Middle School History Teacher

Camden Prep • Camden, NJ

6d

About The Position

Uncommon Schools is seeking a Middle School History Teacher to work with grade-level teams and departments to help students become self-guided learners. Teachers build subject mastery and support students through the social-emotional changes of middle school. History instruction empowers students’ voices and develops them as global citizens through textual analysis, analytical writing, discourse, and engaging instructional strategies. The curriculum prepares eighth-grade students for the academic independence and college-preparatory focus of high school.

The teacher facilitates student-led discussion and debate around historical questions, develops students’ skills in argumentation, corroboration, inquiry, and historiography, and teaches an in-house curriculum focused on diverse histories and their influence on the development of the United States. The role also includes analyzing student work and assessment data, differentiating instruction, building relationships with students and families, and participating in coaching, professional development, and school-wide collaboration.

Uncommon Schools is a nonprofit network of public charter schools operating in Boston, Camden, New York City, Newark, and Rochester. The organization provides weekly coaching, feedback, and professional development. Compensation for this role is $56,000–$80,000, with starting pay determined by factors including relevant full-time teaching experience, education, certifications, and tenure.

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.
• Demonstrated interest in impacting K–12 students in urban schools and communities.
• Academic expertise in Education, History, Geography, Political Science, Criminal Justice, Social Sciences, or the Humanities.
• Bachelor’s degree from an accredited college or university before the start of employment.
• Must meet New Jersey 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 for graduates before 9/1/16.
• Instructional staff must become certified in New Jersey within a reasonable period after beginning employment.

Nice To Haves

• One to two years of experience is preferred.
• Prior full-time teaching experience may affect starting pay.

Responsibilities

• Facilitate student-led discourse about historical topics, including open-ended inquiry, peer debate, and synthesis of arguments.
• Teach students to analyze authors’ claims and sources and develop argumentation, corroboration, inquiry, and historiography skills using primary and secondary sources.
• Teach an in-house curriculum that emphasizes the histories of Indigenous peoples, African Americans, women, and ancient cultures, and their impact on the development of the United States.
• Create an inclusive and safe classroom where students can express evidence-based opinions and perspectives.
• Meet weekly with the principal and/or instructional coach to analyze student work and assessment trends and respond to them.
• Implement strategies to differentiate instruction for learners in the classroom.
• Build positive relationships with students and partner with families to support students’ learning needs.
• Participate in practice-based professional development, mentorship, and coaching.
• Attend weekly school-wide meetings to cultivate community, model core values, and encourage student achievement.
• Collaborate with the grade-level team to develop academic goals and practice instructional strategies.

Benefits

• Paid time off, including sick time, paid holidays, and approximately 10 weeks of paid breaks during spring, winter, and summer.
• Training and professional development.
• Health insurance.
• Dental insurance.
• Vision insurance.
• Pre-tax flexible spending accounts (FSA), dependent care flexible spending accounts (DCFSA), and health savings accounts (HSA).
• Retirement benefits, subject to role eligibility.
• Paid leave 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