English Language Arts (ELA) Teacher (Grades 6-8) for the 2025-2026 School Year

Description

School Name: Stella Maris Academy
Location: 7654 Herschel Avenue, La Jolla CA 92037
Position:  English Language Arts (ELA) Teacher (Grades 6-8) 

Reports to: Principal
Employment Type: Full Time (40 hrs/week)
FLSA Status: Exempt
Salary Range: $49,000 - 70,000 per year

The Diocese of San Diego is seeking a qualified, experienced and passionate educator who is deeply committed to developing Christ-centered, forward-thinking leaders to serve our future Church and our world. Stella Maris Academy is a parish school located in La Jolla (San Diego), California. 

SMA Mission Statement: Our mission is to empower a community of service-oriented, diverse learners to achieve their God-given potential by providing a Catholic, Christ-centered, academically excellent, and safe environment.

The ideal ELA teacher candidate will be able to provide dynamic and goal-driven lesson planning, engaging middle school students (grades 6-8) with differentiated learning and strong classroom management while collaborating effectively with the middle school teaching team.

Teaching Expectations and Responsibilities:

• Plan and implement daily lesson plans in English composition, literature, grammar and vocabulary/spelling. Daily lessons should be consistent with the school’s course of study, the English–Language Arts Content Standards for California, and Visible Learning pedagogy.
• Use a variety of instructional strategies and techniques, which are appropriate to meet the needs of all students, and understand the value of differentiating instruction.
• Assess students’ reading and writing skills for the purposes of refining classroom learning and activities; maintain accurate grades and provide timely and effective feedback to students, parents and administration regarding students’ expectations, goals and progress.
• Provide constant academic guidance and direction to allow students to actively engage and think critically.
• Communicate regularly with school colleagues, parents, and students in a timely, professional manner.
• Develop and implement classroom protocols and procedures to manage student behavior, ensuring all students are safe, fully engaged and learning.
• Maintain a neat and clean classroom environment. 
• Collaborate with resource staff for the purpose of attaining goals designated in students’ IEPs or other accommodation plans.
• Participate as a contributing member of the middle school teaching team for the purpose of ensuring students’ high growth and achievement.
• Actively participate in professional development opportunities and collaborate with the administration and peers for the purposes of improving the quality of student outcomes and planning curriculum.

Administrative/Other Expectations and Responsibilities:

• Return voice-mail/e-mail messages in a timely manner.
• Maintain a neat and orderly classroom.
• Demonstrate a respectful demeanor with staff, students, and parents.
• Observe utmost confidentiality regarding parent, student, staff information/conversations.
• Supervise playground and other areas of duty as the role may require.
• Other duties as specified or assigned by the principal.

Requirements

Professional Qualifications:

• A Bachelor’s degree
• A cleared California single or multiple-subject teaching credential (preferred; not required)
• Clear criminal background check (a clear Livescan for the Diocese of San Diego is a condition of employment)
• Experience teaching in a middle school classroom (grades 6-8)
• Positive professional references and recommendations

Religious Qualifications:

• Active, practicing Roman Catholic (preferred, not required)
• Respects and understands a Catholic school philosophy

Physical Requirements:

• Spend the majority of the day standing in the classroom. While standing, the teacher may frequently hold objects they are working with or demonstrating.
• Sit on an occasional basis when developing lesson plans, grading, etc.
• Walk through the classroom and be able to maneuver in tight spaces between desks (there may be both even and uneven surfaces).
• Deal with students while kneeling or squatting, stooping, or bending.
• Reach at, below, or above shoulder height with the dominant upper extremity; may require trunk or neck rotation to look back at the class.
• Assist in moving children's desks and chairs to change the layout of the classroom to influence the learning situation. It may occasionally be necessary to lift and carry boxes weighing up to 25 pounds from the office to classrooms.

While performing the duties of this position, the employee is regularly required to be inside the classroom. The employee is required to be mobile to, from, and within the classroom, as well as to maneuver throughout the school campus to attend meetings, trainings, or other work-related events. The employee may be required to conduct trips to, from, and within various city and county-wide locations to attend training sessions or workshops.

The physical demands described herein are representative of those that must be met by an employee to successfully perform the essential functions of this job. Reasonable accommodations may be made to enable individuals with disabilities to perform the essential functions.

Please note this position description is not designed to cover or contain a comprehensive listing of activities, duties or responsibilities that are required of the employee for this job. Duties, responsibilities and activities may change at any time with or without notice.

 As part of the Catholic Diocese of San Diego, SMA is committed to creating a diverse and inclusive workplace. All qualified applicants will receive consideration for employment without regard to race, color, gender, national origin, genetics, disability, age or veteran status.