Link children with the education and futures they deserve. Our intentionally small and community-focused independent charter school is seeking reflective, passionate teachers to join our dedicated team of professionals who have been linking academics, values, and community since 2005.
Position Summary
At Harlem Link, we align our practice and use our relationships to help students achieve world-class scholarship and build good character. Teachers work in highly collaborative teams and have a great deal of professional responsibility within the school’s curriculum and lesson planning framework. Teachers are responsible for providing an engaging instructional program to scholars that puts them on the road to college. Our teachers implement Responsive Classroom strategies to create a safe, structured, and joyful learning community that fosters citizenship and critical thinking. Teachers at Harlem Link are outcome-oriented, hardworking and receptive to feedback, putting in the time necessary to ensure scholars meet the school’s high expectation for learning.
Qualifications
All candidates must have:
• a master’s degree (or higher) in education and
• appropriate New York State teaching certification (or reciprocal certification from another state).
Successful candidates are:
• highly-skilled collaborators who prefer the challenge and fun of teamwork
• creative thinkers who take a solutions oriented approach to classroom and school challenges and
• hard-working professionals dedicated to doing whatever it takes to close the opportunity gap.
Ideal candidates have:
• two or more years’ teaching experience
• a graduate degree in literacy or special education
• clear evidence on cover letter and/or resume of high student achievement in the context of an orderly, positive and inclusive classroom community
• a sense of humor to infuse joy in the classroom and school community and
• entrepreneurial leadership to relish an environment that is collaborative and innovative at its core.
Responsibilities of Co-Teachers
Curriculum and Instruction
• Plan units of study and lessons by following the Harlem Link curriculum framework
• Write and implement learning objectives that are challenging and measurable, and are based on Common Core standards as well as student assessment data
• Teach reading and writing through balanced literacy and a workshop model
• Teach math through Cognitively Guided Instruction, TERC Investigations, and Contexts for Learning models to foster fluent and conceptual math thinkers.
• Teach standards-based Understanding by Design social studies units of study
• Model and instill a love of learning
Special Education (if applicable)
• Work with co-teacher to implement modifications and accommodations for students with IEPs
• Monitor IEP goals for students, and prepare appropriate paper work for annual reviews
• Possess a strong philosophical belief that all children belong and stop at nothing to ensure a successful, integrated education
Assessment
• Conduct frequent checks of understanding throughout every lesson
• Assess students at the end of every lesson with teacher made formative assessments such as exit slips, conference notes, observation notes or quizzes
• Administer and review end of unit performance based assessments in reading, writing and math to track student achievement of standards
• Administer regular assessments to inform instruction, including Development Reading Assessment (DRA)
• Use a wide array of data points to make instructional choices and create specific data action plans to increase student achievement, including dynamic student groups for small group instruction
• Write detailed report cards tri-annually to communicate student progress to families
Management
• Use classroom and behavioral management strategies that are structured, consistent, respectful and responsive to student needs and cultures to build a safe, orderly, inclusive and positive classroom community
• Ensure a safe physical and emotional environment for students through positive framing, kind communication with students and adults, predictability and consistent routines
• Take responsibility for order and productivity by taking a positive and firm problem-solving approach
Collaboration with Co-Teacher
• Communicate and plan with your co-teacher on a regular, ongoing basis
• Utilize a common approach to behavior management, time management, classroom organization and appearance, planning, teaching, and monitoring learning
• Remain open and honest with co-teacher, speaking out when issues arise
• Split up responsibilities and roles as much as possible, and see the classroom as a shared space
Collaboration with Staff
• Participate actively in the school’s established professional development structures, sharing best practices with colleagues
• Discuss curriculum and planning in weekly grade team meetings
• Meet with AIS teachers and social workers as necessary
• Meet and work with instructional coaches based on individual or classroom needs
• Meet (individually or with co-teacher) with the principal and assistant principal to monitor student progress, co-teaching, and professional goals
Collaboration with Families
• Build a rapport with families in persistent and creative ways
• Communicate with families through a daily double-entry log/progress report, phone calls and meetings as necessary
• Participate in family led initiatives and parent association meetings during the year
• With other staff, coordinate at least one special event to encourage family involvement and dialogue about students
• Meet with families three times a year (report card conferences)
• Involve families through classroom student work celebrations and classroom volunteer opportunities
Timeframe and compensation
• Teachers are required to be on-site from 8:15 a.m. to 3:45 p.m. three days a week, and from 8:00 a.m. to 5:00 p.m. two days a week for professional development. Teachers begin the year in mid-August for a mandatory two-week Summer Institute.
• Compensation is competitive and commensurate with experience. Benefits are provided in accordance with school policy.
Harlem Link is proud to be an equal opportunity employer and values racial, ethnic, religious, and economic diversity to enhance our impact and reflect the community we serve.