Job Description
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 citys top-performing, and our
students have an impressive 85% college acceptance rate.
Job Description
Uncommon High School English Language Arts (ELA) teachers are passionate about
literature and building an engaging, rigorous classroom culture focusing on
helping all students prepare for college. Our teachers become experts in their
course content, and have a keen sense of how to motivate and inspire high
school students. At the heart of our English classes is an emphasis on reading
and student-led discourse. Teachers use a variety of instructional strategies
to prioritize discussion, ignite a passion for literature, and promote strong
voice and agency within students. At the conclusion of each high school year
students are more prepared for the academic rigor and independence of college
coursework, as well as for a long term love of literacy.
**Responsibilities**
**1. Instruction**
* Youll teach from a robust literature curriculum shared across our high schools that prioritizes inclusive texts, emphasizes diversity, and prepares students for Advanced Placement (AP), SAT and collegiate level coursework.
* Youll conduct a deep exploration of daily content in order to guide students to analyze books by authors like James Baldwin, Toni Morrison, F. Scott Fitzgerald, William Shakespeare, and Yaa Gyasi; books that ignite a passion for literature, sharpen a critical eye for examining the world, and deepen students’ intellectual identity.
* You’ll develop students’ independent and collaborative reading, writing, and discussion skills.
* Youll facilitate student-led discourse, teaching students to use evidence to make sophisticated claims, and to synthesize and evaluate arguments and rhetoric.
* You’ll analyze student comprehension and writing regularly and determine how to adapt and write your own lessons to maximize student learning.
* You’ll partner with your department and your grade level team on content and instructional strategies that support your students and help all students succeed.
**2. Data Analysis**
* Youll meet weekly with your principal andor instructional coach to analyze and respond to trends in student work samples and assessments.
* Youll 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 childs learning needs.
* Youll engage in practice-based professional development, mentorship, and coaching sessions.
* Youll participate in weekly, school-wide meetings to cultivate community, model our core values, and encourage student achievement.
* Youll 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 Humanities, English, Social Sciences, or other related fields of study.
* Prior to the start of employment, you must have a bachelors 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 $56,000 to $70,700. 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
* 403(b) retirement savings program + employer match
* 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.
Job Tags
Full time, Temporary work, Summer work, Local area, Immediate start, Flexible hours,