Middle School Math Teacher

Catherine Cook School•Chicago, IL

1d•$58,000 - $111,950•Onsite

About The Position

The Middle School Math teacher will strengthen the Cook community by bringing fresh perspectives, strong collaboration, and student-centered expertise to the Middle School division, Grade Level Teams, and the Math Department. Through engaging, problem-based instruction and active participation in ongoing curriculum development, this educator will help shape a cohesive, inclusive, and forward‑thinking learning environment. By contributing ideas, partnering with colleagues, and building meaningful relationships with students and families, they will support the continuous growth and vibrancy of the Cook community both inside and beyond the classroom. The ideal candidate is an early to mid-career dynamic mathematics educator who believes that all students are capable of deep, meaningful mathematical thinking. They create a classroom where students reason, collaborate, question, and persevere. Grounded in the Illustrative Mathematics philosophy of problem-based learning and the Building Thinking Classrooms framework for promoting student thinking, this teacher fosters a culture where students learn with understanding rather than simply doing procedures. They value curiosity over correctness, discourse over direction, and thinking over compliance. The ideal candidate views themselves as a designer of learning experiences, not a deliverer of content, who empowers students to take ownership of their mathematical journeys.

Requirements

Learner-Centered & Problem-Based Mindset
Creates learning experiences where students make sense of mathematics through rich problems and purposeful discourse.
Prioritizes conceptual understanding, reasoning, and student-generated strategies in alignment with the Illustrative Mathematics approach.
Encourages productive struggle and supports students in developing mathematical identities built on confidence and agency.
Builder of Thinking Classrooms
Implements practices from Building Thinking Classrooms such as:
Using rich, non-routine tasks to spark thinking from the very start of class.
Encouraging students to work at vertical, visible surfaces to increase engagement and collaboration.
Forming randomized collaborative groups to promote equity, inclusion, and shared responsibility for learning.
Shifting from answer-getting to thinking, reasoning, and explaining.
Facilitator of Mathematical Discourse
Uses questioning and discussion routines that deepen understanding rather than direct students toward predetermined methods.
Listens actively to student thinking and leverages their ideas to advance the lesson.
Cultivates norms that value risk-taking, sense-making, and multiple approaches to solving problems.
Commitment to Equity & Access
Believes that every student is a mathematical thinker with unique insights to contribute.
Designs instruction that honors diverse ways of thinking and promotes inclusive participation.
Uses formative assessment intentionally to identify and support student needs without lowering expectations.
Reflective & Growth-Oriented Educator
Engages in ongoing professional learning related to IM curriculum, BTC practices, and equitable math instruction.
Reflects on classroom structures and routines to continually increase student thinking and autonomy.
Collaborates with colleagues to refine teaching practices and ensure coherence across the program.

Responsibilities

Connecting with and caring for students and colleagues through weekly duties and administrative tasks
Growing as a life-long learner through active participation in meetings and professional development opportunities
Applying skills as supported by training and protocols for proactive and responsive community building.
Proactively and reflectively communicating through various platforms the vision, goals, and progress of your work with both internal and external collaborators
Growing our culture of belonging and wellness through active participation in diversity, equity, and inclusion (DEI) and social-emotional learning (SEL) efforts
Serving as an Ambassador for our Enrollment Management and Development efforts
Employing Google and Outlook Applications for individual and team collaboration and communication