Description

Position Title: Academic Year Faculty: 5th and 6th Grade ELA and Math Teachers, Test Preparation (multiple positions) 

Reports to: Director of Teaching and Learning 

Salary: $5,430 for full school year (Sept-April)

Organization Overview

The Steppingstone Foundation prepares students from marginalized communities to access, navigate, and graduate from college through two initiatives, the Steppingstone Scholars Program and the National Partnership for Educational Access (NPEA). The Steppingstone Scholars Program is a direct-service program in Boston that provides academic, social-emotional, and college-readiness services to students, called Scholars, beginning as early as fifth grade and continuing all the way through college graduation. The Steppingstone Scholars Program consists of five components: Admissions, the Academy, Middle School Success, High School Success, and College Success. NPEA connects the people, practices, and innovations for eliminating barriers to educational access, and college and career success for underserved students.

Position Summary

Steppingstone is hiring ELA and Math teachers in both 5th and 6th grades for our rigorous out-of-school-time academic program. 

Academic Year Teaching Positions

• ELA teachers will develop students’ literary analysis skills through the exploration of the selected novel while improving their reading comprehension skills (including fluency and vocabulary) and expository writing skills. 
• Math teachers will strengthen student knowledge of key math skills and introduce new visual and conceptual strategies to strengthen their understanding of math content. Fifth grade topics covered include operations with fractions, operations with decimals, place value, coordinate planes. ?? Sixth grade topics include unit rates and percentages, expressions and equations.
• ISEE (Independent School Entrance Exam) preparation course: 
• ELA teachers will instruct students on structure and content on the verbal section of ISEE by increasing their vocabulary knowledge and reading comprehension skills, as well as their proficiency with test taking strategies.
• Math teachers will strengthen student knowledge of key math skills and application of test taking strategies for the ISEE. Fifth grade topics covered include operations with fractions, operations with decimals, place value and interpreting/solving multi-step equations. Sixth grade topics include arithmetic, algebra, geometry, measurement, and data analysis.
• ISEE classes will use the Test Innovators website as the basis for the content of the course. Teachers will receive training for the program upon hire. 

During the academic year, we will have one day of remote classes (Wednesdays) and one day of in-person classes (Saturdays) each week. Candidates must be able to commit to both Wednesdays and Saturdays to be considered.

Work Schedule and Location

• Fall Session: Sept 21-Dec 14 
• Wednesdays from 4:30-6:30 pm (remote via Zoom)
• Saturdays from 8:45-3:45 (in person at Curley School in Jamaica Plain)
• Spring Session: Jan 15-April 12
• Wednesdays from 4:30-6:30 pm (remote via Zoom)
• Saturdays from 8:45-2:45 (in person at Curley School in Jamaica Plain)

Responsibilities

• Teach engaging lessons to 2 sections of 10-15 students each; you will meet with each section for 50 minutes on Wednesdays and Saturdays. Steppingstone will provide a curriculum guide for teachers to follow.
• Facilitate Study Hall on Saturdays, providing academic and organizational support to students
• Assign approximately 1 hour of homework per week (30 minutes per day)
• Complete Scholar Growth Cards at the end of each term to update Scholars and their families on Scholar progress in class 

Requirements

Qualifications for Teaching with Steppingstone:

• Teaching experience, a strong background in your subject area, and experience differentiating classroom 
• instruction
• Independent school or Boston Public Schools teaching experience is a plus. 
• Undergraduate degree is required. Graduate students will be considered. Certification is not required.
• Commitment to educational equity and college access
• Competency working with middle school students
• Ability to be flexible and respond appropriately in a fast paced environment
• Excellent cross-cultural sensitivity and experience working with diverse populations
• Strong interpersonal skills and attention to detail
• Excellent computer skills (experience with Zoom, Google Classroom, and Google Apps preferred)
• Familiarity with online teaching platforms and experience with teaching standardized preparation courses (test preparation only)

COVID-19 Vaccination Requirement

As a condition of employment, all Steppingstone employees, including full-time, part-time, temporary and contract employees, and interns, must be up to date on their COVID-19 vaccines (fully vaccinated and boosted). To be considered up to date, individuals must have received two doses of the approved Pfizer/Moderna COVID-19 vaccine or single dose of the Johnson & Johnson COVID-19 vaccine, and remain up to date with all boosters recommended by the CDC prior to the finalization of the hiring process. Candidates who are offered the position will be given details about how to demonstrate receipt of vaccination.

Reasonable accommodations will be considered on a case-by-case basis for exemptions to this requirement in accordance with applicable law. Applicants should be aware that for external-facing roles, particularly those involving close contact with students, accommodations that involve remaining unvaccinated against COVID-19 may not be deemed reasonable. Steppingstone will engage in the interactive accommodation process on an individualized basis in light of each particular role.

To Apply: Interested candidates are asked to submit a cover letter indicating preference for subject (Math, English, or no preference), a resume, and a list of three professional references. Applications will be reviewed on a rolling basis. Please note that candidates invited to interview will be asked to deliver a 5-10 minute demo lesson. All interviews will take place over Zoom.

The Steppingstone Foundation is an equal opportunity employer and will not discriminate against any individual, employee, or application for employment on the basis of race, color, marital status, religion, age, sex, sexual orientation, national origin, or handicap, as defined by law.