Academic Director, BEAM Summer Away

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About BEAM

The mission of BEAM is to create pathways for students from low-income and underserved communities to become scientists, mathematicians, engineers, and computer scientists. Led by staff with these same technical backgrounds, BEAM believes that pathways to STEM careers are created through community, individual support, and access to advanced work that typically lies outside most school curricula. We work to directly support students and to transition them to other supportive enrichment programs that enable their future success.

BEAM's model provides continuous support from middle school through college graduation, including intense academic summer programs for middle school students (after 6th and 7th grade), weekend classes and mentoring, and STEM-focused support through college. Our program includes not just access to learning advanced math but also support finding and applying to other opportunities, including support with college admissions and financial aid. In addition to our academic content, bringing students into community is a key part of our mission and all of our work is designed to support that goal.

BEAM has grown from a small summer program serving 17 students in the summer of 2011 to a year-round, national program, serving 420+ 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 over 500 elementary-aged students in seven different states, working to create a new nationwide pathway modeled on our local work.

With our strategic plan, our team has committed to transforming the organization from a successful startup to a more mature and scalable organization that can drive change across the country.

About the role

Academic Director, BEAM Summer Away

Role Overview: Instructional Leadership

The Academic Director is the instructional leader for a BEAM site, responsible for ensuring high-quality, student-centered math instruction and supporting faculty growth. 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.

BEAM Summer Away is a cornerstone of BEAM’s 10-year Pathway Program, providing a residential math experience where students grow as problem solvers, learners, and community members.

Primary Responsibilities:

• 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.

Key Responsibilities:

I. Pre-Program Preparation

Your work before camp ensures that faculty arrive prepared and that the academic program launches smoothly.

Self-Preparation and Planning:

• Complete BEAM’s Leadership and Faculty Coach training.
• Review the Site Leadership Handbook and align with program expectations.
• Participate in virtual leadership team meetings.
• Support final hiring or placement decisions for faculty.
• Support student course assignment processes.
• Attend synchronous faculty training sessions and the virtual course planning retreat.

Pre-Camp Week (On-Site):

• Leadership Retreat: Align with the leadership team on roles, academic expectations, and camp-wide goals; contribute to planning team-building activities and culture-setting norms; assist in preparing classroom spaces, materials, and logistics.
• All Staff Pre-Camp Training: Lead all faculty-specific training, including academic modules; facilitate prep time, course refinement, and problem-solving planning for faculty; assign and review academic training tasks or modules; confirm completion of HR onboarding for faculty.

II. During Camp

Academic Leadership (Primary Function)

• Observe each faculty member across three full observation and feedback cycles.
• Provide individualized coaching and implement BEAM’s coaching and feedback structures.
• Co-facilitate twice-weekly collaboration spaces with senior faculty focused on lesson planning, math content, pedagogical strategies.
• Guide faculty on best practices for Open Math Time, problem-solving pedagogy, and student discourse.
• Provide and record formal summative feedback for all faculty.
• Support new faculty in understanding BEAM’s teaching philosophy.

Site Leadership (In partnership with the Site Director)

• Serve as the primary translator of academic needs within the leadership team.
• Participate in daily and weekly leadership check-ins.
• Communicate academic updates, shifts, or faculty needs.
• Troubleshoot classroom or scheduling issues in partnership with leadership.
• Provide emergency class coverage if needed.
• Support decision-making conversations when academic or student needs intersect.

Community Leadership

• Ensure classrooms reflect BEAM’s commitment to safety, belonging, inquiry, and student ownership of math.
• Support faculty in implementing student accommodations and engagement strategies.
• Address escalated academic or classroom-based student behavior concerns.
• Model academic and social leadership aligned with BEAM’s values.

Operational and Logistical Support

(The Academic Director is not the primary logistics manager, but supports key pieces that intersect with academics.)

• Manage petty cash and supplies related to instruction.
• Support planning and staffing for field trips and academic extensions.
• Supervise Open Math Time.
• Coordinate math circles or enrichment events for students and staff.
• Participate in occasional evening responsibilities as aligned with leadership team norms.

III. Post-Camp Wrap Up

• Complete summative faculty evaluations and lead all faculty debrief conversations.
• Support Site Director in completing the end-of-camp checklist.
• Contribute academic insights to BEAM’s multi-site step-back meeting.

Qualifications

• Experience: At least 2 years as Academic Dean or4+ years in an instructional leadership role.
• Preferred Experience: Worked with middle school and/or high school students.
• Leadership: Demonstrated success coaching teachers or leading instructional teams.
• Content Expertise: Deep comfort with middle school math content, problem-solving pedagogy, and inquiry-based teaching.
• Coaching Skills: Skilled at providing clear, actionable feedback and building trusting coaching relationships.
• Professional Development: Experience leading professional development or collaborative planning spaces.
• Soft Skills: Strong communication, organization, and partnership skills.
• Values: Commitment to equity, inclusive practices, and student-centered learning.

Why You’ll Love Working Here

• Room and board is covered by BEAM for the duration of the summer program.
• Travel from and to the camp site is covered by BEAM within BEAM’s approved travel guidelines.
• Small classes with 10-15 students and 2 adults.
• An opportunity to truly get to know the extraordinary students.
• Professional development before camp to set you up for success.
• A collaborative, supportive team of educators and staff from diverse backgrounds.

Location

• BSA CA: Harvey Mudd College (Claremont, CA)

Program Dates (PY26)

Compensation: The compensation is $9,750 for the main camp period as Academic Director, and a contract at an hourly rate for any preparatory work before camp starts as a pre-summer set up associate.

Application Process

First Round Interview  → Project  → Final Interview  → Reference checks & offer!

For more information and the application, contact us at hiring@beammath.org. For information on our residential summer camps, check out our BEAM Summer Away postings!

COMMITMENT TO DIVERSITY, EQUITY AND INCLUSION

Beyond a commitment to nondiscrimination, we are committed to fostering a supportive and inclusive environment where everyone can thrive.

EQUAL EMPLOYMENT OPPORTUNITY

BEAM is an equal opportunity employer and does not unlawfully discriminate against employees or applicants for employment on the basis of an individual’s race (including traits historically associated with race (including, but not limited to, hair texture and protected hairstyles, such as braids, locks and twists), ethnicity, religion (including clothing or facial hair worn in accordance with the religious tenets), color, sex, pregnancy, childbirth and related medical conditions, breastfeeding, gender (including actual or perceived sex, gender identity, and gender expression including a person’s actual or perceived gender-related self-image, appearance, behavior, expression, or other gender-related characteristic, regardless of the sex assigned to that person at birth), sexual orientation, sexual and reproductive health decisions, national origin, immigration or citizenship status, status as a veteran, active military service member, or uniform service member, marital or partnership status, familial status, caregiver status, age (18 or older), predisposing genetic characteristics, disability, creed, status as a victim of domestic violence, sexual violence or stalking, unemployment status, salary history, credit history, an individual’s status as having a known relationship or association with a member or members of a protected category, or any other protected status in accordance with all applicable federal, state, and local laws. This policy applies to all terms, conditions, and privileges of employment, including recruitment, hiring, placement, compensation, promotion, discipline, and termination.

All personnel decisions will be made in accordance with the principles of equal employment opportunity and subject only to valid (job-related) requirements for employment, benefits, or promotional opportunities.