Valor Academy High School Chemistry Teacher

Company Description

Founded in 2003, Bright Star Schools has been serving students, families, and communities in Los Angeles for over 20 years! We currently serve over 3,600 students in 9 schools in the communities of South Los Angeles, Koreatown, and the San Fernando Valley. Our free, charter public schools are joyful, small, and safe communities where each of our students is known and supported to thrive. We welcome all students of all abilities and backgrounds. 

We’re looking for outstanding educators to join our team and help provide holistic, inclusive support for all students to achieve academic excellence and grow their unique talents so that they find joy in higher education, career, and life. Guided by our core values of integridad, kohyang, ubuntu, and growth, we’re committed to our students’ and educators’ success.

At Bright Star Schools, we provide a culture of learning and growth for educators, with an emphasis on job-embedded, differentiated professional development, which includes:

• Organization-wide content specific professional development sessions throughout the year
• An instructional coaching program 
• A no-cost induction program for new teachers with a preliminary credential (Our two- year induction program allows teachers with preliminary credentials to earn their CA clear credential at no cost to the teacher.)
• Paid planning days
• Professional learning communities at the school site and by grade level or content area.

Overall, our educators receive 200 hours of job-embedded professional development opportunities to support teacher growth and advancing student achievement over the course of each year.

We also offer small class sizes, comprehensive teacher support, a focus on anti-bias and anti-racist school and classroom cultures, and numerous collaboration opportunities across the organization and within school sites.

Job Description

Bright Star Schools is an Equal Opportunity Employer and does not discriminate on the basis of race, color, religion, gender, sexual  

 orientation, national or ethnic origin, age, disability, pregnancy, or veteran status.

Teacher Traits:

• Belief that every child deserves an excellent education which prepares him/her for college and life beyond 
• Demonstrated ability to teach the whole child in an inclusive setting using modifications and accommodations
• Willingness to receive feedback, engage in frequent dialogue, and ability to self-reflect
• Life-long learner
• Collaborative
• Firmly committed to ensuring that every student is able to achieve a rigorous expectations and curriculum
• Firmly committed to creating an anti-racist, anti-biased, and equitable classroom environment
• Belief in data-driven instruction
• Firm, kind approach to managing student behavior
• Technologically competent
• Entrepreneurial spirit and creative problem solver
• Sense of joy in working with students and love of teaching

Responsibilities:

Whole School Responsibilities

• Uphold Bright Star Schools’ mission and values
• Demonstrate genuine care for all students
• Build relationships with all students
• Embrace existing school-wide management systems and promote high standards of behavior
• Uphold restorative practices and create safe, positive learning environments for all students
• Collaborate with school leaders, providing input to improve Bright Star programs
• Actively participate in professional development sessions 
• Communicate professionally with peers, supervisors, parents, and students
• Commit to a longer school day and calendar year
• Adhere to Bright Star’s professional attire guidelines 
• Supervise bathroom breaks, as needed
• Uphold attendance procedures each period using school information system, Aeries 
• Participates in school-wide culture events (i.e. Culture days, Songfest, Assemblies, and Field Day)
• Perform other duties as assigned

Instructional Responsibilities

• Implement and execute the adopted Bright Star curriculum maps and guidelines, as well as instructional best practices (educators should be prepared to conduct classes virtually or in-person depending on COVID-19 health guidelines)
• Create and submit weekly lesson plans/overviews to administrator/coach
• Use California State and/or California Common Core standards to plan rigorous lessons
• Differentiate lesson plans for a variety of learners (kinesthetic, gifted students, English Language Learners, and/or students with IEPs, etc.) 
• Employ strategies to get to know and understand students and prioritize culturally responsive teaching
• Participate fully in weekly instructional coaching activities (including analysis of student learning, intellectual prep, observation debrief, etc.) and execute on next steps from the weekly coaching meeting. These meetings will be 45 minutes to an hour weekly with your matched coach.
• Implement feedback from administrator(s) regarding lesson plans and/or execution 
• Establish and maintain positive classroom environment 
• Implement an aligned instructional program to support students in meeting grade level, school, and district goals
• Support instruction with school-wide supplemental programs
• Maintain gradebooks and meet grading reporting deadlines 
• Communicate with families regarding student academics and behavior
• Collaborate with Inclusive Education (Special Education) Team 
• Use planning periods for the advancement of students’ instructional needs
• Tutor students in need of remediation
• Perform other adjunct duties

Benefits

Salary and Benefits:

Salary: BSS salary is based on experience and education, and was created in consideration of the longer school day and school year. Please click here for our salary scale. Additionally, all credentialed Science Teacher hires are eligible for a prorated signing bonus for the 24-25 school year.

Status: Full Time 

Start Date: An exceptional candidate will assume a full time role no later than February 2025. Teachers attend 2 weeks of required professional development prior to the academic school year starting. 

Location: North Hills, Los Angeles, CA

Benefits: Health, dental, vision, CalSTRS retirement matching, life insurance, short-term disability, optional 403b plan, sick and vacation paid time off, and holidays. 

Other Benefits:

• Laptop
• Job-embedded induction program for new teachers with a preliminary teaching credential to earn their CA clear credential at no cost to the participant 
• Weekly instructional coaching or mentoring (through our in-house induction program referenced above) for all teachers
• Instructional leaders as principals
• Pupil-free planning days for teachers 
• Staff wellness program
• School counselors to support with family engagement and communication

Qualifications

Qualifications & Experience: 

• Bachelor’s degree 
• Single Subject CA Credential in Chemistry
• Candidates with an intern credential are also considered
• Two years of urban teaching experience preferred
• Bilingual Spanish or Korean desirable, but not required
• Possession of either an English Learner Authorization (EL Authorization), Bilingual, Cross-Cultural, Language and Academic Development (BCLAD) certificate; Cross-Cultural, Language and Academic Development (CLAD) certificate; or Bilingual Certificate of Competence (BCC) required. 

Additional Information

All your information will be kept confidential according to EEO guidelines.