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.
Roxbury Prep consists of four schools serving students in grades 5 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. Roxbury Prep students have an astounding 98% college acceptance rate and collectively earned 1.3 million dollars in scholarships last year.
Job Description
Uncommon Special Education teachers are passionate about developing and monitoring accommodations for students with special needs. Special Education teachers advocate for students and believe that specialized instruction and related services increase academic achievement. Special Education teachers offer academic, emotional, and physical support while maintaining high expectations.
Responsibilities
1. Instruction
- You'll modify, differentiate, and teach an inclusive curriculum that emphasizes diversity.
- You'll collaborate with families and Special Education teams to develop 504 and Individualized Education Plans (IEPs) that offer appropriate accommodations and modifications.
- You'll create an inclusive and safe environment where students feel empowered to become self-guided learners.
2. Special Education Specific Responsibilities
- You'll collaborate with general education teachers, school leaders, and families to analyze and respond to trends in student work samples and assessments and ensure compliance with Individualized Education Plans.
- You will gather academic growth data and write goals to prepare for annual IEP meetings.
- You will teach pull-out, push-in, small group, and one-on-one instruction 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 child's learning needs.
- You'll engage in practice-based professional development, mentorship, and coaching sessions.
- You'll participate in weekly, school-wide meetings to cultivate community, model our core values, and encourage student achievement.
- You'll 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 Special Education, the Humanities, Social Sciences, STEM, or related fields of study.
- Prior to the start of employment, you must have a bachelor's degree from an accredited college or university and have earned a cumulative GPA of 2.5 or higher by the time employment begins. You do not need to be certified to be hired; however, if hired you will need to pass state teacher certification tests to meet the MA state requirements.
Teachers are qualified to teach independently if the teacher holds one of the following qualifications for the appropriate grade and severity level:
- MA special education license
- Special education license or equivalent issued by another state or
- Documented completion of approved undergraduate or graduate program in special education
If a teacher does not hold any of the qualifications above, the teacher may only deliver specialized instruction if:
- The teacher is under the direct supervision and oversight* of an educator who holds an initial or professional special education license (Moderate Disabilities License), or is otherwise qualified as per above;
And
- Must pass the following MTELs within the first year of employment:
- Communications and Literacy Skills test, and,