Job Description
Job DescriptionJoin Our Mission at Uncommon Schools!
Company Description
At Uncommon Schools, we are more than just a nonprofit network of high-performing public charter schools; we are a community dedicated to transforming the educational landscape for students in economically disadvantaged areas. With schools in Boston, Camden, New York City, Newark, and Rochester, we are on a mission to close the college completion gap and prepare every student for a successful future. Our students consistently exceed national benchmarks, a testament to our commitment to their success.
We believe in investing deeply in our educators, providing weekly coaching, feedback, and professional development to ensure excellence in teaching and leadership. Join us to work hard, do good, and make a lasting difference!
Exciting Opportunity: High School Science Teacher
As a High School Science Teacher at Uncommon Schools, you will play a pivotal role in preparing students to critically engage with the world of science. Your mission? To inspire self-directed learners through inquiry-based learning and robust student discourse. You will employ a variety of instructional strategies to ignite a passion for scientific questioning and analysis, empowering students to excel in any STEM discipline.
Your Responsibilities
1. Instruction
- Teach a dynamic curriculum covering Biology, Chemistry, Physics, and Environmental Sciences, preparing students for Advanced Placement (AP) and collegiate-level coursework.
- Develop students' skills in questioning, modeling, data analysis, and conducting interactive labs.
- Create a classroom environment where students feel confident to engage in scientific discourse.
- Facilitate student-led discussions, encouraging evidence-based claims and critical thinking.
- Guide students through inquiry-based projects and performance tasks.
- Collaborate with the Science department to set academic and engagement goals.
2. Data Analysis
- Meet weekly with your principal and/or instructional coach to analyze student work and assessment trends.
- Implement strategies to differentiate instruction for all learners.
3. School Culture
- Build positive relationships with students, ensuring they feel seen, loved, and heard.
- Partner with families to provide resources that support student learning.
- Engage in practice-based professional development and mentorship.
- Participate in weekly school-wide meetings to foster community and encourage student achievement.
- Collaborate with your grade-level team to develop academic goals and instructional strategies.
Qualifications
- A strong commitment to supporting students’ social, emotional, and academic development.
- A passion for collaboration with internal and external partners for the benefit of students.
- A self-directed learner who actively seeks and implements feedback to improve outcomes.
- Required Experience:
- 1-2 years of experience impacting K-12 students in urban schools and communities preferred.
- Academic expertise in Science, Technology, Engineering, Mathematics, or related fields.
- A bachelor’s degree from an accredited institution is required. Teacher certification is not a prerequisite, but you must meet NJ state certification eligibility requirements.
Why Join Us?
Our people are what make us Uncommon. We offer competitive compensation and comprehensive benefits that support the health, wellness, and finances of our staff and their families. Our compensation philosophy values equity and fairness, aiming to attract and retain top talent.
Compensation
Compensation for this role ranges from $56,000 to $80,000, determined by factors such as relevant teaching experience, educational certifications, and tenure with Uncommon Schools. Candidates without full-time teaching experience will likely start at $56,000.
Benefits
- Generous paid time off, including sick time, paid holidays, and 10 weeks of paid breaks (Spring, Winter, and Summer).
- Extensive, best-in-class training and development opportunities.
- Comprehensive health, dental, and vision insurance plans, along with pre-tax flexible spending (FSA), dependent care (DCFSA), and health savings accounts (HSA).
- Financial Planning through the New Jersey Pension program.
- Paid leave options (parental, medical, disability, etc.).
- Mental health and counseling support, plus wellness benefits.
*A detailed list of all benefits is available upon request.
Our Commitment to Diversity
At Uncommon, we believe that a supportive and welcoming environment helps our students, staff, and community thrive. We are dedicated to building a team that reflects the diverse perspectives and experiences of the communities we serve, with over 70% of our staff identifying as people of color. We value respect and open dialogue on important topics that shape our school culture.
As an equal opportunity employer, Uncommon provides equal employment opportunities to all employees and applicants, prohibiting discrimination and harassment of any type. We 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.