About AppleTree

AppleTree’s mission is to close the achievement gap before students get to kindergarten. To accomplish this mission, we focus exclusively on Preschool and Pre-K education. We provide free, full-day public charter school programming for three- and four-year olds in 12 locations across Washington, DC, employing our innovative and award winning instructional model, called Every Child Ready (ECR). This instructional model provides educators with tools and resources for “What to Teach”, “How to Teach” and “How to Measure Success.” Our instructional model is also used with partners across the nation. We continuously test and improve this model through feedback from AppleTree educators, partners and other stakeholders to ensure that children are learning and exploring through play and appropriate instruction.

Position Summary

The Lead Teacher, with the support of a teaching team, is responsible for the growth and development of a classroom of students. A teaching team consists of two lead teachers with support from a shared Teaching Assistant. The Lead Teacher uses his/her knowledge of the development of young children, the ways in which young children learn and scientifically based practice to provide instruction and support the social, emotional and cognitive development of young children. Lead Teacher is a non-supervisory position, and reports to the Principal.

This is an on-site position based in Washington, DC. 

Why you’ll do…

Establishes rich and engaging physical learning environments:

• Creates a safe, clean, thematically based, attractive and engaging centers-based classrooms that encourage both exploration and complex play

• Ensures the classroom contains sufficient supplies and materials for the weekly plans and for all components of the day, and that unit materials are inventoried before and after each unit

• Encourages children’s ownership and contributions to the classroom environment

Creates environments and instructional opportunities that meet the needs of diverse learners:

• Implements the Every Child Ready (ECR) instructional model with fidelity and collaborates with the coach and principal to ensure fidelity

• Demonstrates anunderstanding of the problem-solving Response to Intervention (RTI) Instructional model

• Actively seeks out available resources and supports for children who are not making expected progress, provides additional support for students in need of remediation and differentiation in the classroom

• Uses a variety of observational and direct assessment tools in collaboration with ECR standards to determine children’s varying needs and opportunities

• Uses information and data from a variety of sources in order to differentiate instruction for all children

• Establishes clear behavior expectations, rules and procedures to maximize learning time. Ensures effective implementation of universal behavior management systems as well as targeted plans to support student behavior

• Actively supports the diversity of learners in their classrooms (e.g. cultural, linguistic and academic diversity)

• Fosters tolerance and a sense of community in their classrooms, modeling and explicitly teaching acceptance and appreciation of others

• Collaborates and cooperates with related service providers and student support staff (SPED, ELL, PBS, etc.) to ensure the needs of all children are met, as needed

Supports the development of young children:

• Plans adequate time for student talk and encourages children’s language use throughout the day

• Plans and integrates instructional activities that promote children’s understanding of the way things work and the world around them into the thematic curriculum

• Skillfully and systematically motivates students to participate in activities that support the development of their early literacy skills

• Implements instructional activities that encourage children’s abilities to analyze, conceptualize, synthesize and evaluate

• Intentionally provides modeling and support for children’s expressive and receptive language throughout the school day

• Intentionally and systematically implements direct instructional opportunities and provides modeling and practice opportunities for activities that promote children’s social and emotional development throughout the school day

• Plans and implements intentional, systematic, playful and engaging activities that support the development of the above skills

Collaborates with families and communities to support children’s social, emotional and cognitive development:

• Actively seeks to make connections with their children’s family members and other important people in their children’s lives

• Solicits parents and community members to share their skills, experiences and cultures in the classroom

• Regularly communicates the school’s and individual children’s educational goals and progress to families

• Supports school-wide family engagement activities (i.e. planning, communicating, and/or leading) and participates in at least one family event each month

Contributes to a community of practice:

• Plans collaboratively and shares ideas and resources with instructional team

• Share best practices with others throughout the network and with AppleTree leadership

• Actively participates on at least one site-wide committee

• Provide informal and formal feedback on instructional materials, school-wide practices and professional development/coaching

• Guides professional development and growth of teaching assistant and helps team members meet professional goals

• Actively participates in school and network based professional development opportunities provided and seeks out additional professional development

• Incorporates coaching and feedback from regular observations conducted by Instructional Leader and AppleTree Leadership Team members

• Communicates professionally and constructively with colleagues

• Fulfills the standards of professionalism including appropriate dress, attendance and timeliness

• Participates and collaborates with families in Kindergarten Transition process and is informed of local DCPS and Public Charter Schools and private schools within the District (Pre-K teachers only)

Note

The preceding description is not designed to be an exhaustive list of all duties and responsibilities required of the Lead Teacher. All employees may be required to perform duties outside of their normal responsibilities from time to time, as needed.

What we’re looking for…

• Bachelor’s degree in elementary education, reading, psychology, human development, early childhood education or a closely related field

• Two or more years of successful professional teaching experience

• Demonstrated leadership experience, organizational skills and communication abilities to lead or co-lead the instructional team

• Must receive a passing score on the *Praxis II: Early Childhood Education (test code 5025) by the start of the school year or within 60 days of hire date, whichever comes first. *Previous Praxis Early Childhood or Elementary Content Knowledge accepted) (10014)

• Demonstrated sensitivity to linguistic, cultural, social, economic, individual and role differences among persons and families served

• IMPORTANT: Per Mayor’s Order 2021-109, on-site staff are required to be fully vaccinated against COVID-19.

What's in it for you . . .

• Competitive salary 

• Employee Health Benefits in the 95th percentile of other schools in the DC Metro Area

• Fully covered Dental

• Benefits for you and all eligible dependents

• Fully covered Short-Term Disability, Long-Term Disability, Accidental Death and Dismemberment, and Life Insurance with buy-up options 

• Free Online Wellness Platform for you and up to four eligible dependents 

• Competitive Paid Time Off, including early-close Mental Health Days

• 5% Employer Contribution to your Retirement Account (whether you contribute or not)

• AppleTree Scholarship to pay for continued education

• Network Professional Development Opportunities

Commitment to Diversity

At AppleTree, we endeavor to foster an environment where each person’s true self and experience is welcome. We believe that only with a diverse and inclusive environment can you truly celebrate and support all students, families, and staff. Our commitment to diversity is founded on the belief that our community is strengthened by the vibrant exchange that occurs when individuals with different backgrounds, abilities, and heritages share their various perspectives with one another.

To Apply

Please visit our website: https://www.appletreeinstitute.org/join-our-team or email talent@appletreeinstitute.org with your resume and cover letter.