Elementary Teacher

Uncommon Schools • Newark, NJ

6h • Onsite

About The Position

Uncommon Schools is a nonprofit network of high-performing public charter schools dedicated to providing an exceptional K-12 education in economically disadvantaged communities across Boston, Camden, New York City, Newark, and Rochester. The organization is committed to closing the college completion gap and preparing every student for college and beyond, with students consistently exceeding national benchmarks. Uncommon Schools invests deeply in its educators, offering weekly coaching, feedback, and professional development to ensure excellence in teaching and leadership. Elementary School Teachers cultivate a love for learning in students from the start, engaging them in a culturally-responsive, fast-paced, and fun learning environment. Teachers encourage core values of respect and hard work, celebrate student uniqueness, and lay academic foundations for college success.

Requirements

• A demonstrated commitment to supporting students’ social emotional and academic development
• An enthusiasm for working with families in the best interest of students
• A self-directed learner who solicits and implements feedback to improve outcomes and achieve objectives
• Academic expertise in Elementary Education, Humanities, English, Social Sciences, or other related fields of study.
• Prior to the start of employment, you must have a bachelor's degree from an accredited college or university.
• Meet NJ state certification eligibility requirements (a final undergraduate or graduate cumulative GPA of 3.0 for graduates on or after 9/1/16, or 2.75 if you graduated prior to 9/1/16).
• All instructional staff are required to become certified in the state of New Jersey within a reasonable period after beginning employment.

Nice To Haves

• A demonstrated interest in impacting K-12 students in urban schools and communities (1-2 years experience preferred).

Responsibilities

• Co-teach 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 children’s learning needs.
• Engage in practice-based professional development, mentorship, and coaching sessions.
• Support morning arrival, lunch duty, student assemblies, class transitions, and after-school dismissal.
• Participate in weekly, school-wide meetings to foster community, model our core values, and encourage student achievement.
• Partner with your grade level team to develop academic goals and practice instructional strategies.

Benefits

• Competitive compensation
• Comprehensive benefits that support the personal health, wellness, and finances of our staff and their families
• Generous paid time off inclusive of sick time, paid holidays, and 10 weeks of paid breaks (Spring, Winter, and Summer)
• Extensive, best-in-class training and development
• Comprehensive health, dental, and vision insurance plans
• Pre-tax flexible spending (FSA)
• Dependent care (DCFSA)
• Health saving accounts (HSA)
• Financial Planning
• New Jersey Pension program
• Paid leave of absence options (parental, medical, disability, etc.)
• Mental health and counseling support
• Wellness benefits

What This Job Offers

• Job Type: Full-time
• Career Level: Entry Level
• Number of Employees: 501-1,000 employees