Director of Secondary Programs & Educator Pathways

About Black Men Teach (BMT)

Black Men Teach is a movement and a mission — building a future where every child has the opportunity to learn from, be led by, and be inspired by a Black male educator. We recruit, prepare, and support Black men to enter and thrive in the classroom, strengthening schools and transforming communities in the process. At BMT, we’re reimagining what it means to teach, lead, and belong. Our team is bold, innovative, and deeply rooted in purpose. We don’t just talk about change — we design it, build it, and live it every day. Our work is rooted in the belief that representation matters—and that our children’s schooling experience will never be complete without Black male teachers in the classroom.

Position Overview:

The Director, Secondary Programs & Educator Pathways provides strategic leadership for Black Men Teach's Secondary Programs & Educator Pathways function within the Programs Division. This leader is responsible for designing and executing strategies that inspire, prepare, and position middle and high school Fellows to pursue careers in education while developing the leadership skills, educator identity, and experiences necessary to thrive in postsecondary education and beyond.

Reporting to the Managing Director of Programs, the Director leads Black Men Teach's secondary programming by overseeing the Fellow experience, educator pathway development, leadership programming, and school-based partnerships that strengthen the organization's educator pipeline. Working collaboratively across the organization, this leader ensures Fellows successfully transition from secondary education into postsecondary opportunities through meaningful experiences, intentional coaching, and strategic partnerships.

The ideal candidate is an innovative educational leader who believes every young person deserves access to transformative learning experiences and is passionate about preparing the next generation of Black male educators.

 

Core Responsibilities: 

• Functional Leadership & Management (15%)
  • Lead the Secondary Programs & Educator Pathways function by establishing annual priorities, functional goals, and performance expectations.
  • Develop and execute the function's annual operating plan aligned with the Programs Division and organizational strategic priorities.
  • Manage the function's budget, resources, and personnel to maximize organizational impact.
  • Supervise Site Leaders and other assigned staff through coaching, performance management, and professional development.
  • Foster a culture of belonging, leadership, accountability, and continuous improvement.
  • Monitor functional performance through key performance indicators and measurable outcomes.
• Secondary Program Strategy & Fellow Experience (25%)
  • Develop and execute strategies that strengthen Fellow recruitment, engagement, retention, and progression throughout the secondary experience.
  • Design meaningful learning experiences that cultivate educator identity, leadership development, academic success, and career exploration.
  • Ensure Fellows experience a cohesive, high-quality program that reflects Black Men Teach's mission and values.
  • Develop systems that support belonging, mentorship, accountability, and personal growth.
  • Lead continuous improvement efforts that strengthen the secondary Fellow experience.
• Educator Pathway Development (25%)
  • Design and lead educator pathway experiences that prepare Fellows for successful transition into postsecondary education and future teaching careers.
  • Oversee educator pathway opportunities including Freedom Schools, BMT Academy, internships, classroom observations, educator mentoring, service-learning, and career exploration experiences.
  • Collaborate with educators, school leaders, and internal teams to expand experiential learning opportunities.
  • Build structured pathway experiences that intentionally connect secondary programming to postsecondary success.
  • Prepare Fellows for successful transition into Black Men Teach's Postsecondary Success programming.
• School & Community Partnerships (15%)
  • Develop and strengthen strategic partnerships with middle schools, high schools, school districts, families, and community organizations that support Fellow success.
  • Serve as Black Men Teach's primary relationship leader for secondary school partnerships.
  • Build strong relationships with school administrators, counselors, teachers, and families to strengthen engagement and program participation.
  • Collaborate with the Director of Collective Impact & Partnerships to expand school-based opportunities and educator pathway initiatives.
  • Serve as a visible and values-aligned representative of Black Men Teach throughout Minnesota's K–12 education community. 
• Student Success, Data & Continuous Improvement (10%)
  • Monitor recruitment, retention, attendance, engagement, and pathway progression using organizational dashboards and performance metrics.
  • Partner with the Senior Director of Impact & Evaluation to evaluate program effectiveness and identify opportunities for continuous improvement.
  • Use student data and participant feedback to strengthen programming and improve Fellow outcomes.
  • Ensure accurate documentation of Fellow progress, participation, and program milestones.
  • Provide timely reports and updates to organizational leadership and external stakeholders.
• Cross-Functional Leadership & Organizational Collaboration (10%)
  • Partner closely with the Director of Postsecondary Success to ensure seamless transitions from secondary education into postsecondary success.
  • Collaborate with the Director of Collective Impact & Partnerships to strengthen educator pathway initiatives, school partnerships, and recruitment efforts.
  • Work closely with Teaching & Learning, Advancement, Finance, Operations, and organizational leadership to advance strategic priorities.
  • Contribute to annual planning, budgeting, grant implementation, and cross-functional organizational initiatives.
  • Champion Black Men Teach's mission, values, and commitment to educational equity throughout every aspect of the secondary Fellow experience.

 

Qualifications:

• Required 
  • Bachelor's degree in Education, Educational Leadership, Youth Development, Organizational Leadership, Public Administration, or a related field.
  • Five (5) or more years of progressive leadership experience in K–12 education, youth development, nonprofit leadership, or educator preparation.
  • Three (3) or more years of supervisory experience leading staff or teams.
  • Demonstrated success designing and managing youth development or educational programs.
  • Experience building partnerships with schools, districts, and community organizations.
  • Strong understanding of adolescent development, educator pathways, and college readiness.
  • Exceptional communication, facilitation, and relationship management skills.
  • Commitment to advancing educational equity and increasing the representation of Black male educators.
• Preferred 
  • Master's degree in Education, Educational Leadership, Youth Development, Organizational Leadership, or a related field.
  • Teaching or school leadership experience.
  • Experience leading college and career readiness initiatives.
  • Knowledge of Minnesota's K–12 education landscape.
  • Experience working with historically underserved communities.

 

Skills and Competencies:

• Mission Alignment: Models Black Men Teach's mission, values, and commitment to educational equity while connecting work to organizational impact.
• Youth Development & Leadership: Creates meaningful experiences that develop educator identity, leadership capacity, and student success.
• Strategic Relationship Building: Builds authentic relationships with schools, families, educators, and community partners.
• Collaboration & Communication: Builds trust, communicates effectively, and fosters productive collaboration across teams and stakeholders.
• Execution & Ownership: Leads with accountability, manages competing priorities, and delivers measurable outcomes.
• Data-Informed Decision Making: Uses student data and performance insights to improve programming while partnering with the Senior Director of Impact & Evaluation.
• Equity & Inclusion: Creates environments where belonging, cultural responsiveness, and equitable practices guide decision-making and student experiences.
   

Physical Requirements: 

• The physical demands described here are representative of those that must be met by an employee to successfully perform the essential functions of this position. Reasonable accommodations may be made to enable individuals with disabilities to perform the functions. 
• The person in this position needs to be able to move about inside and outside different facilities (e.g., schools) or offices throughout the workday.
• The candidate is expected to attend conferences, meetings and training sessions both virtually and in-person. 
   

Work Environment

• The standard work schedule is Monday through Friday. To support collaboration, community building, and teamwork, Black Men Teach requires staff to work on-site three days per week, Tuesday through Thursday. Mondays and Fridays are designated as remote workdays.
• This position operates in a collaborative, fast-paced hybrid work environment requiring frequent interaction with colleagues, partners, schools, and community stakeholders. The role requires flexibility, effective prioritization, and the ability to manage multiple projects simultaneously.
   

Compensation and Benefits

Salary range: $82,000 – $90,000. Final salary is determined by BMT based on years of experience, educational background, and level of expertise. Compensation is competitive and commensurate with experience. BMT offers a comprehensive benefits package designed to support the whole person — your health, your future, and your life outside of work:

• Medical, dental, and vision insurance — BMT covers 75% of the employee premium and 65% of dependent premiums
• 401(k) retirement plan with up to 4% employer match
• Paid Time Off (PTO), paid sick leave, and company-observed holidays in accordance with Black Men Teach's leave policies
• Professional development opportunities aligned with your growth
• We offer a hybrid work environment that emphasizes flexibility, collaboration, and community connection.
   

EEO Statement 

Black Men Teach (BMT) is an equal opportunity employer committed to creating an inclusive and equitable workplace where all team members feel valued and supported. We celebrate diversity in all its forms and do not discriminate based on race, color, religion, creed, national origin, ancestry, gender, gender identity or expression, sexual orientation, age, disability, veteran status, marital status, or any other characteristic protected by law.
 

Join Us! 

If you’re passionate about reimagining systems and creating lasting impact, we invite you to bring your ideas and energy to BMT. Together, we’re not just transforming education — we’re transforming possibility.