Charter Middle School Science Teacher

Science Teacher “When we actually do it, we actually learn it.” - Declan P. Class of 2014 MISSION The mission of the Christa McAuliffe Charter School is to cultivate within each member of a diverse student body an intense commitment to self and community, the courage and insight to set high standards for academic and personal success, and the knowledge, skills, and attitudes to achieve those standards. McAuliffe strives to build a diverse body of staff to support its diverse student culture. McAuliffe is an Equal Opportunity Employer. We are committed to ensuring our hiring and employment are free of discrimination. ABOUT THE SCHOOL The Christa McAuliffe Charter School is a diverse EL Education school for 345 scholars in grades 6-8. Our hands-on curriculum inspires achievement through active learning, character growth, and teamwork. McAuliffe is a community of engaged, motivated learners — students and adults alike. At McAuliffe, students take ownership of their learning, guided by creative, passionate adults who adeptly navigate the ever-present balancing act of challenge and support. A spirit of adventure pervades the school, and the energy is seemingly boundless. McAuliffe is the rare middle school where it really is ok to be yourself. The community values independence and individuality, while practicing collaboration, inclusivity, and acceptance. For everyone who experiences it — students, faculty, staff, and families — McAuliffe truly is a transformative learning experience. WHAT IS EL Education (formerly Expeditionary Learning)? EL Education is a national school transformation organization operating in 165 schools in 30 states and reaching over 45,000 students. EL partners with schools to improve student achievement through an inquiry and project-based approach. EL schools inspire the motivation to learn, engage teachers and students in new levels of focus and effort, and transform schools into places where students and adults become leaders of their own learning. EL’s definition of student success combines academic achievement, character and high-quality work. We believe that academic success is built on strong character qualities of collaboration, perseverance, responsibility, and compassion and that character is shaped through engaging and challenging academic work. POSITION OVERVIEW Everything that we do at McAuliffe is intended to meet the needs of students in their early adolescence. This means that you must be someone who finds sixth, seventh, and eighth graders much more entertaining than aggravating! You must be compassionate, have the ability to develop meaningful connections with students, have strong classroom management skills, and feel confident in your ability to create a psychologically safe classroom culture in which individuals are respected and valued for what they bring to the group. As a science teacher, you'll create rich learning experiences that guide students to develop an in depth understanding of concepts such as decomposition, photosynthesis, cellular biology, chemical reactions, energy transfer, interdependence, and bridge engineering. We emphasize inquiry-based activities, simulations, and differentiated lessons that guide students to develop background knowledge from a variety of texts. We also emphasize the importance of infusing literacy instruction into science classes so that students learn how to read and comprehend non-fiction texts and write lab reports, summaries, and persuasive pieces. As a crew leader, you'll lead a crew, similar to an advisory, of about 12 students. You will be the mentor/advocate for each student in your crew -- their McAuliffe parent away from home. You'll engage them in team-building activities, facilitate conversations about bullying, guide the development of crew and individual goals, and prepare students for student-led conferences and exhibitions of learning. RESPONSIBILITIES - Collaborate with colleagues to create highly engaging, cross-curricular learning expeditions - Employ a variety of teaching methodologies that guide students to engage in critical thinking: use of protocols, simulations, workshops, Socratic seminars, cooperative learning, experiments, hands-on projects, and other inquiry-based activities - Employ total participation techniques to engage all scholars in learning during every moment of class - Implement formative and summative assessments to track student progress; engage students in the assessment and tracking process - Analyze data on student performance to effectively inform instruction - Provide differentiated support including accommodations and modifications to ensure all students are able to meet and exceed standards - Coordinate and participate in day and overnight fieldwork including camping trips - Integrate work with expert professionals during fieldwork, via video conferencing, or in person on site interview - Participate in ongoing professional development including peer observations - Implement school-wide positive behavioral systems to effectively manage the classroom - Continually communicate with students families regarding performance and progress - Serve as an Crew adviser to 10-12 students which includes leading a daily advisory, called crew, supporting advisees and regularly communicating with parents - Serve as an active member of the McAuliffe Community including attending evening celebrations of student learning and admissions events QUALIFICATIONS - Appreciation for the EL Education design model -- commitment to develop curriculum and implement EL core practices, including in-depth learning expeditions - Appreciation for the life and mind of the adolescent scholar - Personal qualities that exemplify the school’s emphasis on character development and community - Teaching experience (ideally in grades 5 through 9) consistent with McAuliffe’s progressive, constructivist, exploratory and project-based educational philosophy - Strong subject area background; highly qualified or ready to get qualified; licensed in Massachusetts with relevant content area expertise - Reader, writer, critical thinker and attentive to current events and opportunities to create curriculum that guides scholars to make sense of the world - Skillful at using a variety of assessment methods and data to pinpoint students’ strengths and weaknesses and skillful at applying instructional practices to address diverse learning needs - Strong interpersonal skills, commitment to teamwork, and readiness to reflect and grow - Values a collaborative approach to working with a diverse population of children and adults - Sense of humor and a high level of energy, enthusiasm, flexibility, and spontaneity - Exemplary organizational skills including ability to prioritize, complete tasks (such as grading) efficiently, keep gradebook up to date, and document lessons, materials, and assessment -- A belief that all students, including those with special learning needs, can learn and be successful in school