Special Education Continuity Cohort Lead Teacher

FirstLine Schools:  Special Education Continuity Cohort Lead Teacher

Creating and inspiring great, open admissions public schools in New Orleans

About FirstLine Schools

In 1998, FirstLine Schools started the first charter school in New Orleans, which became the highest performing open admission middle school in the city.  FirstLine now operates four K-8th grade schools and a high school.  Our mission is to create and inspire great open admissions public schools in New Orleans.

Our faculty is a diverse and talented group dedicated to our students’ success and to their own growth as teachers.  Our schools are led by leaders who hold themselves accountable for student achievement and teacher development.

FirstLine’s Vision Of Teaching Excellence:

We develop teachers at FirstLine by focusing on excellence in teaching. To do so, we coach teachers and center professional development on our Vision of Excellence in Teaching rubric the components of which include: 

• On Task (Maintaining high expectations and maximizing instructional time)
• Essential Content (Planning effectively)
• Cognitive Engagement (Maintaining High Academic Expectations and Building Thinking Skills) 
• Demonstration of Learning (Leading Instruction, Checking for Understanding, Responding to Student Misunderstanding)
• Community of Learners (Establishing Expectations and Responding to Student Behaviors)

About Our Continuity Cohort:
 

What: FLS continuity cohort hire is defined as an individual being hired as a full time K-8 teacher with temporary placement at a host school.
 

Why: Abrupt absences and/or vacancies arise throughout the school year and having a cohort of teachers within our organization who are ready and willing to “jump in” where needed is vital to doing what is best for kids - ensuring a teacher is teaching our kids at all times.

How: Whenever a lead teaching vacancy arises, you may be shifted to fill the vacancy in the host school at which you are currently placed or another FLS school. When placed into a permanent role, you will complete the fiscal year in that role.

Who: We seek individuals who are flexible in grade level and content area placement and those who:

• Possess the ability to collaborate with various stakeholders;
• Take personal responsibility for their development; and
• Share the commitment to creating great schools in New Orleans.

Position Summary

FirstLine Schools is currently seeking talented, passionate Middle School teachers to support grades 5th-8th at schools. At FirstLine Schools, we know that it is the effectiveness of our teachers that matters the most when it comes to impacting the success of our students. To ensure that we are an organization of excellent teachers, we expect our teachers to demonstrate effectiveness through our Vision of Teaching Excellence. Teachers will be responsible for implementing the teaching curriculum, ensuring the success of our students, and working with a team of teachers within the school and network community. 

Position Responsibilities:

• Designs lessons that lead to standards mastery and are aligned to grade level expectations and end-of-year assessments
• Provides feedback to scholars by asking pertinent, scaffolded follow-up questions that affirm correctly understood content, clarify misunderstood content or extend scholars’ thinking
• Establishes effective classroom routines and manages students effectively without disruptions (redirect inappropriate behavior)
• Inspires and invests students in achieving their goals and in believing that goals are achieved through effort and not innate abilities
• Prepares scholars to solve complex problems with no obvious answer
• Seeks out and constructively responds to feedback from and engages in problem-solving with others

Education & Experience:

• A BA or BS required
•  A strong background in and command of content area
•  Louisiana Teacher Certification Completed or in progress (or be eligible to hold for our out-of-state applicants)
•  Experience working with students from open admissions charter schools (or similar public schools)

Desired Qualities & Characteristics:

• Believe in every student’s ability to achieve in a rigorous college or career prep curriculum
• Achieve results based on agreed-upon expectations
• Take personal responsibility 
• Highly detail-oriented 
• Collaborate effectively with a range of stakeholders 
• Share a commitment to creating great schools in New Orleans
• Strong written and verbal communication skills
• Model the FirstLine Commitments:
  • We Keep Learning
  • We Work Together
  • We Are Helpful
  • We Are the Safekeepers of our Community
  • We Share Joy
  • We Show Results

Physical Requirements:

Must be able to perform all required job functions with reasonable accommodations, if necessary.

Continuity Cohort Teacher reports to a School Leader

How to Apply: Please apply online via: http://www.firstlineschools.org/careers

Salary is competitive and commensurate with experience. FirstLine Schools offers a comprehensive benefits package with a generous 403b plan.

FirstLine Schools provides equal employment opportunities (EEO) to all employees and applicants for employment without regard to race, color, religion, gender, sexual orientation, national origin, age, disability, genetic information, marital status, amnesty, or status as a covered veteran in accordance with applicable federal, state and local laws.