Middle School (Gr 6-8) Lead Teacher in Science

PROGRAM

New School San Francisco is a start-up, public school currently serving 450 kindergarten through 8th grade students from all corners of the city and from all backgrounds. We believe in a “hands on minds on” approach to learning that harnesses each student’s curiosity and encourages learners to construct their own meaning and knowledge through inquiry-based learning. We practice equity in all that we do – ensuring every child is able to access and receive an individualized education that builds off their unique strengths, skills and passions. Social justice is a through line in all we do, helping learners develop an understanding of how to make our community better. Taken all together, this approach fosters a deep love of learning in students and prepares them with the problem-solving and critical-thinking skills necessary to meet the challenges and opportunities of the 21st century.

ANTI-RACIST SCHOOL

We are committed to breaking down systemic structures which contribute to deep inequities in education. Our goal is to prioritize our Black and brown students, English Language Learners (ELLs), and students with Individualized Education Plans (IEPs) by dismantling white supremacy. We continuously question our culture, climate, and curriculum to ensure all members of our community are committed to being racially literate and ultimately anti-racist change makers. We teach kids of all ages to think critically about how race has been constructed in the United States, to become aware of their own racial socialization, and we give them the skills and vocabulary to engage in productive conversations around race and racism.

PEOPLE

It is important that our staff reflect the diversity of our students and their families. We strongly encourage leaders and teachers of color, LGBTQ and male candidates to apply. All candidates must be excited to roll up their sleeves, operate with a level of flexibility as we build our program, bring creativity to their work, commit to the ongoing work of being anti-racist, and be ready to collaborate across and within teams.

DEVELOPMENT + SUPPORT

We invest in our staff in meaningful ways. We believe that the adults must be taken care of and supported to do right by our students. To that end, every staff member has a coach, a team, an individualized learning plan, and opportunities to grow. We value hard work and we also value self-care. The two are not mutually exclusive.

POSITION OVERVIEW:

We are looking for an exceptional Middle School Science Lead Teacher who loves middle schoolers and all the nuances that come with this critical phase of adolescent growth and self-discovery. We are looking for teacher leaders who effectively develop students’ academic and socio-emotional skills; who build inclusive classroom communities; who differentiate their instruction to ensure all students are able to engage with rigorous, grade level content; who care deeply about making their students’ learning experiences meaningful, engaging, and relevant both now and for the future. We are looking for teachers who believe in the brilliance and capacity of every student; who value radical collaboration, feedback, and coaching; who teach to learn; who see families as partners towards our vision and goal of ensuring each student leaves 8th grade on grade level; and finally, who believe in our values of community, anti-racism, action, and justice and see the power of their role in changing the world around us.

We are looking for a teacher leader who:

• Designs engaging, inquiry-based science learning experiences;
• Uses hands-on investigation, lab work, and real-world phenomena to build conceptual understanding;
• Differentiates instruction to ensure all students access rigorous, grade-level NGSS-aligned content;
• Values the brilliance and potential of every learner;
• Believes in radical collaboration, feedback, and continuous improvement;
• Partners with families to support student growth;
• Embraces our values of community, anti-racism, action, and justice—and understands the impact of science education on society.

The Middle School Lead Science Teacher teaches core science classes across grades 6–8, leads an advisory of ~15 students, and provides targeted instruction during our daily intervention block. Lead Teachers have jkample time built into their weekly schedule for prep, collaboration, coteaching, and student/family meetings.

QUALIFICATIONS:

• Valid California teaching credential (required)
• Single Subject in Science/Math (preferred)
• Three years of relevant (middle school, content-specific) teaching experience with strong academic outcomes for Black & brown students, English Learner students, and students with IEPs (required)
• Deep commitment to equitable teaching and learning approaches, including — but not limited to — culturally responsive teaching, inclusion, anti-racist education, restorative practices, Universal Design for Learning, social emotional learning and data-informed instruction
• Experience working with children, families and staff from diverse backgrounds and with diverse learning needs, including – but not limited to – English Language learners, academically high-achieving students, students with IEPs, academically low-performing students, and students who have experienced trauma
• Familiarity with Special Education accommodations and modifications, IEP implementation, and inclusive practices
• Bilingual (preferred)

COMPETENCIES:

Love for learning, self-awareness, and desire to grow

Sense of agency and belief that teacher actions directly impact student actions

Creative problem solving and flexibility in thinking

Alignment with our values of being kind, courageous, responsible & curious

Strong communication, collaboration, and interpersonal skills

Unwavering belief that all students should and can receive an education that is equal to their extraordinary potential regardless of their background

RESPONSIBILITIES:

• Develop differentiated, inquiry-based curriculum
• Develop yearly scope and sequence for content areas aligned to state and national standards
• Build weekly and daily lesson plans that align to state and national standards and meet individualized learning goals
• Engage all learners
• Hold and meet high expectations for each student’s learning and social emotional development goals, incorporating equity and anti-racist practices
• Create, monitor, and adjust Individualized Learning Plans (ILPs), ensuring all students have ambitious and appropriate academic and social-emotional learning goals
• Collaborate with team, manager, and learning specialists to create and sustain an inclusive environment; partner in the development and support of IEP goals; continue to improve knowledge and implementation of SPED and ELL best practices
• Provide individual and small group instruction to meet the differentiated needs of all students
• Assess student progress consistently through a variety of holistic & standardized approaches
• Use data to drive instructional strategies and meet student needs
• Use a variety of research-based classroom management strategies to support all students Build an inclusive and anti-racist school culture, climate, and curriculum
• Lead advisory group with a focus on socio-emotional learning
• Create a learning environment that celebrates diversity, practices equity, and promotes safety, support and joy
• Partner with families to develop student goals and strengthen home-school connections
• Strive to live out our school values of community, action, and justice in all that you do and have fun in the process
• Commit to constant professional and personal growth
• Collaborate radically with department and grade level teammates and other members of the teaching and learning community
• Document, reflect, and share your pedagogy and insights with colleagues, visiting educators and the community broadly

COMPENSATION:

Compensation is a competitive salary based on years of teaching experience, education degrees, National Board Certification and any special credentials. Starting salary for a credentialed educator with at least two years of teaching experience is $75,000 and ranges based on years of experience up to $120,000

Additional $5,000 to base salary for SPED credentials and/or National Board Certification

Competitive benefits package including health coverage and retirement

TO APPLY:

Contact hiring@newschoolsf.org with your resume and a cover letter outlining your educational philosophy and student outcomes that you are most proud of - don’t be afraid to toot your own horn!