High School Teacher (all subjects)
Mt. Scott Alternative High School
Status: full-time, exempt
Compensation: $50,000-$60,000/year, depending on experience
Reports to: Director of Academics and Director of Student Life
Location: Mt. Scott Learning Center, 6148 SE Holgate Blvd., Portland
Start date: August 2024
POSITION SUMMARY:
Join our small community of learners and mission-driven adults who believe in the power of new
beginnings. We are committed to academic re-engagement through building positive, supportive
relationships.
Ideal candidates will have experience working with reluctant learners who have a wide range of
skills, interests and goals. Strong classroom management skills and demonstrated experience
building positive relationships with young people of diverse backgrounds are a must. You will
enjoy a fair amount of autonomy in creating content that you are excited about, that engages
young people, and that continues to hold them to high academic expectations while also
experiencing the support and camaraderie of a tight team of adults.
As a teacher, you will be responsible for developing highly differentiated classroom curriculum in
core content areas and electives. Classes are smaller than at the traditional schools, and that
allows us to develop the relationships that ultimately lead to increased social engagement and
academic success for our young people. Applicants should be knowledgeable in their content
area and excited about opportunities to develop other electives as well. The position also
requires maintaining regular contact with families of an advisory group while providing support,
mentorship, and the ability to build positive relationships with students and staff members
across cultures and socioeconomic backgrounds.
ABOUT US:
Mt. Scott Learning Center is a small, nonprofit, options high school working to re-engage
students who have struggled to succeed in large traditional high schools. We believe our
greatest strength is in the relationships we build—between teachers and students, between staff
and student families, between colleagues, and among peers. You would be joining a warm,
positive, and determined community of adults and young people who come together each day
with a shared sense of purpose and belief in the power of fresh starts. Our student body is a
small yet diverse community with unique learning needs and a wide variety of skills and
challenges. They are what drives us. We are proud to maintain a graduation rate of over 90%,
and one of the lowest dropout rates in the Portland area.
WHO YOU ARE:

• You have high expectations for what young people are capable of, and are committed to

• You maintain a positive, patient and helpful attitude with students, parents and others,

• You are committed to discretion, privacy and respect when communicating about

• You model a high degree of professionalism in your conduct and dress and by setting

• You balance priorities, schedules and deadlines with grace, flexibility and a clear

• You are committed to reflecting on your own practice to continually improve.

• Opportunity to develop and refine curriculum for classes that reflect your interests and

• Differentiate instruction to accommodate students with varying learning styles and skills.
• Provide effective classroom management; embed the teaching of social skills and

times, in hallways, during meal coverage, on field trips, or during community events.
Advisor Role, to include

• Maintain regular contact with families of advisees while providing mentorship, academic

• Create a positive advisory culture and community.
• Design instruction for and/or facilitate effective and engaging activities for advisory.

REQUIRED QUALIFICATIONS:

• Bachelor’s degree
• At least two years of secondary teaching experience, with preference given to

candidates with demonstrated experience working successfully with students of diverse
races, cultures and socio-economic backgrounds.

• Strong classroom management skills based on positive-framing; building and teaching

• Current teaching license preferred (from Oregon or another state).
• Able to pass a criminal background check.

BENEFITS:

• $50,000-$60,000/year, depending on experience
• Employer-paid health and dental insurance through Kaiser Permanente
• Long-term disability insurance
• 401(k) plan with employer match
• 2 weeks paid time off, plus school holidays and breaks, including summer
• Paid family leave
• Professional development opportunities

TO APPLY:
Please send a cover letter that details your interest in and any relevant experience working with
this specific population of students as well as a résumé to info@mtscott.org with "Teacher" in
the subject line. Application materials will be reviewed on submission, and this position will be
open until filled. Please do not contact the school directly.