SY24-25 Springfield Realization Academy Middle School Humanities Teacher (Immediate Opening) - Springfield Public Schools

Grade Level: 6-8

Start Date: August 19, 2024

Salary Range: $57,396 - $90,424 and commensurate with experience

Additional Compensation to be Determined:

• $2,500-$10,000 relocation award for candidates from regions beyond western Massachusetts
• $5,000 signing bonus
• $1,000+ extended day stipend
• $2,000-$12,000 extended year stipends

JOB DESCRIPTION: HUMANITIES/ELA TEACHER

Springfield Realization Academy (SRA) is a  6th-8thgrade school within the Springfield Empowerment Zone Partnership (SEZP) in Massachusetts. We are a dual-language school that offers a technology enhanced college preparation curriculum embedding 21stcentury learning skills. We are seeking a dedicated and competent educator and instructional leader for the position ofHumanities/ELA Teacher.We are building a team of passionate, adaptive, and detail-oriented educators who are committed to equity in educational opportunities for children of underserved communities, and whose educational philosophy aligns with our mission:

Springfield Realization Academy (SRA) provides a technology enhanced, college preparatory curriculum that is tailored to meet the needs of students in grades 6-8. Through effective instruction, including an emphasis on bilingual education, purposeful use of data, and in partnership with our families, we ensure our students develop the 21stCentury learning skills to be successful in high school, college and beyond. 

Job Summary

As a learning community, one of our foundational core beliefs is that student engagement with rigorous instruction and grade level content ensures academic success. In advancing that belief, we underscore the importance of our teachers and the need for them to be as effective as possible in meeting the needs of their charges. We believe that our teachers hold the most important job in our school, and our program is designed to provide the tools, resources, and professional support to ensure their success as leaders of learning every day. A Humanities teacher at SRA teaches six periods (three double periods) each day, and leads intervention, remediation, and enrichment classes for students. Our Humanities program is a combination of ELA and Social Studies. The Humanities Teacher will report to the Head of School and participate in weekly collaboration, coaching, and professional development to maximize their positive impact on our scholars at Springfield Realization Academy.

Key Responsibilities

• Help develop SRA Humanities curricula and use this to develop and execute lesson plans at a high level every day
• Teach Humanities lessons (ELA and Social Studies) in both English and Spanish 
• Implement SRA’s classroom routines and operational procedures to provide a consistent experience and expectations for scholars that contributes to our positive, mutually affirming school culture
• Provide scholars with frequent and accurate academic and behavioral feedback
• Participate actively in frequent professional development, coaching, and collaboration, and promptly embeds coaching feedback into teaching practice
• Communicate weekly with families
• Collect and analyze multiple forms of scholar achievement data for purposes of targeting intervention, guiding instructional next steps, and improving practice
• Collaborate with special education teachers, and Deans of Exceptional Students Education and Bilingual Education to provide accommodations for the success of scholars with special needs and who are learners of English
• Step in as a teacher leader on ad hoc tasks and projects when necessary to support and build a strong school environment

Key Competencies & Qualifications

• Unwavering high expectations for all scholars and a belief that all children deserve access to a college education and can all thrive academically given the appropriate support.
• Appropriate content/program area (ELA, Hisory or Humanities) and grade level educator license from the Massachusetts Department of Elementary and Secondary Educationrequired(Educators who are not licesed by MA DESE in the appropriate area or grade level may be eligible for a licensure waiver and are still encouraged to apply.)
• Positivity and enthusiasm for the potential of every scholar.
• Ability to lead a classroom where excellence is expected and cultivated for all scholars
• Ability to plan and implement lessons that are aligned with an inquiry-based and problem-solving approach
• Ability to lead a class or assembly where excellence is expected and cultivated in 100% of scholars.
• Strong communication, organization, and on-the-fly problem solving skills
• Capacity and passion to grow every day based on data and feedback from coaches and peers.
• Committed to meeting the needs of a diverse student population.
• Track record of being a team player and community minded.
• Committed to personal learning and growth.
• Excellent time-management skills, attention to detail, and ability to work independently.
• Passion for urban public schools.
• Adherence to a high level of professional and ethical standards.
• Minimum two years of urban teachingpreferred
• Bilingual in Spanish (spoken and written)preferred

Proficiency in technological tools, including Google Sheets, Google Slides, Google Drive (or equivalents) and other online teaching tools

If you meet some of the qualifications above, we encourage you to apply or to reach out for more information. We know that historically marginalized groups – including people of color, women, people from working class backgrounds, and people who identify as LGBTQ – are less likely to apply unless and until they meet every requirement for a job. Therefore, we strongly encourage applications from people with these identities or who are members of other marginalized communities.

We encourage you to reach out to SEZP@springfieldempowerment.org if you have questions about the role or your qualifications. We are happy to help you feel ready to apply!

Benefits

SEZP offers a competitive salary commensurate with experience; salaries for new teachers start at $57,396. Teachers in SEZP qualify for benefits (sick days, retirement, health insurance, etc.) offered to other teachers in the Springfield Public Schools.

In addition, there are several opportunities unique to SEZP schools to increase earnings above base salary. While not guaranteed, those opportunities currently include, but are not limited to:

• Expanded Learning Time stipends at some schools, based on the yearly schedule
• Empowerment Academies: Intervention and instruction opportunities we implement during February, April, and summer breaks, following an application and selection process

Selection as an educator at Realization recognizes an individual for their outstanding vision, capacity, and commitment to anti-racist school communities. Positions will be filled on a rolling basis; applicants are encouraged to apply immediately. Please contact info@springfieldempowerment.org with any questions.

About the Springfield Empowerment Zone Partnership

While Massachusetts is consistently ranked as one of the top states for education results in the country, we have one of the highest and most persistent opportunity gaps. The Springfield Empowerment Zone Partnership (SEZP) - established in 2015 as a collaboration between Springfield Public Schools (SPS), the Massachusetts Department of Elementary and Secondary Education (DESE), and the Springfield Education Association (SEA) – seeks to improve the longitudinal life outcomes of the more than 5,000 students in our eleven middle and high schools.

As a “zone” of schools within the city of Springfield, SEZP’s approach draws on a deep and embedded partnership with the school district and local teachers’ union, while harnessing the flexibility and innovation found in autonomous school models. As a result, each school within SEZP is accorded significant school-based autonomies - in curriculum, talent, calendar, schedule, and budget – while being held accountable for realizing achievement gains for historically marginalized students. In all of our work, SEZP is in pursuit of equity and anti-racism – acknowledging the systemic oppression our students and families encounter daily and working to disrupt these provision gaps urgently and courageously.

NONDISCRIMINATION STATEMENT

The Springfield Public Schools does not discriminate in employment on the basis of race, color, religion, national origin, sex, gender identity, sexual orientation, genetic information, ancestry, age, disability or military service or marital status. The Springfield Public Schools does not discriminate in admission to, access or treatment in its programs and activities on the basis of race, color, sex, gender identity, religion, national origin, or sexual orientation, disability or homelessness.

NOTICE OF SEX NONDISCRIMINATION

Springfield Public Schools does not discriminate on the basis of sex and prohibits sex discrimination, including sex-based harassment, in any education program or activity that it operates, as required by Title IX and its regulations, including in admission and employment.

Inquiries about Title IX may be referred to the Springfield Public Schools’ Title IX Coordinator, titleix@springfieldpublicschools.com, the U.S. Department of Education’s Office for Civil Rights at https://ocrcas.ed.gov/contact-ocr, or both.

The Springfield Public Schools Title IX Coordinator is Katie O’Sullivan, Senior Administrator of Human Resources, 1550 Main Street, Springfield, MA 01103, 413-787-7100 ext. 55428, titleix@springfieldpublicschools.com.

Springfield Public School’s sex nondiscrimination policy and grievance procedures can be located on the Springfield Public Schools website, www.springfieldpublicschools.com/non-discrimination

To report information about conduct that may constitute sex discrimination or make a complaint of sex discrimination under Title IX, please refer to titleix@springfieldpublicschools.com