Grade 7/8 Math Teacher, Saltonstall K-8 School, Salem Public Schools Sy2024-2025

Grade 7/8 Math Teacher, Saltonstall K-8 School, Salem Public Schools SY2024-2025

About Salem Public Schools, where belonging leads to opportunity.

Salem is a small, diverse city with a proud maritime and immigrant history. Salem Public Schools is an urban public school district enrolling nearly 4,000 students across our 11 schools. Our vision is to ensure that all students will be locally engaged, globally connected, and fully prepared to thrive in a diverse and changing world. We hold dear our core values of belonging, equity, and opportunity in everything we do. Over the next three years (2023-2026), we are committed to the work outlined by the four core priorities in our strategic plan: 1) Elevate Learning; 2) Empower Educators; 3) Center Belonging; and 4) Strengthen Our Foundation. We seek individuals who are passionate about urban education and understand the urgency of improving student achievement for all students, regardless of ability, economic status, gender/gender identity, language, race/ethnicity, sexual orientation, or other backgrounds. Applicants who have experience working in urban schools and settings and are bilingual are strongly encouraged to apply.

What You'll Do:

As a Middle School Math Teacher you are a member of the core academic team and responsible for delivering effective, high quality, rigorous math instruction that engages all students in their learning. You will work closely with the team, including special education and multilingual learning (ESL) teachers to ensure that all students learn and grow both academically and personally. You are a passionate, mission-driven, collaborative educator who desires an opportunity to teach in a diverse and welcoming school environment. You will utilize the district's Math curricula and instructional tools to provide instruction that is appropriately modified to address individual student needs. You will work with the school administration, math instructional coach, and members of grade level teams, where assigned to positively manage student behavior, use student-level data to inform instruction, and collaborate in a standards-based environment to provide exceptional education to students. In addition, you will be a collaborative member of a professional learning community who is eager to receive feedback in order to learn and grow in your practice. Above all, you will be guided by an ethos of care and an unwavering belief in the ability of ALL students to reach their full potential.

Role Responsibilities:

• Teach mathematics using the district curriculum and other appropriate learning activities reflecting a deep understanding of the state frameworks for grades seven (7) and eight (8).

• Hold high expectations for student learning (and behavior) and provide support to help students get there.

• Plan and use appropriate instructional and learning strategies, activities, materials, and equipment that reflect understanding of the learning styles and needs of students assigned.

• Prepare teaching materials and related reports including ongoing data analyses for the purpose of improving instruction, implementing lesson plans, and documenting student progress.

• Provide structure in the classroom by promoting a positive classroom environment that is conducive to learning.

• Instruct and provide assistance for student learning, individually or in groups, designing lessons that both present and reinforce learning concepts.

• Work toward understanding all students' backgrounds, building positive relationships, and utilizing culturally responsive teaching methods to effectively engage them in their learning.

• Maintain effective and regular communication with all students and their families.

• Participate in professional development to enhance the overall educational experience for all students.

• Work under the general supervision of the building principal and other building administrators, effectively manage student behavior, assess and evaluate student achievement.

• Support the school community with additional duties as needed or assigned.

What You'll Bring:

We are looking for candidates who have diverse backgrounds and experiences, are inspired by our mission and are highly motivated to change children's lives through education. You'll be right at home here if you are a reflective practitioner who values collaboration with colleagues and pushes yourself, your work and the people around you to the next level. We expect our SPS employees to:

• Hold a deep commitment to students and families and value diversity

• The SPS community is vibrant, diverse in background, ethnicity, language, and perspective. You embrace and affirm the backgrounds of all members of the SPS community and view our diversity as a powerful resource that supports us each in learning and doing our best work.

• Hold high expectations for yourself, students, and colleagues

• You see potential in all, especially our SPS students, and maintain high expectations for achievement, while providing the support necessary to meet that bar. You hold yourself to high expectations, modeling SPS values and seeking opportunities to continuously improve.

• Build authentic, caring relationships with colleagues, students, and families

• You build strong relationships across students, families, and colleagues that are collaborative in nature and contribute to the individual and collective success of SPS. You partner with families and colleagues to make decisions in the best interest of students and learning.

• Embrace feedback

• You are a reflective practitioner who learns from mistakes and challenges and uses them as opportunities for professional development. You model persistence and growth mindset and thrive in a culture of feedback.

Qualifications:

• Bachelor's Degree (Required); Master's Degree (Preferred)

• Required Massachusetts teaching certification/licensure in Mathematics grades 5-8

• Sheltered English Immersion (SEI) Endorsement (Required within 1-year of start date)

• Ability to meet the expectations of the Massachusetts Standards and Indicators of Effective Teaching Practice

• Maintains professional competence through in-service education activities provided by the district, and/or in self-selected professional growth activities

• Proficiency with technology (blended learning, teacher/family communication suites (Remind preferred), Google G-Suite Apps, etc.) desirable

• Dual certification is a plus

• Bilingual candidates and candidates of color strongly encouraged to apply

• Second language (Spanish and/or Portuguese) proficiency a plus

• Current authorization to work in the United States

As part of this work, the Middle School Math Teacher will participate in a two week, paid summer professional learning with the 8th grade team during the weeks of August 5th and August 12th (paid at $45/hour) leading to the start of the new school year (~70 hours for a stipend of $3150). This role also requires weekly after school professional learning on Wednesdays. All sessions in excess of the contractual 25 hours of teacher meetings will be compensated at $45/hour, for ~$1000 extra for the year. Opportunities for additional professional development and support will be provided through district and school based coaches and the Dean of Innovation.

Work Year: Teachers in Salem Public Schools work a 185 day school year (180 student contact days plus 5 professional development days. Please visit www.salemk12.org to view the 2024-25 district and/or school calendar.

Salary: Teacher salaries in the Salem Public Schools are determined by the Salem Teachers Union collective bargaining agreement. Salary information can be found in Appendix A.

Benefits: The City of Salem offers Group Insurance Commission (GIC) benefits to all full-time employees. Click here for more information about our health benefits.

Equal Opportunity Employer

Salem Public School District is committed to maintaining a work and learning environment free from discrimination on the basis of race, color, religion, national origin, pregnancy, gender identity, sexual orientation, marital/civil union status, ancestry, place of birth, housing status, age, citizenship status, veteran status, political affiliation, genetic information or disability, as defined and required by state and federal laws. Additionally, we prohibit retaliation against individuals who oppose such discrimination and harassment or who participate in an equal opportunity investigation.