Assistant Teacher

Freedom Side School is a free abolitionist elementary school in Philadelphia for young freedom fighters! We are currently in our first school year with our very first class of students and families. We are seeking applicants for the role of Full Time Assistant Teacher.

You can learn more about Freedom Side School’s vision, mission, values, and team at www.freedomsideschool.org. To submit your application please use this form. If you have any questions about the position or the application, please reach out to hiring@freedomsideschool.org.

Hiring Process and Timeline

• Applications will be reviewed on a rolling basis, for priority consideration please submit your application by 10/19
• Applications will be accepted until the position is filled
• First round applications will be invited to do a 30 minute interview on zoom
• Finalist applicants will be invited to do an in person interview that will involve a teaching demo
• An honorarium of $100 will be provided for all finalist applicants

Job Description

Classroom staff are integral to translating our mission and vision into action by shaping day-to-day school life for our students and their caregivers. The Assistant Teacher will be a member of the Teaching and Learning Team, and will be supervised by the Director of Teaching and Learning. The Assistant Teacher will work in partnership with our Lead Classroom Teacher, in a supporting role since we are already underway with the school year. For candidates with strong philosophical alignment and teaching experience, our hope is that the person in this position could grow into a Co-Teaching role over time.

Responsibilities

• Collaborate with Lead Teacher and Director of Teaching and Learning to construct classroom environment, systems, and routines that will support students
• Teach literacy, math, social studies, science, and social-emotional curricula
• Support development and implementation of curricula in partnership with other Teaching and Learning staff
• Facilitate restorative practices in the classroom
• Maintain ongoing anecdotal records for each child, and for the class as a whole
• Prepare and facilitate parent-teacher conferences
• Communicate regularly with families about their children’s development
• Work collaboratively with other student support staff to meet student needs
• Engage in professional development opportunities, including peer to peer professional development

Key Qualifications

• Experience teaching children in grades K-3
• Preference given to applicants with either an Elementary school teaching license or a PA elementary private school teacher certification
• Preference given to applicants with experience developing and implementing constructivist and culturally-relevant curricula (especially social studies, social-emotional learning, and interdisciplinary curricula)
• Experience supporting children’s learning through hands-on exploration and play
• Strong classroom management skills
• Strong relational skills
• Experience working on a team and collaborating with other educators
• Willingness to engage in ongoing learning and professional development
• Strong understanding of trauma-informed care
• Interest and/or experience in non-punitive models of classroom management
• Experience working collaboratively with children’s family to build on children and their families’ strengths and knowledge
• Alignment with Freedom Side School’s Philosophy of Education

Schedule

• Monday / Tuesday / Wednesday / Friday 8:00 am - 4:00 pm with a 1 hour break each day
• Thursday schedule is 8:00 am - 5:00 pm with a 1 hour break - we have an all staff meeting every Thursday afterschool

We are seeking applicants who…

• Bring a strength-based approach to teaching, and understand that all children can learn and grow
• Are aligned with Freedom Side’s vision, mission and values
• Are aligned with and can carry out Freedom Side’s Community Commitments
• Live and are rooted in the Philadelphia area, who are willing to work in-person in Philadelphia
• Are committed to sticking with Freedom Side School through our founding years
• Are comfortable with consensus-based decision-making processes or are willing to learn
• Can work collaboratively on a team of staff and volunteers, are able to take feedback and show up with integrity and accountability
• Are comfortable working collaboratively as a part of a small team
• Are able to take initiative and self-direct their work, and to ask for help when needed

We are prioritizing candidates who…

• Are directly impacted by mass incarceration, including candidates who are formerly incarcerated or have incarcerated loved ones
• Have experience in the anti-prison and/or abolition movement
• Have community organizing experience or are willing to learn

Compensation and Benefits

• $80,000 base pay for full-time employees
• Cost of Living Adjustments for certain life circumstances will be offered as additions to a team member’s annual base salary
  • +$3,000 for student loans, if actively making payments
  • +$5,000 for care-givers of children living in multi income households
  • +$7,000 for care-givers of children living in single income households
  • +$5,000 homecoming stipend for formerly incarcerated individuals
• 5% salary increase each fiscal year
• Employer paid health, vision, dental insurance
• Available retirement savings with 3% employer match
• FSS observes about 50 days of paid organizational closures a year, mostly aligned with academic calendar breaks, including planned winter, spring, and summer breaks
• Both full time and part time staff are given personal PTO to be used at their discretion

Application Preview

1. Email
2. Name
3. Phone Number
4. Do you currently live in Philadelphia
5. Tell us a little bit about why working at Freedom Side School interests you (under 200 words)
6. Please list your experience as a classroom teacher including name of school, grade/s taught, number of years taught
7. The state requires that all of our teachers hold either an elementary school teaching license or an elementary private academic teaching certification.We are open to interviewing candidates who do not hold one of these certifications, if we feel confident they can obtain it. If you do not currently hold a license/certification in PA but have years of K-5 classroom teaching experience, the process for obtaining a private academic certificate is relatively straight forward. If you have any questions about this, please email hiring@freedomsideschool.org.
8. Please upload a copy of a sample lesson plan or outline of a curricular unit that you have written in the past. This could be a lesson or unit in any subject area and on any topic. Please do not develop a new lesson plan or curricular unit for the purpose of this application. Note: AI generated content will not be accepted.
9. Please read our philosophy of education. How does your work as a teacher align with our philosophy? We encourage you to be as specific as possible and use examples.
10. Tell us about your approach to classroom management. In particular, how do you address a situation in which a child is not following the behavioral expectations of the classroom?
11. Please upload a copy of your resume

Compensation and Benefits

• $80,000 base pay for full-time employees
• Cost of Living Adjustments for certain life circumstances will be offered as additions to a team member’s annual base salary
  • +$3,000 for student loans, if actively making payments
  • +$5,000 for care-givers of children living in multi income households
  • +$7,000 for care-givers of children living in single income households
  • +$5,000 homecoming stipend for formerly incarcerated individuals
• 5% salary increase each fiscal year
• Employer paid health, vision, dental insurance
• Available retirement savings with 3% employer match
• FSS observes about 50 days of paid organizational closures a year, mostly aligned with academic calendar breaks, including planned winter, spring, and summer breaks
• Both full time and part time staff are given personal PTO to be used at their discretion