2026-2027: Middle School ELA Teacher

Washington Heights & Inwood (WHIN) Music Community Charter School; New York (NY); On-site; USD 60,000 - 90,000; Full time

Job summary

Washington Heights & Inwood (WHIN) Music Community Charter School in New York seeks a Middle School ELA Teacher who can create engaging, inclusive classrooms that foster critical reading and writing skills while integrating music-inspired project learning.

The ideal candidate holds NYS or equivalent certification for middle school ELA, has experience in urban schools, and demonstrates a commitment to equity, student growth, and collaboration with families and staff to support every learner.

Qualifications

• Urban middle school ELA teaching experience.
• NYS or equivalent certification with middle school / ELA coursework.
• Proven success raising achievement in diverse urban settings.
• Belief that all students can achieve at high levels.
• Commitment to collaborating with families and staff.

Responsibilities

• Create and maintain a fun, engaging, inclusive classroom culture.
• Differentiate instruction to meet diverse learning needs.
• Prepare students for college and career readiness via benchmarks.
• Develop, modify, and implement curricula and assessments.
• Analyze data, differentiate, and support each learner's needs.
• Collaborate with colleagues to implement effective curriculum.
• Build strong relationships with WHIN families.
• Attend school events and participate in PD.

Skills

Urban middle school teaching

Education

NYS or equivalent ELA certification

Job description

Middle School ELA Teacher

Why WHIN?

WHIN Music Community Charter School is the first school of its kind! Built on the principles of El Sistema, WHIN is a place where children learn, grow, and make music together. At WHIN, we are building a nucleo, a community where staff, families, and students work together to make a powerful shift in public education that puts learners’ needs first.

Our Mission:

To provide our diverse student population with rigorous academic instruction, intensive music education and a positive learning environment so that every student can thrive academically and personally.

We believe…

• that all children deserve a high quality education, with access to academic rigor, music creation, and a holistic approach to developing character
• that a collaboration with families ensures the greatest success for our learners
• that restorative justice, inquiry-based hands on learning, and authentic learning experiences provide the most effective environments for growth, success, and joy

We are looking for staff who are…

• looking to grow and prosper in a collaborative work environment
• excited about working in a school and neighborhood where diversity is central
• interested in learning about being an educator

In action, our mission looks like caring deeply about all aspects of our young learners’ potential. We make academics a priority while also ensuring students’ character and personal growth. With music at its core, students experience working together to create something bigger than their individual skills every single day, and this approach extends to our classrooms where project-based, hands-on learning cultivates curious, creative, and hardworking learners.

Specifically, the teacher is responsible for:

• Creating and maintaining a fun, engaging, and inclusive classroom culture where all students love to learn
• Differentiating instruction to meet learners’ needs
• Preparing students to be college and career ready as measured by benchmark assessments
• Developing, modifying, and implementing curriculum and assessments for students with diverse learning needs
• Driving academic outcomes for all students by analyzing data, differentiating instruction, and supporting each learner’s unique needs
• Contributing to the Child Study Team assessments of student needs
• Collaborating with colleagues to implement an effective curriculum
• Inspiring students and fellow staff to perform at his or her highest potential
• Developing and maintaining strong and professional relationships with WHIN families
• Uphold all school policies within the classroom
• Attend designated school functions outside of school hours
• Attend and participate in all school/parent meetings
• Contribute to the planning and execution of all school-wide events
• Receive and implement feedback from school leaders and other staff
• Participate with enthusiasm in all school wide professional development

Qualifications for the teacher are:

• Urban middle school teaching experience
• NYS or equivalent Education Teaching Certification with coursework in middle school / ELA education
• Demonstrated success raising achievement levels of all students
• An unwavering belief that all students can achieve at a high level
• Proven commitment and success working with students and families
• The ability to thrive in a startup environment
• The ability to excel in a fast-paced, dynamic, and exciting school
• A sense of humor and kindness towards your colleagues

Advanced proficiency in one or more of the following areas is strongly preferred

• Bilingual (Spanish)
• Music performance
• Teaching experience and/or certifications
• Project Based Learning and Inquiry Based Learning
• Responsive Classroom, Love & Logic Student Management, and Restorative Justice models

Compensation and Benefits

WHIN offers a competitive salary, determined through an equity-focused approach that considers an individual’s skills, education, and relevant experience. Our teacher pay scale is available for viewing here.