HS Language and Literature Teacher & HS Travel Coordinator

Daystar Academy•Chicago, IL

About The Position

The High School Language and Literature and High School Travel Coordinator is a multifaceted role that involves both teaching and planning travel for our students. The teacher role entails teaching two daily courses: 9th grade Language and Literature and 10th grade Language and Literature as well as two weekly courses: 10th grade Personal Project and 11th grade Extended Essay. The teacher is responsible for planning and implementing these courses in a manner consistent with the International Baccalaureate (IB) program requirements, carrying out unit plans and assessments that are aligned with the IB MYP and/or DP framework. Teachers work to integrate faith into their teaching responsibilities and interactions with students. Teachers will consistently use data to inform their instructional practice and support students to grow academically, socially, emotionally, and spiritually. Teachers utilize inquiry and concept-based lessons and relational strategies that engage students. High School Teachers are willing and able to assess IB examinations and reports (in and out of their subject area) in accordance with IB rubrics. The High School Language and Literature is also expected to offer one-on-one writing support to all Daystar students for up to 4 hours a week. The High School Travel Coordinator works collaboratively with the Director of High School and Head of Schools to plan and carry out travel for all high school students that is grounded in safety, cultural and global experiences, and community building. They will: Work with the admin team to select travel destinations for 10th-12th graders to take place each January around a unifying theme that fits within the IB framework One domestic trip One trip to a Spanish speaking country One trip to another international destination Plan a trip to Toronto for 9th graders to take place each May Book airline tickets, travel insurance, accommodations, and other destination reservations Utilize a trip selection system (already in place) to ensure equity, safety, and student thriving Work with the admin team to select appropriate teacher chaperones for each trip, including a trip leader Build itineraries for each trip in conjunction with the trip leader Work within a budget and document all expenses Organize essential information and documents for each trip Select meaningful and engaging summer reading/assignments to prepare students for their trips Plan monthly trip meetings for students and chaperones for academic and logistical preparation Communicate clearly and frequently with trip leaders, chaperones, students, and parents about logistics and expectations, including by hosting final meetings Create opportunities for student leadership Promote the program by sharing about it with stakeholders and ensuring the sharing of photos All Staff Responsibilities: Provide a safe school environment, indoors and out, per directives regarding building operations (keys, fobs, alarm codes), the Daystar Distinctives and Responsive Classroom practices Participate in a brief staff prayer to start the day at 7:35 sharp on Monday through Thursday in the Gathering Place Participate in school engagement events to promote positive school culture Complete arrival and dismissal duties as assigned Fulfill essential job functions based on one’s specific job description; and during times of school drills or emergencies, assist others as able Be on time, appropriately dressed and ready for work at assigned days/times Adhere to all of the requirements outlined in the Staff Handbook and comply with the school policies Be an excellent ambassador of Daystar Academy at all times Essential Job Functions Relative to role as HS Teacher: Provide a safe learning environment based on Daystar Distinctives, Responsive Classroom practices, and Daystar’s faith development strands When designing the learning space, comply with Visual Markers of a Daystar Classroom Plan and teach, guided by appropriate standards (the common core standards or other prescribed standards, such as NGSS), and in compliance with the International Baccalaureate Standards and Practices as found in the MYP and DP subject guides, as well as according to Daystar’s expectations Take appropriate initiative and display a growth mindset, creating and regularly reflecting on individual pedagogical goals Submit unit plans and weekly lesson plans as prescribed by supervisor Maintain records related to student growth and achievement, supporting and extending as needed Maintain student work samples, including teacher feedback and assessment, and encourage students to reflect on their work and their progress throughout the year Communicate in an ongoing and meaningful way with students’ parents/guardians through email, phone calls, progress reports and during parent/teacher conferences in order to ensure congruence and clear expectations about academic and/or behavioral concerns Provide assessment feedback to students and parents in a timely manner, updating Toddle regularly Update Toddle platform (portfolio) regularly with classroom and/or student highlights Collaborate with other teachers to plan and implement MYP Interdisciplinary units Develop learning excursions and/or invite special guests to deepen class curriculum, helping work towards the yearly goal of 12-15 learning excursions per grade Demonstrate and insist on respectful use of class materials and the school environment Professionally collaborate with teachers and staff members to ensure consistency and continuity throughout the school Supervise students and generally assist as assigned Attend and participate in all required parent-facing events (ie, parent-teacher conferences, showcase nights, etc.) Daystar Academy is a unique community where students are provided with a nurturing learning environment that allows them to explore, discover, and create. We are committed to more than academic excellence. Our curriculum allows students to engage with subject matter in experiential ways and promotes curiosity, problem solving, and respect of differences in thought and opinion. We foster a beautifully diverse student body that is made up of a variety of cultural, ethnic, and socio-economic backgrounds. Our goal is to build a school community that reflects the diversity of the city and God’s Kingdom. Daystar’s mission is to empower students to impact the world through a faith-based, culturally-engaged, globally-minded education. Our vision is to transform Chicago and the world by educating and empowering our students to live out the values of the kingdom of God.

Requirements

Bachelor's degree in education, English, writing, literature, or related field
Experience planning travel for students

Nice To Haves

Secondary teacher certification in the state of Illinois
IB MYP/DP training

Responsibilities

Teaching two daily courses: 9th grade Language and Literature and 10th grade Language and Literature
Teaching two weekly courses: 10th grade Personal Project and 11th grade Extended Essay
Planning and implementing courses in a manner consistent with the International Baccalaureate (IB) program requirements
Carrying out unit plans and assessments that are aligned with the IB MYP and/or DP framework
Integrating faith into teaching responsibilities and interactions with students
Consistently using data to inform instructional practice and support students to grow academically, socially, emotionally, and spiritually
Assessing IB examinations and reports (in and out of their subject area) in accordance with IB rubrics
Offering one-on-one writing support to all Daystar students for up to 4 hours a week
Working collaboratively with the Director of High School and Head of Schools to plan and carry out travel for all high school students that is grounded in safety, cultural and global experiences, and community building
Working with the admin team to select travel destinations for 10th-12th graders to take place each January around a unifying theme that fits within the IB framework
Planning a trip to Toronto for 9th graders to take place each May
Booking airline tickets, travel insurance, accommodations, and other destination reservations
Utilizing a trip selection system (already in place) to ensure equity, safety, and student thriving
Working with the admin team to select appropriate teacher chaperones for each trip, including a trip leader
Building itineraries for each trip in conjunction with the trip leader
Working within a budget and document all expenses
Organizing essential information and documents for each trip
Selecting meaningful and engaging summer reading/assignments to prepare students for their trips
Planning monthly trip meetings for students and chaperones for academic and logistical preparation
Communicating clearly and frequently with trip leaders, chaperones, students, and parents about logistics and expectations, including by hosting final meetings
Creating opportunities for student leadership
Promoting the program by sharing about it with stakeholders and ensuring the sharing of photos
Providing a safe school environment, indoors and out
Participating in a brief staff prayer to start the day
Participating in school engagement events to promote positive school culture
Completing arrival and dismissal duties as assigned
Fulfilling essential job functions based on one’s specific job description
Being on time, appropriately dressed and ready for work at assigned days/times
Adhering to all of the requirements outlined in the Staff Handbook and comply with the school policies
Being an excellent ambassador of Daystar Academy at all times
Providing a safe learning environment based on Daystar Distinctives, Responsive Classroom practices, and Daystar’s faith development strands
Planning and teaching, guided by appropriate standards
Taking appropriate initiative and display a growth mindset, creating and regularly reflecting on individual pedagogical goals
Submitting unit plans and weekly lesson plans as prescribed by supervisor
Maintaining records related to student growth and achievement, supporting and extending as needed
Maintaining student work samples, including teacher feedback and assessment, and encourage students to reflect on their work and their progress throughout the year
Communicating in an ongoing and meaningful way with students’ parents/guardians through email, phone calls, progress reports and during parent/teacher conferences in order to ensure congruence and clear expectations about academic and/or behavioral concerns
Providing assessment feedback to students and parents in a timely manner, updating Toddle regularly
Updating Toddle platform (portfolio) regularly with classroom and/or student highlights
Collaborating with other teachers to plan and implement MYP Interdisciplinary units
Developing learning excursions and/or invite special guests to deepen class curriculum, helping work towards the yearly goal of 12-15 learning excursions per grade
Demonstrating and insist on respectful use of class materials and the school environment
Professionally collaborating with teachers and staff members to ensure consistency and continuity throughout the school
Supervising students and generally assist as assigned
Attending and participating in all required parent-facing events (ie, parent-teacher conferences, showcase nights, etc.)