Middle School - Science Teacher

The Nueva School•Hillsborough, CA

8h•$79,200 - $145,900

About The Position

Middle School Science Teacher Nueva seeks a science teacher for our middle school division. This constructivist educator with deep content knowledge and love of teaching science, specifically chemistry, will team with other motivated colleagues to create dynamic cross-curricular lessons. Strong collaboration skills are a must. Experience with project-based learning, technology integration, and curriculum development are necessary. Successful candidates will demonstrate a lifelong love of learning, depth of knowledge in science (especially in chemistry), have a sense of humor, and bring the ability to differentiate curriculum for a range of gifted learners. The central aim of Nueva science courses is to empower students as scientific thinkers, and collaborative and creative problem solvers. Throughout, there is an emphasis on asking questions, experimental design, data analysis, and both technical and creative science communication. These courses take a hands-on and project-based approach and engage students in exploring many topics of their own choosing in greater depth. A Day in the Life Each day at Nueva middle school is collaborative, dynamic, and grounded in meaningful relationships with students and colleagues. As a middle school science teacher, your day involves a combination of teaching classes, co-running an advisory, meeting one-on-one with students, collaborating with colleagues, and engaging in the day-to-day life of the school. Your daily routine varies from day-to-day with such activities as middle school morning meetings on Zoom, whole grade-level meetings led by our deans, advisory, and supervision duties. As a member of the science department and a grade-level team, you participate in student support meetings where teachers, learning specialists, counselors, and admin gather to share celebrations, concerns, and strategies in support of students. A middle school science teacher’s class schedule includes four, 75-minute student-facing blocks over the course of two days. The middle school block schedule includes 8 instructional blocks over two days, typically alternating between Monday through Thursday. Class sizes range between 12 and 16 students, giving teachers and students an opportunity to build more thoughtful and intentional relationships. The middle school has created space on Fridays for special classes planned and facilitated by teachers, including workshops to prepare students for our annual week-long trips, discussions of current events, Lit Club, and choice time at the end of the day. Fridays also feature assemblies, many of which are performances by our student musicians. These “Bonus Fridays” are tech-free, with students leaving their laptops at home. All middle school teachers chaperone field trips and one annual week-long trip each year. We are seeking applicants who represent the full diversity of our community in the Bay Area. Our ideal candidate will possess a deep appreciation for the diverse socioeconomic, racial, cultural, disability, gender identity, sexual orientation, academic, and ethnic backgrounds present in our community. In joining our team at Nueva, you will become a part of an inclusive, iterative and equity-minded community that recognizes that equity and social justice is a lens with which we examine all aspects of our school community in order to ensure an educational experience where all students and colleagues can thrive. In deciding whether to apply for a position at Nueva, you are strongly encouraged to consider whether your values align with Nueva’s Mission, Vision, and Values.

Requirements

Bachelor's or advanced university degree
Experience teaching science at the middle school and/or secondary school level required
Minimum of three years experience working with adolescents
Desire to work with middle school aged children
Demonstrated mastery in area of study and ability to teach within and across academic disciplines
Excellent communication skills
A desire to integrate curriculum with other subjects and to teach and work collaboratively

Responsibilities

Lead by example in commitment to Nueva’s mission: “Our school community inspires passion for lifelong learning, fosters social and emotional acuity, and develops the student’s imaginative mind.”
Develop and teach expertly your course of study with the highest standards for each student
Convey enthusiasm for content and intellectual inquiry
Design instruction that emphasizes critical thinking and problem solving
Collaborate with colleagues in the development and execution of curriculum and instruction
Create hands-on, project-based learning experiences
Form a collaborative and effective partnership with parents and students
Model flexibility in implementing best learning practices
Support the development of the whole child, with particular attention to the social and emotional development of the students
Actively participate in other aspects of the student experience and school functioning: chaperoning day-long and multiple-day trips and events, serving on committees, developing new programs at the school, and supervising students on additional duties
Demonstrate a commitment to social justice, equity and inclusion through pedagogy
Demonstrate ability to serve as an advisor to students, lead student activities, serve as a club advisor, teach a Lit Club, and contribute beyond the classroom to support school programs and activities
Integrate appropriate technology to enhance learning
Other duties as assigned.