Uncommon Schools | 5-12 Teacher

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 52 schools serving more than 19,000 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. 

Job Description

All Uncommon Schools teachers hold primary responsibility for the implementation of Uncommon’s curriculum and the success of our students. Therefore, Uncommon Schools seeks teachers who are committed to becoming best-in-class educators, who are continuously improving instructional practices through collaboration and targeted development within their school community. We are currently seeking both experienced and apprentice teachers for all grades and all subjects for the 22-23 school year.

SPECIFIC RESPONSIBILITIES

• Implement curricula and activities to meet our high academic standards
• Analyze assessments that measure progress towards these standards and use this assessment data to inform and differentiate instructional practices
• Focus constantly on student learning, thinking critically and strategically to respond to student learning needs
• Create a positive, structured learning environment to ensure that students observe the school’s core values, high expectations, and code of conduct
• Communicate effectively with students, families, and colleagues
• Commit to continual professional growth, participating actively in our annual, three-week staff orientation training in August and instructional training throughout the school year
• Participate and support grade-level activities and school-wide functions throughout the school-year

Qualifications

Strong applicants for all teaching roles (new and experienced) will possess the following:

• Relentless drive to improve the minds, characters & lives of students both in and out of school
• Unwavering commitment to urban youth achieving greatness
• Belief in and alignment with Uncommon’s core beliefs and educational philosophy is a must
• Mastery of and enthusiasm for relevant academic subjects
• Evidence of self-motivation, willingness to be a team player, and a strong sense of personal responsibility
• Ability and desire to implement feedback from school leaders and colleagues to become a more effective educator in service to our students. 
• A background in education is not required for new teachers, but strong candidates should show a demonstrated passion for working with K-12 students and prior experience working in schools and/or urban communities is preferred.

Additional qualifications for experienced teachers:

• Proven track-record of high achievement in the classroom
• Minimum of two years teaching experience in an urban public school or charter school setting preferred
• Valid State Certification and Master’s degree are helpful but not required.

Minimum Qualifications:

• Candidates must have received a Bachelor's degree from a college or university before employment begins
• Candidates must have also earned a cumulative Grade Point Average (GPA) of 2.75 or higher by the time employment begins
• All Commonwealth charter teachers must either have an appropriate MA educator’s license or pass required the MTEL(s) including the Communications and Literacy MTEL , Subject Specific MTEL, and the MTEL SEI (Sheltered English Immersion) Endorsement within first year of employment. All core academic teachers* assigned to teach English learners are required to earn the SEI endorsement. Any teacher without a SEI endorsement has one year from date of assignment to teach ELs, to earn the MTEL SEI endorsement. 

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 Boston is between $57,000 to $89,000.  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:

• 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
  • Pension through Mass. Teachers Retirement System  
  • 403(b) retirement savings program 
  • 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 .

Uncommon Schools is seeking dedicated K-12 teachers to implement its high academic standards and curriculum in a positive learning environment. Teachers will focus on student success through effective communication, continual professional growth, and collaboration with colleagues. We welcome candidates who are passionate about improving the lives and education of urban youth, regardless of prior teaching experience.

K-12 education, urban schools, teacher recruitment, student success, curriculum implementation, professional development, diverse educators, classroom management, educational equity, charter schools