Science Teacher - Pollard Middle School (SY26-27)

Needham Public Schools•Needham, MA

21h

About The Position

Needham Public Schools is an inclusive, dynamic, and multicultural community seeking an energetic, skilled, and warm Middle School Science Teacher to join our team. To enhance our goals of supporting every child, Needham Public Schools seeks candidates with diverse backgrounds and experiences. About Needham Public Schools (NPS): NPS has a deep commitment to the success of our diverse students and families and to the professional accomplishments of its educators. Needham devotes itself to cultural proficiency, equity, and community collaboration to fulfill the vision of the Portrait of a Needham Graduate . This METCO district comprises 5 elementary schools, 2 middle schools, and 1 nationally-ranked high school serving approximately 5,500 students. NPS is committed to addressing equity in the district by focusing on improving academic performance for historically marginalized students and ensuring our schools are safe for every child and free of bias, bullying, and hurtful acts that demean and diminish.

Requirements

Bachelor's Degree is required; Master's degree is preferred.
Massachusetts Department of Elementary and Secondary Education (DESE) license as a middle school science teacher
The candidate should possess good communication and interpersonal skills.
He/she should have experience working with and/or teaching middle school students; an understanding of the needs of students at this age; a collaborative work ethic; training/experience in the use of instructional technology; a commitment to inclusive pedagogy; and the potential to contribute to student life beyond the classroom.

Responsibilities

Develop students' skills and competence in Physical, Earth & Space, and Life Science.
Develop students skills and abilities in scientific methods and problem-solving.
Develop an understanding of the application of science while addressing practical problems.
Support school and district goals as part of their professional responsibilities.
Creatively provide an interdisciplinary course of study that incorporates state curricular frameworks that demonstrates an understanding of the nature of science and how to develop this understanding in all students
Implement district learning goals and objectives using appropriate curriculum as identified by the Science Department
Implement research-based district curriculum that challenges students to use scientific inquiry in their learning of science concepts
Develop students' capacity to see science as a way of thinking and investigating
Assess students' understanding regularly with ambitious learning goals in mind and take ownership of making necessary adjustments to instruction to reach goals despite setbacks
Demonstrate mastery of and enthusiasm for content area and the pedagogy it requires
Demonstrate understanding for how the subject matter applies in real-world settings and connects to other content areas and relevant standards
Convey content in creative and engaging ways that align to standards
Scaffold and differentiate instruction in order for all students to do complex thinking and rigorous academic work
Use instructional practices that are likely to challenge, motivate, and engage all students and facilitate equitable, active student participation
Build a productive learning environment where every student participates and is valued as part of the class community
Engage with families and builds collaborative, respectful relationships with them in service of student learning
Regularly reflect on practice, seeks and responds to feedback, and demonstrates self-awareness and commitment to continuous learning and development
Seek to participate in and contribute to a collaborative adult learning community