9th Grade Science Teacher, Middle Grades
About The Position
About this Role: Heights Philadelphia offers a Middle Grades Bridge summer program which serves students in rising 7th-rising 9th grade. Programming for rising 9th graders will specifically focus on the transition to high school. The program emphasizes time management, study skills, goal setting, and college readiness. The 9th grade Science Teacher will work in partnership with summer staff to deliver rigorous and engaging summer programming that exposes students to Biology and other science content students will learn about during their first year in high school. The 9th grade Science Teacher will be responsible for developing lesson plans that will lay the foundation for more complex studies later in high school. The Science Teacher will leave the program with new skills and ideas to apply to future classrooms or jobs. All teachers will be allotted up to 8 hours of remote preparation and planning time between June 9th-June 27th.
Requirements
- Bachelor’s Degree and instructional certification
- Experience teaching middle or high school science content
- Familiarity with the Pennsylvania academic standards for Science
- Experience working with youth and understanding of trauma informed teaching practices required
- Passionate about making a difference in the academic outcomes of underserved students
- Punctual, present, and responsible
- Maintains open and consistent communication
- Demonstrate organizational and technology skills
- Ability to work and contribute to a team
- Ability to seek resources and solutions to effectively solve problems
- Positive role model
- Receptiveness to feedback and a desire to continuously improve
- Dedicated to providing a safe, academically enriching, and engaging experience
- A strong sense of personal accountability for student achievement
- A belief that all students should be held to high academic standards
- Heights employees: Must meet expectations to report in-person on a schedule determined by their direct manager and/or the Vice President of the team.
- Must meet PA State background check requirements [PA Criminal, PA Child Abuse and FBI Fingerprint Check] at hire and every five years thereafter.
- Strong orientation to customer service, particularly with regard to students, partners and colleagues
- Proficiency in Google Suite, Microsoft Office and related applications, as well as use of general office equipment (phones, computers, copiers, etc)
- Fluency in the use of data and data systems. Maintains appropriate engagement with data entry, reporting and review.
- Must adhere to COVID safety guidelines as established by Heights and/or its partners. Office-based staff should be mindful of the organization’s strong recommendation that staff maintain up to date with COVID vaccination and boosters. Site-based staff must be fully vaccinated against COVID-19 and must submit to any COVID testing or other health screenings as required by the Department of Human Services and/or the School District of Philadelphia.
- Must be able to work in a busy, often complex work environment that is generally climate controlled.
- Must be able to lift up to 20 pounds unassisted on an occasional basis.
- Must be able to sit for long periods of time.
- Must be able to stand or walk for long periods of time.
- Access to reliable transportation required
Responsibilities
- Planning and leading Science classes for groups of approximately 25 rising 9th grade students that incorporate Heights routines and instructional best practices.
- Tracking student attendance daily
- Tracking student classwork achievement
- Supporting breakfast and/or lunch on a rotating basis
- Holding office hours for students at least once weekly
- Planning field trips and/or incorporating guest speakers
- Coordinating and supporting student execution of final capstone project
- Utilizing classroom management strategies throughout the day
- Sharing student work weekly and maintain inviting and inclusive classroom
- Forming and maintaining relationships with students’ families, including phone calls and conferences
- Participating in ongoing professional development and weekly staff meetings in the spirit of continuous improvement; incorporate feedback given into lessons.
- Contributing writings, pictures, etc to weekly family newsletter
- Contributing to student progress reports and End of Summer report
- Promoting high expectations of both staff and students
- Creating substitute plans in the event of your absence
