Middle School ESL Teacher

About Mastery:

Founded in 2001, Mastery Schools is a public charter network of 23 K-12 schools in Philadelphia and Camden, serving more than 14,000 students. 

At Mastery, we’re on a mission to provide all students with the academic and personal skills they need to succeed after graduation and pursue their dreams. Student achievement is not just a goal for our organization; it's the reason we exist, and every member of our team is dedicated to securing student success. We are also committed to pursuing equity, actively disrupting systemic racism, and addressing the disparities that limit our students' choices. 

Our culture is built on respect, service, and the belief that the success of our students, their families, and the communities we serve will help us achieve our mission. We foster a positive, open, and inclusive environment where honesty, humor, and continuous improvement are celebrated.

Join us in creating a model urban school district that serves all students with excellence. Together, we can make a lasting impact.

The Opportunity:   The Multilingual Programs at Mastery Schools are built on the belief that native language skills are a true asset and transfer to secondary language learning. Based on this, students receiving ELD services are taught social & instructional language in tandem with academic language of Language Arts, Math, Science, and Social Studies throughout each stage of English proficiency.  ESL teachers work with our multilingual learners to build students’ language capacity, gain greater levels of access to the curriculum and bridge students’ prior learning and experiences into English-instructed classrooms and school environment.   Mastery values the language and cultural diversity that English Learners bring into our schools. We strive to incorporate the literature and historical perspective of our multilingual learners into the curriculum, school community, and classroom culture.   Whether you are starting your teaching career or are looking to launch a new chapter, your passion and experience will be deeply valued and your opportunities for growth and impact will be limitless.  Your natural talents will be fostered and we will provide the training and support to help you be an incredibly effective teacher. As a Mastery team member, you will be trusted to make decisions and held accountable for critical results.  You will engage in a positive and professional workplace embedded in a warm, joyful, student-centered, and welcoming school culture.

Duties and Responsibilities:

• Commit to ongoing professional development in the spirit of continuous improvement
• Develop and implement rigorous and appropriate lesson plans, assignments, and assessments in cooperation with Mastery school-based leadership and curricular resources developed by Mastery’s Central Office Academic Team
• Work closely with school leaders to analyze student assessment data to measure progress and use data to inform instruction
• Collaborate in grade level teams to discuss student work, share best practices, plan events for joy and humor, and ensure student mastery of standards
• Engage families in their children’s education by building relationships and maintaining regular communication
• Demonstrate genuine interest, belief, and care for students’ personal and academic success
• Commit to professional growth, self-reflection, a receptiveness to feedback, and a desire to continuously improve

Education, Experience, and Skills:

• Bachelor’s degree required with a record of personal, professional, and/or academic achievement
• Teacher certification - completed or in process
• Demonstrated expertise in subject area
• Commitment to and experience working with underserved communities
• Determination to drive student achievement and set high expectations for all students
• The ability to motivate, support, and challenge students in a student-centered, standards-driven classroom community
• A positive mindset and a drive for personal excellence
• Solutions-oriented resiliency to respond positively and effectively to challenges
• Outstanding instructional skills driven by data and delivered through rigorous and engaging strategies

Physical Requirements:

• Ability to physically perform the essential duties of the role, and to work in the environmental conditions required, such as: traveling to network campuses; maneuvering in office spaces (including standing, walking, sitting for long periods of time, speaking loudly and clearly, seeing and hearing things both near and far away); stooping, kneeling, reaching file cabinets/shelves; fine finger and hand manipulation in use of computer, chalkboard, dry erase, &/or projectors; filing, faxing, scanning, coping, typing, mailing, and making phone calls; sitting for up to two (2) hours looking at a computer monitor, using a keyboard/mouse, and typing.

Salary and Bonus Information:

•  This role is eligible for a $5,000 bonus as well as up to $5,000 for relocation expenses!
• New teachers start at $60,900, with Mastery offering up to $86,700 based on experience and education. 
• Salaries range from $60,900 to $112,700, with growth opportunities as your career progresses.  Mastery's Benefits Package:   We offer a full benefits program and opportunities for professional growth. Some of our most popular benefits include our 403(b) retirement plan for PA employees (with a 5% match from Mastery for full-time employees), enrollment in the State of New Jersey Pension Plan for NJ employees, a robust Employee Assistance Program, mental health and counseling programs, an annual Professional Development Fund, and discounts and perks at a myriad of retailers, travel organizations, insurance providers, and so much more, as well as access to the Health Advocate Helpdesk to help you navigate various benefits-related topics. Please go here to see all of our Benefits offerings!   Annual Calendar:   As you plan to make Mastery your new work home, please feel free to review our calendar here. We like to think our calendar is a benefit of working here too!   Why You Should Apply:   Studies have shown that women and people of color are less likely to apply for jobs unless they believe they can perform every job description task. We are most interested in finding the best candidate for the job, and that candidate may come from a less traditional background. Mastery may consider an equivalent combination of knowledge, skills, education, and experience to meet minimum qualifications. If you are interested in applying, we encourage you to think broadly about your background and skill set for the role.