Position: Extended Term Substitute Health & Wellness Teacher, Grades 6-8

Available January 2024 through no later than March 2024

Putnam Avenue Upper School/Health & Physical Education Department

The Putnam Avenue Upper School Community:

The Putnam Avenue Upper School is an innovative public middle school in the Cambridge Public Schools. We are looking for a dynamic, committed educator with solid content and pedagogical knowledge, solid classroom management skills, a deep commitment to social justice, and experience working in urban schools. We are actively working towards becoming an antiracist school, and are taking steps towards identifying and dismantling racist structures, hearing and elevating underrepresented voices, and striving to achieve an equitable and just educational experience for all students.

Health, Physical Education, and Wellness Department Overview:

Cambridge Public School's Health, Physical Education and Wellness Department is dedicated to creating supportive learning spaces where all students are known, celebrated, empowered, and thrive. Students will receive relevant learning opportunities that develop the skills, knowledge, and attitudes necessary to be healthy and physically active. These experiences will support students to be engaged in exploring, creating, and advocating for meaningful changes at the individual and societal level. We also recognize that certain groups have been historically marginalized, resulting in significant health and educational disparities. In working to uphold the district's overarching mission, we are committed to:

• Anti-racism, social justice, and racial equity by working with community partners to address the needs of youth, families, and educators of color
• Promoting inclusiveness, valuing diversity, and creating a culturally responsive curriculum within our department

Upon completion of our program, students will develop competence in a variety of skills, which include motor skill development, self-efficacy, advocacy, and empowerment to take control of their health and engage in lifelong efforts to maintain and enhance their individual and community health and wellness.

The Role:

The Putnam Avenue Upper School, in partnership with the Health, Wellness, and Physical Education department, seeks an Extended Term Substitute (ETS) Health and Wellness Education Teacher. Reporting directly to the Coordinator of Health and Physical Education and to the Head of the Upper School, the ETS Health Education Teacher will teach Health Education according to the Massachusetts Health Curriculum Framework, the National Health Education Standards, the National Sexuality Education Standards and the National Physical Education Standards. They will teach the Health and Physical Education curriculum weekly and lead electives courses.

Key Responsibilities:

• Utilize accepted H/PE department strategies and techniques, which have been developed as a framework for enhancing life skills development and encouraging meaningful dialogue between students, teachers, and parents/guardians. 
• Coordinate guest speakers and special presentations for grades 6-8.
• Build school-wide relationships with students, staff and parents by participating on appropriate committees and by engaging students in various programs and school-wide health promotion activities.
• Be responsible for all reports, data collection, inventory and purchasing as well as other duties as may be designated by the Coordinator of Health and Physical Education or the Health Education Program Leader.

Your Skill Set: 

As the incoming ETS Health & Wellness Teacher, you will possess many, though perhaps not all, of the following characteristics and qualifications:

• Bachelor’s degree required; Master’s degree preferred. 
• Experience and/or education in teaching middle school Health Education.
• Successful teaching experience in an urban setting. 
• Massachusetts Certification in PK-12 Health/ Family/Consumer Science is preferred.
• A love for children and desire to work with middle school students.

Cambridge Public Schools is committed to slowing and/or stopping the spread of COVID-19. Therefore, as a condition of employment with Cambridge Public Schools, all new hires will be required to be fully vaccinated for COVID-19 no later than their first day of work. Written requests for either a religious exemption from this requirement based on sincerely held religious beliefs, or for a medical exemption based upon clear documentation from a medical provider should be submitted to the attention of the Chief Talent Officer.

How to Join Our Team:

Please upload a resume and thoughtful cover letter, outlining how your skills, experience, and commitment to equity in education meet the qualifications of the position and stating how you heard about this opportunity. 

At the Cambridge Public Schools, we are committed to cultivating an environment where diverse perspectives and backgrounds are embraced, acknowledging that a team reflecting diversity of race, color, ancestry, national origin, religion, age, gender, marital/domestic partner status, sexual orientation, gender identity, disability status, and veteran status allows us to serve our communities better. To that end, we welcome and encourage applicants to bring their authentic selves when considering employment opportunities within our school district.