SY 26-27 High School Physics Teacher

About Ascend

Ascend is Brooklyn’s premier K–12 public charter network, committed to graduating high-achieving students who have access to boundless choice in their futures—not only through college acceptance, but through meaningful preparation for career readiness and thriving adult lives.

Across our schools, we pair rigorous academics with strong systems, supportive adult culture, and a deep belief in students’ brilliance and potential. Our work is grounded in the understanding that preparing students for long-term success requires excellence in instruction, intentional culture-building, and disciplined execution at every level of the organization.

At Ascend, adults are held to high standards because our students deserve nothing less. How we teach, lead, collaborate, and make decisions every day directly shapes the opportunities our students will have tomorrow.

Join us in shaping learning environments where curiosity is nurtured, excellence is the norm, and every student is prepared for a lifetime of boundless choice.

About the Role

Brooklyn Ascend High School seeks a High School Physics Teacher to deliver rigorous, Regents-aligned instruction grounded in mathematical reasoning, scientific inquiry, and applied problem-solving.

Physics builds scholars’ understanding of motion, forces, energy, waves, electricity, and magnetism. The course emphasizes quantitative reasoning and laboratory investigation while preparing scholars for the New York State Regents Examination in Physics.

In addition to Regents preparation, the Physics teacher leads the Physics in Engineering Challenge, in which scholars identify a real-world engineering problem, design and test a physics-based prototype or solution, and present their findings at the annual Ascend STEM Showcase.

This role requires full participation in weekly data meetings, coaching cycles, and collaborative planning to ensure strong academic outcomes and coherent alignment within the 9–12 STEM pathway.

Core Responsibilities

Instructional Excellence

• Teach Physics aligned to New York State Regents standards.
• Design lessons that emphasize mathematical modeling, conceptual reasoning, and analytical precision.
• Prepare scholars for the Regents Examination in Physics with strong performance outcomes.
• Integrate laboratory investigations that reinforce experimental design and scientific reasoning.
• Differentiate instruction to meet the needs of diverse learners while maintaining high expectations.

Culminating Experience & Engineering Design

• Lead scholars in completing the Physics in Engineering Challenge.
• Guide students in identifying authentic engineering problems.
• Support scholars in designing, testing, and refining physics-based prototypes or solutions.
• Prepare students to present their work publicly at the Ascend STEM Showcase.

Data & Professional Practice

• Participate in weekly STEM data meetings focused on scholar progress and instructional strategy.
• Analyze Regents benchmarks and internal assessment data.
• Develop and implement targeted intervention plans where needed.
• Engage fully in observation and feedback cycles and implement coaching feedback with urgency and professionalism.
• Contribute to department-wide curriculum calibration and vertical coherence.

Culture & Scholar Development

• Maintain a structured, orderly, and intellectually serious classroom environment.
• Partner with the Dean of Culture & Community to reinforce scholar accountability and consistency.
• Serve as an advisor as assigned, supporting scholar identity, academic planning, and post-secondary preparation.
• Model professionalism, discipline, and commitment to excellence.

Qualifications

Required

• Bachelor’s degree in Physics, Engineering, or related field.
• Valid New York State certification in Physics or General Science 7–12.
• Strong content knowledge in high school Physics.

Preferred

• 2 years of secondary teaching experience.
• Demonstrated success with Regents Physics outcomes.
• Experience integrating engineering or project-based learning.
• Experience in a college-preparatory or charter school environment.

Leadership Profile

The successful candidate will demonstrate:

• Deep content mastery and quantitative precision
• Comfort connecting Physics to real-world application and engineering
• High expectations for scholar achievement
• Strong data analysis habits
• Receptiveness to coaching and feedback
• Alignment to Ascend’s belief that rigor and belonging are inseparable

Compensation

Compensation is competitive and commensurate with experience. Typical salary range for experienced high school STEM teachers in NYC charter networks starts at $80,000, depending on certification and demonstrated outcomes.

Location

Brooklyn, NY

This is a full-time, in-person role requiring daily presence on campus and participation in school-wide programming and faculty collaboration.

This is a full-time, exempt position that offers a comprehensive benefits package including:

• Medical, dental, and vision insurance
• 403(b) retirement plan with employer matching
• Generous paid time off and additional employee benefits