High School ELA Teacher

Uncommon Schools • Camden, NJ

2d • $56,000 - $80,000

About The Position

Uncommon Schools is a nonprofit network of high-performing public charter schools serving economically disadvantaged communities. High School English Language Arts teachers build engaging, rigorous classrooms that prepare students for college and foster a lasting love of literacy. They develop deep expertise in literature and use inclusive texts, varied instructional strategies, reading, writing, and student-led discussion to strengthen students’ academic skills, intellectual identity, voice, and agency. The role includes analyzing student learning, adapting instruction, collaborating with colleagues and families, and contributing to a supportive school culture.

Requirements

• Demonstrated commitment to supporting students’ social-emotional and academic development.
• Enthusiasm for collaborating with internal and external partners in students’ best interests.
• Ability to learn independently, seek feedback, and implement it to improve outcomes and achieve objectives.
• Bachelor’s degree from an accredited college or university before the start of employment.
• Meet New Jersey state certification eligibility requirements: a final undergraduate or graduate cumulative GPA of 3.0 for graduates on or after September 1, 2016, or 2.75 for graduates before that date.
• Become certified in New Jersey within a reasonable period after beginning employment.
• Academic expertise in Humanities, English, Social Sciences, or a related field.

Nice To Haves

• One to two years of experience or demonstrated interest in impacting K-12 students in urban schools and communities; experience is preferred.

Responsibilities

• Teach a shared literature curriculum that prioritizes inclusive texts and prepares students for Advanced Placement, SAT, and collegiate-level coursework.
• Guide students in analyzing literature, including works by James Baldwin, Toni Morrison, F. Scott Fitzgerald, William Shakespeare, and Yaa Gyasi.
• Develop students’ independent and collaborative reading, writing, and discussion skills.
• Facilitate student-led discourse and teach students to use evidence to make sophisticated claims and synthesize and evaluate arguments and rhetoric.
• Regularly analyze student comprehension and writing, and adapt or write lessons to maximize learning.
• Collaborate with department and grade-level teams on content, instructional strategies, academic goals, and student success.
• Meet weekly with the principal and/or instructional coach to analyze student work and assessment trends.
• Implement strategies to differentiate instruction for learners in the classroom.
• Build positive relationships so students feel seen, loved, and heard.
• Partner with students’ families to ensure appropriate resources are available to support learning needs.
• Participate in practice-based professional development, mentorship, and coaching.
• Participate in weekly school-wide meetings to cultivate community, model core values, and encourage student achievement.

Benefits

• Generous paid time off, including sick time, paid holidays, and approximately 10 weeks of paid Spring, Winter, and Summer breaks.
• Extensive training and development.
• Health, dental, and vision insurance plans.
• Pre-tax flexible spending accounts, dependent care flexible spending accounts, and health savings accounts.
• Financial planning.
• Retirement benefits, subject to role eligibility.
• Paid leave of absence options, including parental, medical, and disability leave.
• Mental health and counseling support and wellness benefits.

What This Job Offers

• Job Type: Full-time
• Career Level: Entry Level