2026-2027 Elementary Academy Lead Teacher

Vega Collegiate Academy•Denver, CO

9d•$52,000 - $90,000

About The Position

Elementary Academy 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. What Makes Us Different? We actively build an amazing culture to ensure the health and wellness of our teachers and staff. We have 4-day with student weeks, Mondays are Professional Development with staff and students attend Tuesday - Friday. We provide "Flex Time" with a staggered start for Elementary and Middle School. Elementary teachers' hours are 7:15 - 3:00pm, with flex planning time from 3:00 - 4:15pm to reduce after school meetings or taking work home. Middle school teachers' hours are 8:30 - 4:15, with flex planning from 7:15 - 8:30am. We have a week long fall break in October, a week long break in November, and then two weeks off in December/January. We also have a spring break in March, as well as a few extra Mondays off throughout the year. Our staff have a very positive outlook on working at Vega with high rates of engagement and satisfaction - many have become close friends who ski together on weekends or enjoy happy hours with staff. We really believe in a "whatever it takes" mindset because our staff care deeply about the students they serve, as well as each other, and constantly support one another. We provide extra opportunities to support your salary while improving outcomes. We offer a variety of opportunities to lead clubs based on your interests and the interests of students for additional stipends. We pay teachers who are interested in tutoring over breaks to work with smaller groups of students for half days. From 8am - 12pm on Saturdays, teachers can participate in a really fun environment to build relationships and build academic achievement by teaching Saturday school for additional pay.

Requirements

Unwaveringly high expectations for all students with the belief that every child should have access to a college education.
Strong attention to detail.
Ability to use technology seamlessly.
Ability to work effectively under stressful working conditions.
Initiative and strong work ethic.
Bachelor’s degree required
If applying for Special Education, valid certification or willingness to enroll in alternative program

Nice To Haves

Prior experience in an urban, public school is preferred but not required.

Responsibilities

Co-teach with a paraprofessional and build an engaging and joyful classroom environment that encourages mastery and empowers students to engage in academic discourse.
Teach the basic principles of mathematics.
Teach reading and writing to build students' literacy skills: phonemic awareness, phonics, fluency, vocabulary, and comprehension.
Teach an ELA curriculum that prioritizes meaningful texts and topics that are interesting and relevant.
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.
Teach a Social Studies curriculum that incorporates analyses of America's diverse histories, with an emphasis on cultural and civic awareness.
Meet weekly with your principal and/or instructional coach to analyze and respond to trends in student work samples and assessments.
Learn and implement strategies to differentiate instruction for all learners in your classroom.
Build positive relationships with students to ensure they feel seen, loved, and heard.
Partner with students’ families to ensure appropriate resources are available to support their child's learning needs.
Engage in practice-based professional development, mentorship, and coaching sessions.
Participate in weekly, school-wide meetings to cultivate community, model our core values, and encourage student achievement.
Partner with your grade level team to develop academic goals and practice instructional strategies.