroom norms and routines that promote student inquiry, persistence, and collaboration.
• Use restorative, respectful redirection aligned with BEAM's behavior expectations.
• Partner with TAs during class for student support, behavior management, and transitions.
• Apply the BEAM behavior escalation process and involve leadership when needed.

• Participate in coaching cycles including observations, debrief meetings, and implementing feedback.
• Attend academic collaboration sessions to align on pacing, goals, and instructional priorities.
• Work closely with TAs, Academic Director, and faculty peers to create a coherent and supportive learning environment.

• Identify academic or social‑emotional concerns and communicate them to the appropriate leadership team member following documentation protocols.
• Build positive relationships with students through classroom interactions, meals, activities, and trips.

• Support evening free time, independent study, relays, and other activities at least 5 days per week.
• Attend meals with students to foster community.
• Attend assigned field trips such as hiking, field day, or regional excursions.
• Participate in…