CTE Teacher/Spark Lab Facilitator

For the 2025-26 school this position will be part Spark Lab Facilitator and CTE Business Teacher. The candidate needs to be strong in technology skills and have the ability to link students to technology careers.

Job Description: NC Spark Lab Facilitator

NATURE OF WORK

SparkNC and Chatham County Schools seek to hire a creative, innovative educator to support learners across a network of 18 North Carolina public school districts to engage in a new model focused on expanding pathways to high-tech fields. The model will offer learning experiences across the network through a unique, multi-district collaboration that is learner-centered, industry-relevant, and competency-based.

MINIMUM TRAINING AND EXPERIENCE

The ideal candidate will have:

• Bachelor’s or Master’s Degree (preferred)

• Middle or high-school teaching experience (preferred)

• Strong commitment to student learning including providing support during and outside of traditional school hours, to meet student needs

• Eagerness to embrace collaboration and willingness to adapt to rapidly changing needs and priorities

• Knowledge of evidence-based pedagogical approaches that engage all learners

• A deep commitment to engaging underserved learners

• Agility to provide individual, small group, and whole group support

• Experience with, and dedication to, creating and refining engaging experiences in learner-centered environments

• Experience with Design Thinking and/or Project-Based Learning (preferred)

• Familiarity with technology and with the use of technology in designing and delivering high-quality learning experiences

• Desire to rethink foundational assumptions that have shaped existing systems, programs, and practices in K-12 education

• An entrepreneurial drive to learn, build, and lead

PERFORMANCE RESPONSIBILITIES/ESSENTIAL FUNCTIONS OF JOB

The SparkLab Facilitator will serve as the “lead learner” in a new and evolving model. The SparkLab Facilitator will be actively engaged in the iterative design of the model and will fulfill the following roles:

• Deliver in-person, blended, or virtual instruction to learners across our interdistrict network for instructor-lead learning experiences. The SparkLab Facilitator will deliver at least three modules that may be accessed by learners across the network, and at least three modules in-person to learners on site. Each module will cover the amount of content typically covered in three weeks in a traditional course.

• Coordinate the technical components of learning experiences for student-led, self-directed learning experiences (e.g., guest speakers, technical supplies, or unlocking access to certain websites)

• Actively recruit learners from across the district to enroll in the High-Tech Learning Accelerator, with a focus on learners disproportionately impacted by COVID-19 and populations historically excluded from careers in tech

• Co-design new, modular learning experiences for learners aligned to SparkNC’s design principles

• Serve as a mentor to provide direction and support by co-creating progress checkpoints with learners to ensure they achieve their academic and career goals

• Establish feedback loops to continually check for and validate student understanding of the learning experiences

• Validate student work, and work with the district and SparkNC to issue credit accordingly

• Create a safe and supportive learning environment with routines and structures that align with the district’s values and promote a learning environment conducive to the intellectual, physical, social, and emotional development of all learners

• Empower learners to take ownership of their learning and develop their problem-solving skills

• Develop strong partnerships within the district, interdistrict network, local community, and businesses

• Act as a liaison between the district and SparkNC

The SparkLab Facilitator will be a district employee and will carry out job duties outlined in the employee’s contract, which will be aligned with an MOU between the district and SparkNC, an initiative of The Innovation Project.

MINIMUM STANDARDS REQUIRED TO PERFORM RESPONSIBILITIES

Physical Requirements: Must be physically able to operate a variety of equipment including computers, copiers, calculators, etc. Must be physically able to operate a motor vehicle. Must be able to exert up to 10 pounds of force occasionally, and/or a negligible amount of force constantly to lift, carry, push, pull or otherwise move objects, including the human body. Light Work usually requires walking or standing to a significant degree.

Data Conception: Requires the ability to compare and/or judge the readily observable, functional, structural or composite characteristics (whether similar or divergent from obvious standards) of data, people or things.

Interpersonal Communication: Requires the ability to speak and/or signal people to convey or exchange information. Includes giving instructions, assignments or directions to subordinates or assistants.

Language Ability: Requires the ability to read a variety of correspondence, reports, forms, strategic plans, etc. Requires the ability to prepare correspondence, reports, forms, evaluations, budgets, etc., using prescribed formats and conforming to all rules of punctuation, grammar, diction, and style. Requires the ability to speak before groups of people with poise, voice control and confidence.

Intelligence: Requires the ability to apply principles of logical or scientific thinking to define problems, collect data, establish facts, and draw valid conclusions;

Verbal Aptitude: Requires the ability to record and deliver information, to explain procedures, to follow oral and written instructions. Must be able to communicate effectively and efficiently in standard English.

Numerical Aptitude: Requires the ability to utilize mathematical formulas; to add and subtract; multiply and divide; utilize decimals and percentages; and to apply the principles of algebra, descriptive statistics and statistical inference.

Form/Spatial Aptitude: Requires the ability to inspect items for proper length, width and shape.

Motor Coordination: Requires the ability to coordinate hands and eyes rapidly and accurately in using office equipment.

Manual Dexterity: Requires the ability to handle a variety of items such as office equipment and hand tools. Must have minimal levels of eye/hand/foot coordination.

Color Discrimination: Does not require the ability to differentiate between colors and shades of color.

Interpersonal Temperament: Requires the ability to deal with people beyond giving and receiving instructions. Must be adaptable to performing under stress and when confronted with emergency situations.

Physical Communication: Requires the ability to talk and hear: (Talking: expressing or exchanging ideas by means of spoken words. Hearing: perceiving nature of sounds by ear.) Must be able to communicate via telephone.

KNOWLEDGE, SKILLS, AND ABILITIES

The SparkLab Facilitator will join a unique network of innovative educators across North Carolina who will support learners as they progress through various in-person, blended, and virtual SparkNC learning experiences. This person will provide education, encouragement, and inspiration to learners enrolled in an experience called the “High-Tech Learning Accelerator.” The ideal candidate will have a passion for creativity and transforming education. We are looking for someone who would be excited for an opportunity to work outside of the traditional systemic restraints to design and support learning experiences that meet the needs of each and every learner. The SparkLab Facilitator will collaborate with other SparkLab Facilitators, the SparkNC team, and partners from our business community to breathe life into learning experiences for learners.

The successful applicant for this role will be deeply driven by two ambitions: (1) a desire to expand pathways into high-tech fields for North Carolina learners, particularly those disproportionately impacted by COVID-19 and those from groups that have historically been excluded from these fields; and (2) a deep and abiding commitment to supporting learning experiences that make public schools more learner-centered, equitable, flexible, and adaptive.

TERMS OF EMPLOYMENT

This is a 12-month position beginning July 1, 2025 and is paid on the certified teacher pay scale with the addition of a local supplement. This position is funded for one year with the possibility of an extension.

DISCLAIMER

The preceding job description was designed to indicate the general nature and level of work performed by employees within this classification. It is not designed to contain or be interpreted as a comprehensive inventory of all duties, responsibilities and qualifications required of employees to this job.