Company
The U.S. is experiencing a 20-year stagnation in K-12 math performance. Across NAEP, PISA, and TIMSS tests, math scores have remained flat from the mid-2000s to present day. This stagnation has persisted despite major efforts including Common Core curriculum implementation and widespread educational technology adoption.
The consequences extend beyond basic math literacy, which is critical to a functioning society. Research from Raj Chetty's "Lost Einsteins" study and Ian Calaway's work on mentorship for exceptional math talent shows we're missing nearly half of the mathematical talent that could contribute to the frontiers of science and technology.
We need a new approach to math education—one that teaches broad-based mathematical problem solving while nurturing talent wherever it's identified. Despite these challenges, there is hope. Subgroups that invest in rigorous supplementary math curriculum outside of schools have shown tremendous gains over this same period. We believe there's a significant opportunity to leverage innovations from out-of-school learning environments to achieve similar gains for a much wider student population.
Common Core has limited school systems' ability to innovate, creating a market where curriculum designs are homogeneous—few are terrible, but none excel. We believe Art of Problem Solving's K-5 Beast Academy Math curriculum represents the pedagogical innovation that our school system desperately needs.
Art of Problem Solving has been the most successful company in the out-of-school space, helping 100,000+ students discover their passion for problem solving and develop a love for challenging math, including nearly all IMO team members for the last 10 years.
Inflection Point Learning is a new Art of Problem Solving (AoPS) affiliated company providing elementary schools with a comprehensive, standards-aligned K-5 curriculum. Our approach delivers extraordinary differentiation, challenges students to master concepts joyfully, and empowers teachers to build a strong mathematical problem-solving culture. We are committed to partnering with elementary schools to build strong mathematical foundations for all students while nurturing many more to become future mathematical stars.
Our core curriculum is powered by the IP and team behind Beast Academy, a world-class supplementary K-5 math curriculum for advanced learners. We have secured $20M in funding, providing 3-4 years of runway to complete curriculum development, build our technology platform, establish product-market fit, and prove efficacy.
Over the past three years, we have been running pilots in 10 partner schools across grades 1-4. While our technology is in its early stages, the curriculum is already receiving enthusiastic reviews from students and teachers and showing early signs of test score improvements.
Role & Responsibilities
We are looking for a founder CEO, who will achieve the following over the next 5 years:
- Facilitate the recruitment and development of exceptional leaders and build a mission and outcome-oriented culture where the best people want to work and succeed together
- Lead the development of a complete K-5 curriculum experience and digital platform
- Establish product positioning, ideal customer profile, and early-stage go-to-market strategy
- Demonstrate the efficacy of our curriculum at schools in target profiles
- Prepare the organization for larger-scale growth, build a sales team, and lead a Series B fundraising round
Professional Qualifications
- Led 0-1 (vision setting to deployment) of a major product or product upgrade (full version step)
- Strong product management foundation with experience managing the full product development lifecycle, from research to concept to release and future evolution; ability to set and execute on product roadmap
- Experience working with and preferably building sales teams in industries with long sales cycles
- Demonstrated ability to execute in environments with significant uncertainty and build structures from scratch
- Track record of developing best-in-class products while balancing customer needs, internal stakeholder requirements, development realities, and profitability
- History of building cross-functional teams, including engineering, marketing, sales, finance, and operations to increase collaboration, effectively execute on roadmaps, and achieve business objectives
- Clear communication and storytelling ability; skilled at connecting mission/vision with priorities, plans, and processes
- Track record of architecting high-performing cultures that permeate throughout the organization
- Math and/or engineering background a plus
Personal Characteristics
- Mission and Culturally Aligned: Analytical and nerdy, humble and curious, and excited about the promise of Beast Academy
- Winner: Ambitious and high-energy individual who has quickly and consistently advanced in roles and responsibilities
- Wicked Problem Orientation: Energized by solving hard problems rather than seeking quick wins
Position Details
- Comp: $200-250K + founder-level equity award
- Remote: 2/3 of team currently in San Diego area
Board of Directors
- Richard Rusczyk, CEO & Founder, Art of Problem Solving
- Josh Taylor, President, Carina Initiatives
- Clarissa Shen, Former COO, Q Bio, Udacity
Additional Info
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