What You Will Do

The Associate Teacher is an aspiring or new teacher who works with a specific advisory/homeroom to ensure scholars receive the support and engagement necessary to excel as high-achieving scholars.   The Associate Teacher is specifically responsible for serving as the main advisor to a group of scholars and teaching social studies (if kindergarten, first, or second grades) or science (if third grade). S/he supports the English Language Arts and Math Lead Teachers when they are teaching the Associate Teacher’s advisory by running small group instruction and providing additional general assistance in the room. The Associate Teacher is paired with a Lead Teacher as a mentor and receives intensive coaching from a Dean of Teacher Effectiveness exclusively focused on the development of this novice teacher cohort.

Reporting to the Dean of Teacher Effectiveness (DTE), you will:

Scholar Achievement

• Teach science or social studies to 1 advisory of scholars Monday, Tuesday, Thursday, and Friday
• Support English Language Arts (ELA) and Math instruction by working with small groups of scholars during small group rotations and serving as a second teacher in the room during ELA and Math blocks
• Supplement curricular materials to enhance scholar learning experience
• Design, refine, and implement ongoing assessment, data collection and data analysis to ensure mastery of standards across the social studies or science curricula
• Collaborate with the DTE and Scholar Support (SPED) Coordinator to differentiate instruction to meet the needs of Star Scholars (scholars who have IEPs)
• Work with leadership to set data-driven academic goals and outcomes for self and scholars, and monitor progress and adjust as necessary towards the same
• Utilize a variety of assessment data to adjust short-and long-term plans, refine curriculum, and diversify instructional practice to meet scholars’ learning needs
• Exhibit an unwavering commitment to high academic achievement and character development in our scholars
• Embody our core values of Determination, Respect, Enthusiasm, Accountability, and Mastery
• Create, monitor, and sustain a disciplined classroom culture of high academic and behavioral standards
• Adhere to classroom and school-wide behavior management systems with fidelity to reinforce rules, incentivize positive behavior, and dis-incentivize negative behavior
• Hold yourself and peers accountable to create and sustain an outstanding environment for teaching and learning
• Substitute teach classes in the absence of your advisory’s Math or English Language Arts teacher

Advisory Leadership

• Serve as the primary advisor for a classroom of scholars
• Prepare for and lead beginning of the day and end of the day rituals and routines for scholars via arrival, AM Prep for Prep, Morning Meeting, PM Prep for Prep, and dismissal
• Working closely and in alignment with Lead Teachers, take primary responsibility for the physical aesthetics of the advisory classroom: decorating, upkeep, keeping current scholar work and data posted, etc.
• Serve as primary point of contact for families regarding communicating scholar progress and fielding questions or concerns to the appropriate teachers
• Collaborate with Lead Teachers to best serve the advisory of scholars

Family Engagement

• Establish and maintain relationships with scholars and families based on trust and respect
• Communicate effectively, proactively, and often with families to share scholar progress, triumphs, and challenges
• Call and/or meet immediately with parents/guardians when scholar grades decline significantly or when a scholar is failing
• Attend and support monthly Family Nights/events that invite families into the building 

Continuous Development

• Collaborate with the ELA and Math Teachers for your advisory
• Work with colleagues on a daily basis to improve scholar achievement
• Improve professional practice through regular formal and informal observations, weekly coaching sessions, weekly professional development and data-driven reflection
• Participate actively in weekly professional development sessions, grade-level meetings, and content team meetings and other opportunities to analyze scholar work, data, and goals
• Receive continuous feedback from peers and school leaders on your practice and be expected to give the same

General School Support

• Fully integrate into the school community
• Assume additional school-wide responsibilities, such as lunch/recess duty, hallway posts, events committees, etc.
• Manage time, tasks, deadlines and responsibilities in a fast-paced environment
• Be on campus from 7:30 AM to 4:30 PM Monday, Tuesday, Thursday, Friday and until 5:00 PM on Wednesday

Be willing to take on additional responsibilities as necessary to fulfill Achievement Prep’s mission for our scholars 

You Must Have

• Appropriate credentials
  • Bachelor’s degree in education

OR

• Bachelor’s degree in any field with teaching license or passing Praxis scores in elementary education
• 1+ years of experience working with children in historically underserved communities, preferably in a school setting

It Would Be Nice for You to Have

• A Master’s degree in education
• 1+ years of experience as an assistant/associate teacher, teacher’s aide, etc. in a K – 8 setting

Who You Are

You know and understand the power of education and have seen, first hand, that power manifested either in your life or in the lives of others. You are committed to serving historically underserved communities knowing that your work is part of a larger ecosystem committed to change. You believe in a quality public education for all and are determined to serve every child that comes your way. You are unapologetically mission driven and will do whatever it takes to advance the work and ensure scholar achievement. You are excited about not just the work, but doing the work at Achievement Prep. You are familiar with our community and are not afraid of or by all the beauty and challenges that come with living in impoverished communities. You value and respect everyone and demonstrate that respect in words and actions.

You are a results-driven educator who holds scholars to consistently high academic and behavior expectations because you know they can rise to the challenge and grow up to change the world. You are hungry to grow and gain hands-on practice and training to become an excellent teacher who ensures a quality education for your scholars because you know that education is paramount to their options, opportunities, and ability to push beyond systemic oppression to live a fulfilling life. You respect timelines and know that meeting the same are not optional or to be taken for granted. You are open to feedback, eager to grow, and bring your best to everything you do. You know the work isn’t easy and don’t expect for it to be. The grind of our mission ignites you. You are not only capable of performing but thrive in circumstances involving ambiguity and nuance. You look for or create the joy in your day-to-day and want to work with others who do, too. 

What We Value

• 100% Scholars: You prioritize what’s best for scholars first.
• Results Without Excuses: You set, track and achieve ambitious goals; and you own the mistakes.
• Sweat the Small Stuff: You pay attention to the smallest details to ensure smooth, predictable, and effective outcomes.
• Community Matters – Mightily: You show care and respect for others – even when the work is taxing.
• Unapologetically Mission-Driven: You have a “whatever it takes” mentality in achieving the mission.
• Many Minds, One Mission: You value and partner with parents and the community for the good of scholars.

Why Platinum Teachers?

Our teachers are worth more than gold, they’re platinum!

• Development: Teachers receive ongoing (weekly or bi-weekly) development from school leaders:
  • Formal and informal observations and feedback
  • 1:1 meetings to discuss teaching practice, scholar data, curriculum, and goals
  • Content team meetings
  • Wednesday afternoon professional development tailored to teacher needs
• Compensation & Benefits: Achievement Prep offers highly competitive compensation and benefits
  • Medical, vision, dental benefits
  • Flexible spending accounts for transit, dependent care, and medical expenses
  • 401k with automatic immediate employer matching up to 4%
• It Pays to Stay: Upon completion of 2 full school years of service, employees become eligible for annual loyalty incentives
  • Gifts and Achievement Prep swag
  • Bonuses