Middle School Teacher

St. Paul School of Northern Lights is a public charter school serving students in grades K-8 in St. Paul. St. Paul School of Northern Lights is looking for educators who are passionate about supporting students’ curiosity and love of learning. The ideal candidate will have a strong desire to teach in a multi-age, progressive, culturally relevant classroom and community. We are seeking teachers who view the challenging endeavor of working in our school as an opportunity to work with agency, autonomy, and purpose. Desirable candidates will appreciate time for reflection, collaboration, and innovation with colleagues. Effective teachers will see the absence of a prescribed curriculum as an asset, not a barrier. The middle school teacher position will serve as the lead teacher/advisor for a combined class of 7th and 8th grade students, integrating standards from across subject areas into the emergent curriculum.

Required Qualifications

• Current Minnesota teaching license or variance (the school will apply for out of field permissions for any necessary subjects in which candidates are not currently licensed)
• Experience with diverse student populations
• Commitment to the Northern Lights’ Mission and Vision

Preferred Qualifications

• Experience and knowledge in one or more of the following areas:
• Reggio Emilia approach to education
• Outdoor education
• Practices of Finnish education
• Constructivist approach to education
• Urban teaching experience
• Project-based learning experience
• Restorative practices experience
• Multi-age teaching or advisory experience

Successful candidates will...

• Understand that:
• Our learners are competent and curious
• Relationships are central to our work as educators
• Knowledge is constructed by the learner in a social context
• Multiple points of view deepen understanding
• The environment drives learning
• Communicate effectively, building strong relationships with students, families, colleagues and the broader community
• Commit to engaging in conversations that challenge and disrupt dominant narratives
• Document learning to deepen thinking, build a community of learners, communicate with families and community, and research teaching and learning
• Appreciate uncertainty: value participating in a dynamic and evolving educational process
• Value their role as a researcher and curriculum designer
• Value collaboration
• Demonstrate leadership both in and out of the classroom
• Possess and foster creativity and imagination
• Love spending time and learning outdoors

Basic functions and responsibilities

• Plan and implement effective instruction and assessment driven by student inquiry and aligned with state standards
• Collaborate with students, families and colleagues in support of students and our community
• Document and share student learning and experiences in weekly newsletters and visual displays
• Lead the development of classroom cultures that foster relationships, student learning, student inquiry, critical thinking and advocacy
• Facilitate two conferences per year
• Attend four all-school events per year
• Advocate with, and on behalf of, students and families
• Monitor and share student progress, educationally and socially, to students and families
• Implement restorative practices to address conflict
• Monitor students in and out of the classroom/school building
• Attend and engage in staff meetings, professional development trainings, and professional collaboration time
• Seek, reflect on and learn from feedback
• Support the operational work of the school

Interested candidates should send a cover letter, resume, letters of recommendation, and one page philosophy of education to Rachel Ngendakuriyo at . Applications will be reviewed on a rolling basis.

Thank you for your interest in St Paul School of Northern Lights. SPSNL is authorized by Innovative Quality Schools.

Job Type: Full-time

Pay: $40,000.00 - $60,000.00 per year

Benefits:

• Dental insurance
• Health insurance
• Life insurance
• Paid time off
• Parental leave
• Professional development assistance
• Retirement plan
• Tuition reimbursement

Schedule:

• Monday to Friday

School type:

• Charter school

License/Certification:

• Teaching Certification (Required)

Ability to Relocate:

• Saint Paul, MN 55116: Relocate before starting work (Required)

Work Location: In person