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.

North Star Academy currently manages fourteen schools in Newark, NJ 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. North Star Academy is NJ's #1 highest performing public charter school and has served Newark families for over 20 years.

Job Description

Uncommon Elementary School Teachers cultivate a love for learning in every student from the very start. Our teachers and students engage in a culturally-responsive, fast-paced, and fun learning environment. We have built a community where teachers encourage our core values of respect and hard work while celebrating the uniqueness of each student and laying the academic foundations that carry students to and through college.

Responsibilities

1. Instruction

• You'll teach the basic principles of mathematics.
• You'll teach an ELA curriculum that prioritizes meaningful texts and topics that are interesting and relevant.
• You'll teach a Social Studies curriculum that incorporates analyses of America's diverse histories, with an emphasis on cultural and civic awareness.
• You'll teach a Science curriculum that prioritizes knowledge of geology, astronomy, ecology, and cycles in nature to ensure students understand climate change and how to take care of the Earth.
• You'll teach reading and writing to build students' literacy skills: phonemic awareness, phonics, fluency, vocabulary, and comprehension.
• You'll co-teach and build an engaging and joyful classroom environment that encourages mastery and empowers students to engage in academic discourse.

2. Data Analysis

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

3. School Culture

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

Qualifications

• A demonstrated commitment to supporting students' social emotional and academic development
• A self-directed learner who solicits and implements feedback to improve outcomes and achieve objectives
• A commitment to the mission of Uncommon Schools and investment in our vision for being an anti-racist organization
• An enthusiasm for working with families in the best interest of students

Required Experience:

• Prior to the start of employment, you must have a bachelor's degree from an accredited college or university. Teacher certification is not a prerequisite for consideration at Uncommon Schools in the state of NJ, but you do need to meet NJ state certification eligibility requirements (a final undergraduate or graduate cumulative GPA of 3.0 for graduates on or after 9/1/16, or 2.75 if you graduated prior to 9/1/16). All instructional staff are required to become certified in the state of New Jersey within a reasonable period after beginning employment.
• A demonstrated interest in impacting K-12 students in urban schools and communities (1-2 years experience preferred).
• Academic expertise in Elementary Education, Humanities, English, Social Sciences, or other related fields of study.

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 Newarkis between $59,000 to $83,000. 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:

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