Director of Innovation and Design

SUMMARYMid-Peninsula High School is an independent non-profit non-sectarian coeducational college preparatory high school in Menlo Park California. Intentionally small by design Mid-Pen is built on genuine connection. Each student has a daily home base with a trusted adult who helps them get organized set goals and navigate the week so students are supported challenged and guided toward greater -Pen offers a college-preparatory program that includes a full range of high school experiences. Students have options for accelerated and honors classes visual and performing arts and a robust and inclusive athletics program. Mid-Pens distinctive program is shaped by signature experiences such as the daily Core Program DragonWeek intersession and Dragon Workshops. Alongside a dedicated learning support program and a college advisor these experiences help students build skills confidence and this exciting moment in the schools 47-year history Mid-Pen seeks a director of innovation and design (DI&D) to start this summer. This is a new role that seeks a creative inspirational and ambitious educational leader who wants to help a small relational school explore pedagogical innovation across all disciplines and areas of school life. The DI&D will have a chance to help make that innovation come alive via staffulty partnerships and direct student instruction. Reporting to the head of school the DI&D will serve on the administrative team supervise the director of technology and teach two elective courses each year. The successful candidate will bring a love of teaching an experienced instructional design toolkit to inspire other educators a passion for and fluency in one or more innovation-related domains (such as design maker fabrication robotics computer science or applied engineering) an eagerness for helping to establish a new role in a small teaching community and an understanding for how to develop multiple learning pathways for a neurodiverse motivated and intellectually curious student body.12M & Ed Tech Recruiting is running the search on behalf of Mid-Peninsula High School. Applications received by March 13 will receive priority review. For application instructions and the full job opportunity statement please visit: INFORMATIONPriority Deadline: March 13 2026Semifinal Round: Late March Early AprilOn-site Final Round: Week of April 20Decision Announced: April 30 2026Start Date: Summer 2026Reports To: Head of SchoolAnnual Salary Range: $120000 $150000 Classification: Full-time ExemptSPECIFIC DUTIESInnovation & Strategy In partnership with the leadership team define and communicate a mission-based approach to innovation and design in teaching and learning at annual priorities and lead a small set of pilots and initiatives across the academic directly with faculty through co-planning coaching and practical the development of values-aligned norms for student use of AI and related tools and support their day-to-day use in two classes including design thinking and a second elective aligned with school priorities and the directors & PartnershipsSupervise the director of technology and provide direction for the technology program through that closely with the director of teaching learning & equity to support innovation work with student needs and teaching the student device approach in a way that supports learning and and maintain local regional and national partnerships that expand learning opportunities for students and support the schools on the administrative team report directly to the head of school and perform other duties as -centered LearningPilot and grow maker-centered and design-oriented learning experiences using existing spaces programs and near-term partnership opportunities and resources that expand hands-on with staffulty to connect making to arts performance and DragonWeek and to STEM learning as computer science pathways over time such as coding or to longer-term planning for a maker-centered learning space as timing space and priorities allow with a focus on building a program not just a QualificationsBachelors degree required. Advanced degree welcomedAt least 5 years of experience in schools including significant classroom teaching experience at the secondary levelDemonstrated experience leading instructional innovation initiatives including planning piloting and learning from resultsDemonstrated experience coaching teachers 1:1 through co-planning observation feedback and reflectionExperience supporting neurodiverse learners including approaches that build access independence and self-advocacyExperience developing community-wide guidance and shared expectations including clear guidelines for student use of AI and related toolsExperience designing and facilitating professional learning for educatorsProject management experience including managing multiple initiatives setting priorities and following through reliablyExperience as a manager including coaching and feedbackLeadership and Personal QualitiesA warm steady presence with students staffulty and families grounded in listening and clear communicationCredibility with staffulty and an ability to work alongside others in classrooms and planning spacesJudgment to hold varied perspectives build shared direction and move work forward at a sustainable paceCuriosity and humility with a willingness to learn the Mid-Pen way before proposing solutionsComfort with iteration and reflection while keeping a clear throughlineCare for student voice and integrity including a thoughtful approach to emerging tools and AI guidanceVisible engagement in the life of the school including performances exhibitions and signature experiences such as DragonWeekTO APPLYFor more information please visit the following link which contains the job opportunity statement and complete application Experience:

Director