The Hope Academy believes the dignity of each person is paramount. We recognize that our school’s future strength rests firmly on our commitment to recognize, respect and uphold the dignity of all our students, their families and our faculty and staff. To uphold this commitment, we expect all members of our school practice a willingness to recognize, respond to and teach about racism and other forms of injustice.

SUMMARY OF MAIN DUTIES:

Creates an intentional culturally responsive learning environment inclusive of students from all racial, ethnic, and socio-economic backgrounds, abilities and family structures. Encourages a sense of belonging and positive classroom community for students while developing skills for listening, speaking, reading, and writing to support effective communication. Motivates learning by validating students as asset-based individuals. All teachers are expected to be aware of microaggressions and redirect to amplify affirmations. Fully engages students in discussion and other modalities of participation.

ESSENTIAL FUNCTIONS:

• Teaches content and skills for students in grade level or special subject class needing coverage due to absent teacher utilizing course of study adopted by The Hope Academy
• Implements and at times develop lesson plans and instructional materials that consistently contain diverse content throughout the academic year
• Demonstrates concepts and strategies using models, talk, reflective writing, and other available resources including technology
• Knowledge of best instructional practices within a workshop model
• Knowledge of authentic assessment practices using strategies to mitigate stereotype threat in feedback, assessment, and grading
• Knowledge and practice methods for formatively assessing students across all content areas including running records, analytic writing rubrics, and conferring
• Provides opportunities for individual and small group instruction that is purposeful and flexible to meet the needs of students
• Co-teaches and plans with other teachers and staff members and identify opportunities to provide for inclusive instruction
• Demonstrates culturally informed behavior management and discipline practices with the ability to neutralize the pattern of inequitable discipline of children of color
• Uses positive guidance techniques such as redirection, modeling appropriate behavior and praise.
• Develops and maintains contact with families with an awareness and respect for each student and their families from all racial, ethnic, and socio-economic backgrounds, abilities and family structures
• Facilitates interactions among students that provide opportunities for emotional, social, and cognitive growth and an understanding of each child
• Collaborate with other educators and specialists in the planning, adaptation and teaching of the curriculum for students
• Supervises students in out-of-classroom activities during the school day
• Actively seeks and participates in ongoing professional development as offered by the school or independent study
• Assists in the evacuation of children and clients during fire drills and other emergencies
• Performs all other duties as directed by direct supervisor or school leadership team including covering for teacher assistants when needed.

QUALIFICATIONS:

SKILLS

• Acknowledge racism and privilege
• Study and teach representative history to students from all racial, ethnic, and socio-economic backgrounds, abilities and family structures in mind
• Talk about racism with students
• When you see racism or other types of inequities, you address it
• Ability to work as a member of a team by actively listening to another’s point of view, sharing and being able to respectfully disagree
• Organizational skills include developing effective classroom schedule for teaching, learning, assessing, etc.
• Culturally influenced effective communication skills
• Proficient technological skills for remote learning and day-to-day tasks such as but not limited to Zoom, Google Classroom, MS Word, etc.

EXPERIENCE, TRAINING AND EDUCATION

Bachelor’s Degree with valid certification from RIDE or the ability to obtain

WORK ENVIRONMENT AND PHYSICAL REQUIREMENTS

• Work environment and physical requirements consistent with those of a typical school environment
• Ability to move about the classroom and building continuously throughout the workday
• Utilize the computer (20%) of the time and other office equipment