2026-27 Elementary Teacher (1st Grade)

Socket.dev; Memphis (TN); On-site; USD 42,000 - 56,000; Full time

Benefits offered by this job

Higher salaries

Zero premium health options (TN only)

Staff well-being and professional lic-

Licensure support

Job summary

Freedom Preparatory Academy seeks elementary teachers for its growing network of charter schools in Memphis, TN. You will help students develop mastery through year-round assessments and collaborate with colleagues to align curricula across subjects.

The role emphasizes student growth, strong classroom culture, and ongoing professional development. Candidates should hold a Tennessee teaching license or reciprocity, with two to four years of urban teaching experience preferred.

Qualifications

• Bachelor's Degree required.
• Master's Degree strongly preferred.
• Two to four years of urban teaching and educational leadership experience is preferred.

Responsibilities

• Embodies and models the network’s core values of respect, responsibility, integrity, community, and excellence for our students, families, and colleagues.
• Upholds the school culture of high academic and behavioral expectations through continuous reflection, flexibility, and growth.
• Fosters students’ positive view of self and supports children’s learning through social, emotional, physical, and intellectual development.
• Communicates effectively and maintains strong relationships with students, families, and colleagues.
• Creates and maintains positive classroom culture and community.
• Reinforces school-wide rules and expectations in the classroom, including lesson planning, curriculum development, assignment creation, and other curricular materials.
• Uses detailed data analysis of student performance to inform best practices.
• Maintains accurate, complete and correct records as required by law, administrative and district regulations.
• Works an extended school day to allow for collaboration, professional development, and ample communication with parents and other staff members.
• Works closely with the Head of School, Assistant Head of School, and Dean of Students to develop and implement strategies for all students to reach success.
• Completes other tasks as assigned by the Head of School, Assistant Head of School, or other School Based Administrative employees.

Education

Bachelor's Degree

Master's Degree

Tools

Microsoft Word

Excel

PowerPoint

Job description

About Us:

Freedom Preparatory Academy Charter Schools (www.freedomprep.org) is a network of PreK-12 free public charter schools serving students in Memphis, TN, and Birmingham, AL. Our mission is to prepare all students in grades PreK-12 to excel in college and in life. Since our founding in 2009, we have grown from a class of 96 sixth grade students to now serving over 1950 students across multiple campuses. In 2024, we expanded into Birmingham, AL, starting with grades K-1, with plans to grow to a K-5 campus.

At Freedom Prep, we are committed to transforming education for students across the South, ensuring they have access to high-quality educational opportunities that empower them to thrive. Over the past 15 years, our students have consistently exceeded both local and state averages in math and have surpassed local benchmarks in English Language Arts on state assessments. Our mission is guided by three core beliefs: every child deserves the right to a high-quality public education, character development is essential to student success, and exposure to diverse opportunities builds the confidence and skills needed to excel in college and in life.

At Freedom Prep, we cultivate a structured, academically rigorous environment that fosters excellence in core subjects, promotes advanced academic skills, and encourages students to embody the core values of Respect, Responsibility, Integrity, Excellence, and Community.

POSITION OVERVIEW:

Freedom Preparatory Academy seeks elementary teachers for our growing network of charter schools. As a teacher at Freedom Prep Academy, you will be expected to both introduce and help students develop mastery of concepts as measured through assessments administered consistently throughout the year. These skills and concepts will be presented in a variety of ways that convey a thorough understanding and execution of the content. Teachers will work closely with other teachers to ensure cross curricula and thematic alignment of curriculum.

RESPONSIBILITIES:

Freedom Preparatory Academy welcomes teachers who are relentless in their aim to see student growth and who want to hone their skills as effective teachers in the classroom. We are also seeking applicants who have a demonstrated commitment to the educational mission, vision, and goals of Freedom Prep Academy.

• Embodies and models the network’s core values of respect, responsibility, integrity, community, and excellence for our students, families, and colleagues
• Upholds the school culture of high academic and behavioral expectations through continuous reflection, flexibility, and growth
• Fosters students’ positive view of self and supports children’s learning through social, emotional, physical, and intellectual development
• Communicates effectively and maintains strong relationships with students, families, and colleagues
• Creates and maintains positive classroom culture and community
• Reinforces school-wide rules and expectations in the classroom, including lesson planning, curriculum development, assignment creation, and other curricular materials
• Uses detailed data analysis of student performance to inform best practices
• Maintains accurate, complete and correct records as required by law, administrative and district regulations
• Works an extended school day to allow for collaboration, professional development, and ample communication with parents and other staff members
• Works closely with the Head of School, Assistant Head of School, and Dean of Students to develop and implement strategies for all students to reach success
• Completes other tasks as assigned by the Head of School, Assistant Head of School, or other School Based Administrative employees

QUALIFICATIONS:

Education:

• Bachelor's Degree required
• Master's Degree strongly preferred

Certification:

• Valid Tennessee teaching license and endorsement(s) in the hired content area -OR-
• Valid teaching license from a state that offers reciprocity with TN -OR-
• Enrollment in a certification program with eligibility for a recommendation of licensure by the program or district
• Eligibility for Tennessee teaching license required

Experience:

• Two to four years of urban teaching and educational leadership experience is preferred
• Ability to work with a variety of learning abilities, including those with low skill levels in a heterogeneously grouped classroom setting
• Strong computer skills including Microsoft Word, Excel, and PowerPoint

BENEFITS AND COMPENSATION:

At Freedom Prep, we prioritize transparency in everything we do. We believe that open communication fosters trust and collaboration. As part of this commitment, we make our salary scales available online for you to view, ensuring clarity and fairness in our compensation practices. You can view our compensation scales on our website.

• Paying higher, scaffolded teacher salaries from Year 1 to retirement stage
• Zero dollar monthly premium options, including holistic options such as chiropractic or acupuncture care (TN ONLY)
• Focus on staff well-being and collective care through our Adult Social-Emotional Learning
• Support in obtaining licensure

OUR COMMITMENT:

Freedom Preparatory Academy is actively seeking to build an experienced team of educators. We do not discriminate on the basis of race, color, gender, handicap, age, religion, sexual orientation, or national or ethnic origin. We are an equal opportunity employer.