Middle School ELA Teacher

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

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

2.     Data Analysis

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

3.     School Culture

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

Qualifications :

• A demonstrated commitment to supporting students social emotional and academic development
• An enthusiasm for collaborating with internal and external partners in the best interest of students
• A self-directed learner who solicits and implements feedback to improve outcomes and achieve objectives
• Required Experience:
  • A demonstrated interest in impacting K-12 students in urban schools and communities (1-2 years experience preferred).
  • Academic expertise in Humanities English Social Sciences or other related fields of study.
  • Prior to the start of employment you must have a bachelors degree from an accredited college or university. Teacher certification is not a prerequisite for consideration at Uncommon Schools in the state of NJ but you do need to meet NJ state certification eligibility requirements (a final undergraduate or graduate cumulative GPA of 3.0 for graduates on or after 9/1/16 or 2.75 if you graduated prior to 9/1/16). All instructional staff are required to become certified in the state of New Jersey within a reasonable period after beginning employment.

Additional Information :

Our people are what make us Uncommon. We offer competitive compensation and comprehensive benefits that support the personal health wellness and finances of our staff and their families. Our compensation philosophy values equity & fairness and attracting & retaining top talent.  

Compensation

Compensation for this role is between $56000 to $80000. 

Starting pay is determined using various factors including but not limited to relevant full-time teaching experience education certifications and tenure with Uncommon Schools. Candidates without full-time Teaching experience will likely have a starting salary of $56000. 

Benefits

• Generous paid time off inclusive of sick time paid holidays and 10 weeks of paid breaks (Spring Winter and Summer). 
• Extensive best-in-class training and development  
• Comprehensive health dental and vision insurance plans pre-tax flexible spending (FSA) dependent care (DCFSA) and health saving accounts (HSA)
• Financial Planning
  • New Jersey Pension program
• Paid leave of absence options (parental medical disability etc.)
• Mental health and counseling support wellness benefits

*A detailed list of all benefits is located HERE.

At Uncommon we believe that a supportive and welcoming environment helps our students staff and community thrive. We are dedicated to building a team that brings a wide range of perspectives and experiences reflective of the communities we serve---with over 70% of our staff identifying as people of color. Our organization values respect and open dialogue on important topics that shape our school culture.

As an equal opportunity employer Uncommon provides equal employment opportunities to all employees and applicants for employment and prohibits discrimination and harassment of any type without regard to race color religion age sex national origin disability status genetics protected veteran status sexual orientation gender identity or expression or any other characteristic protected by federal state or local laws. We also ensure that individuals with disabilities receive all privileges and benefits associated with employment and are provided reasonable accommodations for the interview process and to perform core job functions. If you would like to request an accommodation please email