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Harlem Children's Zone

Breaks poverty cycle through on-the-ground programs

Education Director - Promise Academy II Elementary

Full-TimeUpdated on 10/23/2026
$125k - $135k/yr+ Annual and performance-based bonuses + Deferred bonus program + Employee referral bonus
Expert
Master's
New York, NY, USA
In Person
EducationSchool Leadership & Administration
No H1B Sponsorship

About the job

Requirements
  • A master's degree is required.
  • At least 6 years of experience working in education is required.
  • At least 3 years of experience in an administrative or leadership capacity is required.
  • A valid New York State Teaching Certification is required.
  • Demonstrated success as a classroom teacher and/or school leader is required.
  • Experience with curriculum development, instructional coaching, educator evaluation, and data analysis is preferred.
  • A proven track record of success in teaching, coaching, and instructional leadership is required.
  • Extensive content knowledge and experience in curriculum development, implementation, and instructional fidelity are required.
  • Demonstrated success using data to drive instructional decision-making and improve scholar outcomes is required.
  • Experience leading professional development and supporting educator growth is required.
  • Strong organizational, project management, and problem-solving skills are required.
  • The candidate must be able to build strong relationships with scholars, families, staff, and stakeholders.
  • Excellent oral and written communication skills are required.
  • Commitment to educational equity, scholar achievement, and continuous improvement is required.
  • Candidates must be available to work flexible hours, including evenings, weekends, and holidays as needed, and be accessible for emergencies and critical school-related matters outside regular business hours.
Responsibilities
  • Ensure teachers are informed of Promise Academy's classroom expectations for instructional delivery.
  • Collaborate with instructional coaches to research, evaluate, and recommend curricula, instructional methods, and instructional resources.
  • Support implementation of rigorous, standards-aligned curriculum and instructional best practices.
  • Monitor curriculum implementation fidelity and instructional effectiveness across grade levels.
  • Provide supplemental instruction to scholars during extended learning opportunities as needed.
  • Oversee implementation of external assessment systems, including New York State assessments and other standardized testing programs.
  • Use assessment and achievement data to inform instructional decisions, intervention planning, and strategic initiatives.
  • Construct and oversee implementation of student rosters and intervention groupings.
  • Attend grade-level and instructional team meetings to support development of academic strategies and action plans.
  • Monitor grade-level progress and scholar achievement against established benchmarks.
  • Collaborate with instructional coaches and school leaders to prepare for and facilitate data meetings.
  • Oversee the completion and quality assurance of report cards and progress reports.
  • Partner with the Director of Operations to coordinate testing logistics and ensure the security of assessment materials, including Regents, NYSESLAT, and New York State exams.
  • Conduct formal classroom observations and provide timely, actionable feedback to teachers.
  • Coach educators through individualized development plans focused on improving instructional practice and scholar outcomes.
  • Support teacher growth through ongoing coaching conversations, goal-setting, and performance management.
  • Collaborate with instructional coaches to design and facilitate professional learning opportunities.
  • Assist with planning and executing summer staff orientation and curriculum development initiatives.
  • Oversee development and support of Teaching Assistants and Teaching Fellows.
  • Contribute to school-wide talent development, retention, and succession planning efforts.
  • Facilitate student circles and restorative practices when needed.
  • Partner with Deans and school leadership to support implementation and refinement of PBIS systems.
  • Monitor scholar progress and collaborate with stakeholders to ensure appropriate academic and behavioral supports.
  • Foster a positive, inclusive, and achievement-oriented school culture that promotes scholar success and belonging.
  • Support school-wide initiatives that strengthen family engagement and community partnerships.
  • Collaborate with school leadership teams to establish and achieve annual academic goals.
  • Support strategic planning and continuous improvement initiatives aligned to school priorities.
  • Assist in developing systems and structures that improve operational efficiency and instructional effectiveness.
  • Serve as a key member of the school leadership team and contribute to school-wide decision-making.

About the company

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Harlem Children's Zone

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Harlem Children’s Zone coordinates a place-based set of programs across early childhood through adulthood in Harlem to help children and families thrive. It operates directly through schools, community centers, and outreach to deliver education, career pathways, health and wellness, and family supports. Programs are integrated, meaning services at different stages coordinate for each family, rather than one-off initiatives. This approach distinguishes HCZ from peers by offering a wraparound, long-term support system in a single community, focusing on mobility and prosperity rather than only schooling. The goal is to break the cycle of intergenerational poverty by creating opportunities in education, work, and life for residents of Harlem.

Company Size

1,001-5,000

Company Stage

N/A

Total Funding

N/A

Headquarters

New York City, New York

Founded

1970

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Simplify's Take

What believers are saying

  • September 2026 Wealth Builds CSAs are live, with Ascensus and New York's 529 Program.
  • HCZ opened Promise Academy II Elementary at 70 East 112th Street, expanding capacity.
  • HCZ reports active hiring in 2026, with about 1,530 employees and 104 postings.

What critics are saying

  • July 2026 fraud indictments stole $288,529 from HCZ; controls need tightening immediately.
  • Wealth Builds depends on $300 million fundraising; a shortfall stalls expansion beyond Harlem.
  • Scaling to ten cities strains execution, and charter politics can choke funding by 2027.

What makes Harlem Children's Zone unique

  • HCZ runs cradle-to-career schooling, health, and family services inside a 97-block Harlem footprint.
  • Wealth Builds pairs $500 CSAs with financial education, internships, and family wealth-building incentives.
  • HCZ combines charter schools with social services, unlike standalone nonprofits or pure-school operators.

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Benefits

  • Health Insurance
  • Life Insurance
  • Disability Insurance
  • Paid Vacation
  • Paid Sick Leave
  • Commuter Benefits
  • Employee Referral Bonus
  • Wellness Program
  • Hybrid Work Options
  • Employee Discounts

Company News

PR Newswire
Oct 22nd, 2026
Harlem Children's Zone acquires fintech platform Goalsetter to expand economic mobility

Harlem Children's Zone (HCZ), an anti-poverty organisation, has acquired Goalsetter, a financial education technology platform. The deal was announced on October 22, 2026. No financial terms were given. The acquisition supports HCZ's Wealth Builds–Universal Economic Mobility strategy, which aims to help children and families build long-term economic security. Goalsetter founder Tanya Van Court becomes HCZ's chief FinTech officer. Goalsetter offers Goalsetter Classroom, a financial curriculum for middle and high school students, and MoneyLingo, a mobile-first programme for college students and working adults. HCZ plans to add products for younger learners. "Social impact organizations should not have to choose between mission and scale," said chief executive officer Kwame Owusu-Kesse. Services to current Goalsetter clients will not change.

Editor & Publisher
Jul 27th, 2026
The New York Times: New hire in Newsroom Operations.

The New York Times: New hire in Newsroom Operations. Posted Monday, July 27, 2026 2:00 pm Juanita Powell-Brunson | The New York Times I am excited to share that Aubrey Armstrong has joined Newsroom Operations as an executive assistant. In this critical role, she will support Solana Pyne and Charlotte Greensit as the newsroom's video expansion continues to scale in complexity and output. Most recently Aubrey was an operations and project manager at Harlem Children's Zone in New York. She holds a B.A. in anthropology from the University of Texas at Austin and a master's in sociology from Arizona State University. She is endlessly curious and considers learning a lifelong pursuit. Outside of work, Aubrey enjoys baking and sharing the results with friends, running, walking outdoors, and taking barre pilates classes. She also loves getting creative through sewing, jewelry-making, photography and floral design, and is always working on a handmade gift for someone. She is an avid reader, a fan of live performances, a board game enthusiast, and loves hunting down the city's best bakeries - always accompanied by her Australian shepherd. Please join me in welcoming Aubrey to the team. She starts today. Juanita Powell-Brunson is director of Newsroom Operations at The New York Times.

Harlem Children's Zone
Oct 10th, 2025
William Julius Wilson Institute and EdRedesign Host Fourth Annual Summer Institute

William Julius Wilson Institute and EdRedesign host fourth annual Summer Institute.

National Community Reinvestment Coalition
May 20th, 2024
The New York Times: A Plan To Help Harlem Students Build Wealth: Start Them Off With $10,000

The Harlem Children's Zone, an influential anti-poverty organization, said it is raising $300 million for an initiative called Wealth Builds that will launch in Upper Manhattan, where the group operates, and expand to 10 other cities, including Atlanta and Minneapolis.

The Additive Agency
May 16th, 2024
Harlem Children's Zone Helps Young People Build Wealth

Additive Agency LLC is proud to have partnered with Harlem Children's Zone (HCZ) to develop the name and visual identity for Wealth Builds, an innovative initiative designed to close the racial wealth gap and open pathways to social and economic mobility for more young people in more communities.