Director of STEAM at Islamic Foundation – Villa Park, Illinois

The Director of STEAM provides visionary leadership, strategic direction, and operational oversight for the school’s Science, Technology, Engineering, Arts, and Mathematics programs (K–12). This role is responsible for curriculum design, instructional excellence, innovation initiatives, technology integration, faculty development, and program expansion aligned with the school’s mission and long-term strategic goals. The Director of STEAM cultivates a culture of inquiry, creativity, design thinking, and problem-solving while ensuring academic rigor and measurable student outcomes.

Job Responsibilities

• Develop and execute a comprehensive K–12 STEAM strategic plan.
  Align STEAM programming with school mission, accreditation standards, and college readiness goals.
  Lead innovation initiatives including makerspaces, robotics, coding, AI integration, and interdisciplinary programming.
  Identify growth opportunities including advanced coursework (AP, Honors, Dual Credit, IB).
  Oversee vertical and horizontal alignment of STEAM curriculum.
• Ensure rigorous standards-based instruction across all grade levels.
• Evaluate and refine instructional practices to improve student outcomes.
• Integrate project-based learning, design thinking, and experiential learning.
• Promote cross-disciplinary collaboration between STEM and Arts departments.
• Supervise and evaluate STEAM faculty.
• Provide coaching, mentoring, and professional development.
• Lead department meetings and instructional improvement initiatives.
• Recruit and hire high-quality STEAM educators.
• Support teachers in curriculum innovation and technology integration.
• Oversee robotics teams, science fairs, math competitions, coding clubs, and innovation labs.
• Build partnerships with universities, industry leaders, and community organizations.
• Expand experiential learning opportunities including internships and STEM career exploration.
• Lead grant-writing initiatives for STEAM funding and innovation resources.
• Analyze student performance data to drive instructional decisions.
• Monitor AP/IB exam performance and other benchmark assessments.
• Establish measurable KPIs for program success.
• Report regularly to administration and Board on program outcomes.
• Develop and manage the STEAM department budget.
• Oversee procurement of lab equipment, software, and instructional materials.
• Ensure compliance with safety standards in science labs and makerspaces.
• Partner with IT to ensure effective technology integration.
• Oversee implementation of coding platforms, learning management systems, and digital tools.
• Lead emerging technology initiatives (AI literacy, robotics, engineering design labs).

• Master’s degree in STEM, Education Leadership, or related field (required).
• Doctorate preferred.
  Minimum 5–7 years of teaching experience in STEM fields.
• Minimum 3 years of leadership or department chair experience.
• Experience with curriculum design and instructional supervision.
• Experience overseeing advanced coursework (AP, IB, Dual Credit) preferred.
  Deep understanding of STEM pedagogy and innovation.
• Strong data analysis and performance management skills.
• Excellent communication and stakeholder engagement.
• Budget management and operational planning.
• Experience leading interdisciplinary initiatives.
  Grant-writing experience.
• Experience with accreditation processes.
• Student achievement growth in math/science benchmarks.
• AP/IB participation and pass rates.
• Enrollment growth in advanced STEAM courses.
• Faculty development engagement metrics.
• Successful implementation of innovation initiatives.
• Budget adherence and program expansion milestones.
• 12-month administrative position.
• Combination of classroom observation, strategic planning, and program oversight.
• Occasional evening or weekend events (competitions, showcases, board meetings).