High School Spanish Teacher at Uncommon Schools

Company Description

Uncommon Schools is a nonprofit network of high-performing, public charter schools providing an outstanding K-12 education in historically under-resourced communities. We have proudly built schools that reflect our student population, with more than 60% of our teachers and staff across our network identifying as a person of color. Uncommon currently manages 53 schools serving more than 20,000 students in five cities: Boston, Camden, New York City, Newark, and Rochester. We are proud that Uncommon graduates persist in and graduate from college at five times the rate of their peers nationally. We achieve this by offering strong academic, co-curricular, and social-emotional learning that prepares students for success in college and beyond.

Roxbury Prep consists of four schools serving students in grades 5 through 12. We believe in strong authentic relationships between teachers and students, supported by effective school systems and an engaging instructional model that enables students to flourish academically and personally. Roxbury Prep students have an impressive 98% college acceptance rate and collectively earned 1.3 million dollars in scholarships last year.

Job Description

Uncommon High School Spanish teachers work in grade level and content teams to develop students who are global citizens. Our teachers become experts in their course content, and have a keen sense of how to motivate and inspire high school students.  Communicating in Spanish is at the heart of all classes. Spanish teachers use a variety of instructional strategies to create an environment where students feel safe expressing themselves in a new language. At the conclusion of high school, students are prepared for academic autonomy and college preparatory work.

Responsibilities:

1.     Instruction

• You'll build students' bilingual skills and enhance their understanding of the Spanish language using a curriculum that prepares them for Advanced Placement (AP) and collegiate level coursework.
• You’ll help students gain confidence in navigating print and audio authentic sources.
• You'll teach students how to build and enhance their foreign language skills--reading, writing, speaking and listening.
• You'll cultivate students' cultural awareness by helping them learn a new language.
• You'll share your passion for the Spanish language to build a community of students who are confident in speaking Spanish.
• You will build students' skill and comfort with engaging in conversation in Spanish. 
• You'll work with the Spanish department to develop academic and engagement goals for students.

2.     Data Analysis

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

3.     School Culture

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

Qualifications

• A commitment to the mission of Uncommon Schools and investment in our vision for being an anti-racist organization
• 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 Spanish or other related fields of study.
  • Prior to the start of employment, you must have a bachelor's degree from an accredited college or university and have earned a cumulative GPA of 2.5 or higher by the time employment begins. You do not need to be certified to be hired; however, if hired you will need to pass state teacher certification tests to meet the MA state requirements.
  • All Commonwealth charter teachers must either have an appropriate MA educator’s license or pass required the MTEL(s) including the Communications and Literacy MTEL , Subject Specific MTEL, and the MTEL SEI (Sheltered English Immersion) Endorsement within first year of employment. All core academic teachers* assigned to teach English learners are required to earn the SEI endorsement. Any teacher without a SEI endorsement has one year from date of assignment to teach ELs, to earn the MTEL SEI endorsement. 

Additional Information

Our people are what makes us Uncommon.  We believe our compensation philosophy and benefits should reflect our values—equity, transparency, and clarity—to enhance our ability to attract and retain talent and reward their expertise.  Our staff receive best-in-class training, coaching, and support to develop and operate mission-driven schools that provide a high-quality education to our students and families.

Compensation for this position: The starting compensation for this role based in Boston is between $57,000 to $89,000. The starting pay will depend on various factors including but not limited to relevant professional experience, education, certifications, and tenure with Uncommon Schools.  Because we value staff tenure in a role, we do not currently cap salary ranges for current staff members. 

Other Benefits:

• Generous paid time off inclusive of sick time and school breaks (spring, winter, and summer) + additional sustainability half days throughout the school year
• Extensive, best-in-class training and development  
• Choice of 3 comprehensive health insurance plans
• Pre-tax flexible spending and health saving accounts
• Financial planning & wellness
  • Pension through Mass. Teachers Retirement System  
  • 403(b) retirement savings program 
  • 529 college savings program
  • Public Service Loan Forgiveness application assistance
  • Financial  planning tools and assistance
• Dependent Care FSA, back up childcare and daycare discounts
• Paid leave of absence 
  • Fully paid parental leave
  • Fully paid medical leave
  • Additional paid Short Term and Long Term Disability insurance 
• Mental health and counseling support + wellness benefits

Uncommon believes in the importance of being a diverse, equitable, and inclusive organization that enables our students and staff to thrive. We are committed to building an exceptional team that reflects the diverse backgrounds and experiences of our students. We also strive to ensure an inclusive community by creating a space for meaningful dialogue about issues of race and identity for our staff and students. 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 recruitment@uncommonschools.org.