Art 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.

Rochester Prep currently manages six schools serving students in grades K 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. Rochester Prep schools are consistently some of the city's top-performing, and our students have an impressive 85% college acceptance rate.

Job Description

In addition to the duties set forth below, the Employee agrees that s/he will perform all the other duties that are assigned by his/her supervisors, the school’s Principal and the Principal’s designees, and/or the Board of Trustees, including, but not limited to:

• Taking all steps required by the School to ensure that the Employee becomes highly qualified and certified which includes holding a bachelor’s degree, full-state certification or licensure and otherwise authorized to teach in a public school in the state of employment (charter rights should be included);
• Being present and engaged from 7:00AM- 5:00PM Monday through Friday each week of the school year;
• Providing appropriate supervision of students during class, breaks, meals and transitions to maintain an optimal work environment and to ensure students’ safety and well-being;
• Attending and participating in events outside of normal school hours as needed (e.g., family nights, student performances, field trips, report card nights, Teacher - Parent Conferences, June and August Family Saturday Orientations, etc.).
• Researches, designs, and/or documents standards and curricula for art for students in grades K-4/5-8.
• Ensures a coherent and enriching art experience for students.
• Teaches Art to all students in the school Monday-Thursday each week of the school year.
• Teachers after school enrichment two days per week if included in the school’s programmatic offerings.   
• Designs, supervises, and implements all aspects of the Art program, including coordinating with outside providers and vendors, maintaining records, participating in required trainings and certification processes, etc.
• Assists in the purchase and maintenance of the school’s Art equipment.
• Provides, during summer training, an orientation to all staff on the school’s art program, including transitions, standards, appropriate singing, integration, Friday plays, winter holiday celebration(s), arts as a student motivator, arts as an avenue to increase parent involvement, and collaboration and team projects.
• Assists the Director of Operations/Dean of Students in coordinating the school’s annual winter holiday celebration(s), weekly Community Meetings, and Stepping Up celebration(s).
• If requested, teaching at least 1 section of Reading each Monday-Friday each week of the school year;
• Provides instruction in the schools’ core reading program (Reading Mastery) and in other subjects as needed;
• Works with classroom teachers to ensure the integration of academic instruction into Art instruction, particularly Core Knowledge social studies and science curricula.
• Participates in the collaborative curriculum development process.
• Communicates effectively with students, families, and colleagues.
• Engages families in their children’s education, including involving families in periodic student Art concerts.
• Participates actively in department meetings, faculty meetings, and other meetings.
• Meets the school’s “Standards for Excellence in Art Instruction” and “Standards for Excellence in Instruction”
• Consistently demonstrates alignment with the school’s core values and educational philosophy.
• Leads by example on how to hold oneself accountable first for student mastery of academic standards
• Manages the department folder on the school server and ensures that curricular materials are well-organized and easily accessible for both current and future teachers.
• Meets with the Principal to review results and plan future actions.
• Completes all necessary school-wide duties for the successful and orderly functioning of the school.

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).
  • Prior to the start of employment, you must have a bachelor's degree from an accredited college or university. Certification is not required to be hired at Uncommon, but you do need to meet NY state certification eligibility requirements. To meet these requirements, you must enroll in a teacher preparation program and maintain a GPA of 2.5 or higher during your employment with us if you do not have a degree in education. Uncommon Schools teachers are required to become certified in the state of New York within a reasonable period after beginning employment.

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 Rochester is between $50,000 to $64,700.  The starting pay will depend on various factors that may include but are not limited to professional experience, education, training, certifications, tenure with Uncommon Schools, and work location.  Because we value staff tenure in each role, we do not currently cap salary ranges.  Please note: ranges may differ for staff who work from a location other than Rochester.

Benefits: We offer comprehensive, flexible, and competitive benefits that support the personal health, wellness, and finances of our staff and their families.

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.