Elementary School Chinese Lead Teacher

Position: Elementary School Chinese Lead Teacher

Supervisor:  Principal

Start Date:   Immediately

Application Deadline:  Applications are open until otherwise noted.  

The Opportunity:  We are seeking Chinese lead teachers with experience in elementary school education to provide instruction in Mandarin Chinese at Global Citizens Public Charter School (Global Citizens PCS).  Global Citizens PCS is the first dual language immersion elementary school in Washington, DC, to offer language immersion in both Mandarin Chinese and Spanish pathways - exposing students to the top three languages spoken in the world.  Paired with a focus on social justice and whole child wellness, Global Citizens PCS equips children to become empathetic, globally competent, and socially-minded leaders who are prepared for a future we cannot yet imagine.  Global Citizens PCS opened in Ward 7 to provide children and their families living east of the Anacostia River with equitable access to dual language immersion programs.  This position offers an incredible opportunity to work alongside a founding team, within an entrepreneurial and collaborative environment focused on improving educational opportunities for all students, especially those who are most marginalized and undervalued.

Mission:  The mission of Global Citizens PCS is to inspire and prepare the next generation of global citizens.  We will do this by supporting students, ages 3-11, to reach their full academic and leadership potential in a nurturing learning environment.  We will immerse them in the Mandarin and Spanish languages, promote the value of diversity, and equip them with the knowledge, skills, and mindsets they need to contribute to a better world. 

Vision:  We envision academic excellence, language acquisition, and authentic inclusion of a diverse student population.  We will build a strong community of learners who are confident in their ability to communicate in the Chinese, Spanish, and English languages.  Our children will use language to liberate and advocate for themselves and those most marginalized.  All of our children will develop a sense of self and a sense of belonging, build empathy and emotional resilience, learn to understand and appreciate diverse perspectives, and challenge themselves to take action to improve the world.

Philosophy:  We believe that all cultures have richness and value, deserve respect and consideration, and do not belong to a hierarchy.  We are aware of white supremacy culture and the systemic oppression that exists – even in the current education system.  At Global Citizens PCS, we will critically examine our biases and then actively work on counteracting these biases and disrupting the dominant narrative.  We will continually examine our teaching and curricula to ensure we incorporate multiple perspectives from diverse cultural backgrounds and life experiences, including the experiences of our students, families, communities, and staff.  We will create an environment in which all students will yearn for intercultural connections and see their benefits.

Diversity, Equity, and Inclusion (DEI) are our core values and central to our learning, development, and growth:

• Diversity:  All children, of all backgrounds, learning abilities, and physical capacities, will thrive and contribute to a positive, inclusive, and supportive learning community.

• Equity:  All children are capable of reaching high levels of academic excellence and whole child wellness.  Thus, all children will have the opportunity to gain fluency in more than one language/culture and learn from and with each other.  All children will be held to high expectations – ensuring equally high outcomes for all and removing the predictability of success or failure that currently correlates with social, cultural, or socio-economic factors.

• Inclusion:  We will live our core value of diversity by creating an environment of connection, belonging, empowerment, and respect – where the richness of different ideas, backgrounds, and perspectives are harnessed to create value.

The core values live in our Global Citizens PCS educational model through four key pillars:  Globally Competent Bilingualism, Academic Excellence, Social Justice, and Whole Child Wellness.

Elementary School Chinese Lead Teacher Job Description

The Chinese elementary school classroom lead teacher is one of the primary stakeholders who influence the lives of children at Global Citizens PCS.  Chinese lead teachers will foster a student-centered learning environment that respects the culture and identity of each and every child so they can thrive academically, socially, and emotionally.   In early childhood, our children learn all content areas in the target language for approximately 90% of the school day, and they learn their early literacy and math skills in English for approximately 10% of the school day.  In elementary school (Kindergarten through 5th grade), we use a 50/50 model, where our children receive standards-based instruction (aligned to the Common Core State Standards) in reading, writing, math, and science in the target language for 50% of the time and in English for 50% of the time (each day).  The Chinese lead teacher will teach all content areas in the target language and will serve as the instructional lead and model for the target language (Mandarin Chinese).  The Chinese lead teacher will work collaboratively with support teachers and The Georgetown University Program in Educational Transformation (EDTR) Residents to positively impact student development by creating a warm and inviting learning environment; building relationships with students and families; creatively designing and implementing effective lessons within a free and liberating classroom environment;  analyzing and interpreting data; collaborating professionally with colleagues; and, participating in the larger school-wide community.  The Chinese lead teachers will be coached and supported by the Chinese Instructional Coordinator.  The Chinese lead teachers, with support from the Chinese Instructional Coordinator, will work collaboratively with all grade-level and leadership team members to fully understand and respond to the needs of students and families, create and implement plans according to the mission, vision, and pillars of Global Citizens Public Charter School while remaining focused on the implementation of high-quality Chinese language instruction.

Key responsibilities include, but are not limited to:

• Develop lesson plans and teach all core subjects - Mandarin Language Arts, Math, and Science
• Utilize culturally sustaining practices to inform and guide daily instruction; incorporate student cultures, interests, and experiences into lessons and activities.
• Set clear and measurable goals throughout the year for every student in all areas of study; regularly assess the progress of each child and provide differentiated, child-centered instruction to meet the needs of each child on a daily basis.
• Ensure that each student has equitable access to classroom materials, texts, learning resources and opportunities, academic and social-emotional supports.
• Collaborate with support teachers and other staff to ensure proper and consistent implementation of our instructional program; reflect on instructional practices and adjust behavior and systems accordingly.
• Maintain open, welcoming, and ongoing communication with families regarding student progress, and engage parents and families to promote each student’s social, emotional, and academic development.
• Participate in parent conferences and school-wide events and contributes to the broader school community.

Requirements:

• Minimum a Bachelor’s degree in Education related field.
• Minimum two years of teaching experience.
• Fluent speaking, reading, and writing in Mandarin Chinese.
• A teaching license is preferred, but not required.

Compensation

Salary for this position is competitive.  Additionally, Global Citizens PCS offers a comprehensive benefits package.

We are Deeply Committed to Diversity, Equity, and Inclusion

Global Citizens PCS is an equal opportunity employer and an organization that values diversity. We strongly encourage people from diverse backgrounds to apply.  It is our policy to ensure that all individuals whom we are in contact with are not discriminated against on the basis of race, color, ethnicity, disability, gender identity, gender expression, age, marital status, national origin, religion, sexual orientation, military status, family responsibilities, pregnancy, parenthood, or any other personal or professional status.

How to Apply

If you are interested in applying for this position, please click “Apply for This Job” in BambooHR. Also. email your resume with cover letter to hli@globalcitizensschool.org.

Global Citizens PCS is committed to building a team that reflects the varied backgrounds and experiences of the students we seek to serve.  It is important to us that you use your application materials to clearly delineate ways in which your background and experience align with Global Citizens PCS’s core values and key pillars, including our commitment to diversity, equity, and inclusion.