What are the responsibilities and job description for the Language Teacher - Mandarin (January - June 2025 / LOA coverage) position at New England Innovation Academy?
Current position - January through June 2025 to cover leave of absence. Potential conversion to F/T permanent position for 2025/2026 school year.
Position Summary
The Mandarin Teacher immerses students in a high-energy, conversational environment, causing spontaneous use of language to express creative thoughts, appreciate similarities, and respect differences. The Mandarin Teacher develops students’ communication skills in the target language, including speaking, listening, reading, and writing; uses literature, films, and music in the target language to improve proficiency, enhance vocabulary, and foster cultural understanding; and engages in activities, discussions, and real-life experiences so students gain an understanding of customs, values, and traditions, fostering appreciation and respect for different cultures and enhancing overall proficiency.
The position entails a full teaching load comprising four classes with two or three different course preparations. The role includes advising a group of five to eight students, chaperoning weekend activities once or twice each term, and actively engaging in various student life and extracurricular activities. Teachers also collaborate and innovate with colleagues across different curricular areas and divisions.
Teachers invest deeply in the school's community by participating in the advising (called advocacy at NEIA) program, contributing to social and emotional learning initiatives, attending weekly staff meetings for subject areas and divisions, and participating in extracurricular activities such as explorations and clubs. The role is integral to enhancing the overall student experience, requiring a commitment to the various facets of school life at NEIA.
Under the supervision and guidance of the Head of Teaching & Learning, teachers are responsible for preparing lesson plans, regularly updating curriculum, and collaborating with colleagues. Their duties include assessing student work and performance through NEIA’s competency-based model, providing feedback, documenting student progress, writing student report notes, and assigning learning extensions. Teachers are expected to create and manage a learning environment that guides and encourages students to develop and fulfill their academic potential and accomplish the learning goals of NEIA. Finally, teachers are also expected to understand and utilize human-centered design as a process and set it as an ethos across our program.
Essential Duties and Responsibilities include, but are not limited to, the following:
● Embody NEIA's principles of empathy, equity, personalization, authentic work, and collaboration in all work activities and actions.
● Develop engaging, educational, and exciting integrated and experiential curriculum and lesson plans tailored to students' interests and needs.
● Implement classroom management strategies to maintain focus and productivity among students.
● Adapt teaching methods and instructional techniques to accommodate students' diverse needs and learning styles, aligning with individual learning plans where applicable.
● Regularly assess student progress through NEIA's competency system, providing timely and constructive feedback and informing students about their performance.
● Build positive relationships with students, fostering their academic growth and development.
● Collaborate with other teachers, administrators, and school counselors to enhance student learning experience.
● Identify students facing learning or emotional challenges or home situations, and work with the Student Support Team to provide necessary resources and support.
● Stay informed about and actively utilize individual learning plans in teaching and student interactions.
● Communicate effectively with parents and guardians regarding students' performance and needs.
● Incorporate goals, competencies, and objectives into lesson plans that directly apply to students' lives.
● Strive to achieve school and course-wide performance goals for every student in class.
● Engage in ongoing professional learning per the school’s professional growth framework.
● Support the initiatives and strategic goals set forth by the School Leadership.
● Perform other related duties and responsibilities as assigned and required by the position and the School.
The Hours of Work and Responsibilities for teaching staff at NEIA include:
● Teaching staff teach four classes each semester, typically with two or three different course preparations.
● The standard workday for teaching staff members is from 8:00 a.m. to 3:30 p.m., Monday through Thursday, and 8:00 a.m. to 3:00 p.m. on Fridays.
● Teachers are available for extra help from 3:00 p.m. to 3:30 p.m. Mondays through Thursdays unless they are engaged in other NEIA-related commitments.
● Attendance at all scheduled teaching staff meetings is mandatory for teaching staff.
● Teaching staff must participate in training sessions or professional learning activities, typically scheduled when the school is not in session.
● Each teacher is required to support or lead clubs and explorations. Clubs are scheduled twice a week for 40-minute sessions within the class day, while explorations take place in the Fall, Winter, and Spring seasons, from 3:30 to 4:30 p.m., three to four days a week. Teachers either lead or assist two explorations OR one club and one exploration each year.
● Teachers chaperone weekend activities or serve as the Adult on Duty once or twice each term.
● Participation in various school functions is necessary, including but not limited to Opening Meetings, Opening Family Picnic, Overnight Student Orientation Trip, Family Weekend, Professional Days, PIN Points (one or two curricular presentations), Dive into NEIA (three 3 academic days a year), Accepted Student Days, Admission Open House Events, Graduation, End-of-Year Learning Exposition & Gala, and End-of-School Meetings.
● The Head of School may assign additional duties as needed to meet the school's requirements.
Salary : $50,000 - $62,000