High School ELA Teacher

Company Description

Uncommon Schools is a nonprofit network of high-performing, public charter schools providing an outstanding K-12 education in historically under-resourced communities. We have proudly built schools that reflect our student population, with more than 60% of our teachers and staff across our network identifying as a person of color. Uncommon currently manages 53 schools serving more than 20,000 students in five cities: Boston, Camden, New York City, Newark, and Rochester. We are proud that Uncommon graduates persist in and graduate from college at five times the rate of their peers nationally. We achieve this by offering strong academic, co-curricular, and social-emotional learning that prepares students for success in college and beyond.

Roxbury Prep consists of four schools serving students in grades 5 through 12. We believe in strong authentic relationships between teachers and students, supported by effective school systems and an engaging instructional model that enables students to flourish academically and personally. Roxbury Prep students have an impressive 98% college acceptance rate and collectively earned 1.3 million dollars in scholarships last year.

Job Description

Uncommon Middle School English Language Arts (ELA) teachers are passionate about literature and building an engaging classroom culture. Our teachers develop subject mastery and have a keen sense of the socio-emotional changes middle schoolers experience. At the heart of all ELA classes is an emphasis on writing and discourse designed to give students the tools to be confident in the power of their own voice. Teachers are trained in a variety of research-based instructional strategies to prioritize discussion, ignite a passion for literature, build reading comprehension, and promote agency. By the conclusion of eighth grade, students are prepared for the academic autonomy and college preparatory focus of our high schools.

Responsibilities

1. Instruction

• You'll create an inclusive and safe environment, allying with students to speak and write in their authentic voice.
• You'll empower students to be their fullest selves by teaching an inclusive, culturally responsive curriculum that seeks equitable outcomes for all students.
• You'll guide students to choose books of interest independently, as they develop their own passions and interests as readers.
• You'll guide students to analyze literary and non-narrative texts, assess an author's purpose, write in a variety of genres, and grapple with meaningful questions in student-led discourse.

2. Data Analysis

• You'll learn and implement strategies to differentiate instruction for all learners in your classroom.
• You'll meet weekly with your principal and/or instructional coach to analyze and respond to trends in student work samples and assessments.

3. School Culture

• You'll engage in practice-based professional development, mentorship, and coaching sessions.
• You'll partner with your grade level team to develop academic goals and practice instructional strategies.
• You'll partner with students' families to ensure appropriate resources are available to support their child's learning needs.
• You'll build positive relationships with students to ensure they feel seen, loved, and heard.
• You'll participate in weekly, school-wide meetings to cultivate community, model our core values, and encourage student achievement.

Qualifications

• A self-directed learner who solicits and implements feedback to improve outcomes and achieve objectives
• A commitment to the mission of Uncommon Schools and investment in our vision for being an anti-racist organization
• An enthusiasm for collaborating with internal and external partners in the best interest of students
• A demonstrated commitment to supporting students' social emotional and academic development
• Required Experience:
• Academic expertise in Humanities, English, Social Sciences, or other related fields of study.
• All Commonwealth charter teachers must either have an appropriate MA educator's license or pass required the MTEL(s) including the Communications and Literacy MTEL , Subject Specific MTEL, and the MTEL SEI (Sheltered English Immersion) Endorsement within first year of employment. All core academic teachers* assigned to teach English learners are required to earn the SEI endorsement. Any teacher without a SEI endorsement has one year from date of assignment to teach ELs, to earn the MTEL SEI endorsement.
• A demonstrated interest in impacting K-12 students in urban schools and communities (1-2 years experience preferred).
• Prior to the start of employment, you must have a bachelor's degree from an accredited college or university and have earned a cumulative GPA of 2.5 or higher by the time employment begins. You do not need to be certified to be hired; however, if hired you will need to pass state teacher certification tests to meet the MA state requirements.

Additional Information

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