Elementary English Language Arts Teacher

City Year; Philadelphia (Philadelphia County); On-site; USD 55,000 - 75,000; Full time

Job summary

Mastery Schools in Philadelphia is hiring an Upper Elementary English Language Arts teacher to foster a love of reading and maintain grade-level rigor for students in grades 3–6. Our classrooms emphasize structured literacy and a knowledge-rich curriculum grounded in the Science of Reading.

You will deliver high-quality literacy instruction, engage in targeted intervention to close unfinished learning, and participate in collaborative coaching with principals, coaches, and content teams to

Qualifications

• Bachelor’s degree required with record of personal, professional, and/or academic achievement.
• Teacher certification – completed or in process.
• Demonstrated expertise in subject area.
• Commitment to and experience working with underserved communities.
• Determination to drive student achievement and set high expectations for all students.
• The ability to motivate, support, and challenge students in a student-centered, standards-driven classroom community.
• A positive mindset and a drive for personal excellence.
• Solutions-oriented resiliency to respond positively and effectively to challenges.
• Outstanding instructional skills driven by data and delivered through rigorous and engaging strategies.

Responsibilities

• Commit to ongoing professional development in the spirit of continuous improvement
• Develop and implement rigorous and appropriate lesson plans, assignments, and assessments in cooperation with Mastery school-based leadership and curricular resources developed by Mastery’s Central Office Academic Team
• Work closely with school leaders to analyze student assessment data to measure progress and use data to inform instruction
• Collaborate in grade level teams to discuss student work, share best practices, plan events for joy and humor, and ensure student mastery of standards
• Engage families in their children’s education by building relationships and maintaining regular communication
• Demonstrate genuine interest, belief, and care for students’ personal and academic success
• Commit to professional growth, self-reflection, a receptiveness to feedback, and a desire to continuously improve

Skills

Structured literacy

Data-driven instruction

Student engagement

Collaboration

Education

Bachelor’s degree

Teacher certification

Job description

Founded in 2001, Mastery Schools is a public charter network of 23 K-12 schools in Philadelphia and Camden, serving more than 14,000 students.

At Mastery, we’re on a mission to provide all students with the academic and personal skills they need to succeed after graduation and pursue their dreams. Student achievement is not just a goal for our organization; it’s the reason we exist, and every member of our team is dedicated to securing student success. We are also committed to pursuing equity, actively disrupting systemic racism, and addressing the disparities that limit our students’ choices.

Our culture is built on respect, service, and the belief that the success of our students, their families, and the communities we serve will help us achieve our mission. We foster a positive, open, and inclusive environment where honesty, humor, and continuous improvement are celebrated.

Join us in creating a model urban school district that serves all students with excellence. Together, we can make a lasting impact.

The Opportunity:

As an Upper Elementary Teacher at Mastery you will work relentlessly to foster a love of learning with your students. Our Kindergarten through 2nd grade classrooms are self-contained and starting in 3rd grade our teachers become subject-specific. All of our elementary teachers at Mastery work to close the literacy gap through incorporating culturally-relevant and rigorous texts and topics into lessons. At Mastery we value Continuous Improvement and want you to learn and grow in your craft. We utilize a team of Assistant Principals, central-office coaches, and school-based content teams to provide coaching and feedback. We have professional development or peer collaboration time built into our staff calendar.

As a Grades 3-6 English Language Arts teacher, you have a genuine love of reading and an unwavering belief that all students can achieve at high levels. You understand the importance of maintaining grade-level rigor while providing the support students need to access complex texts and meaningful learning.

Ideally, you bring familiarity with structured literacy instruction and are eager to strengthen the foundational skills that support proficient reading. You and your students engage with a high-quality, knowledge-rich curriculum grounded in the Science of Reading, with daily opportunities for rigorous reading, writing, speaking, and thinking aligned to grade-level standards.

In addition to delivering strong Tier 1 instruction, teachers are expected to lead targeted intervention courses that address unfinished learning while accelerating student growth. Through both core instruction and intervention, you ensure students develop the skills, knowledge, and confidence needed for success in the secondary grades and beyond.

At Mastery we value Continuous Improvement and want you to learn and grow in your craft. We utilize a team of Assistant Principals, central-office coaches, and school-based content teams to provide every teacher coaching and feedback. We have professional development or peer collaboration time built into our staff calendar.

Duties and Responsibilities:

• Commit to ongoing professional development in the spirit of continuous improvement
• Develop and implement rigorous and appropriate lesson plans, assignments, and assessments in cooperation with Mastery school-based leadership and curricular resources developed by Mastery’s Central Office Academic Team
• Work closely with school leaders to analyze student assessment data to measure progress and use data to inform instruction
• Collaborate in grade level teams to discuss student work, share best practices, plan events for joy and humor, and ensure student mastery of standards
• Engage families in their children’s education by building relationships and maintaining regular communication
• Demonstrate genuine interest, belief, and care for students’ personal and academic success
• Commit to professional growth, self-reflection, a receptiveness to feedback, and a desire to continuously improve

Education, Experience, and Skills:

• Bachelor’s degree required with a record of personal, professional, and/or academic achievement
• Teacher certification – completed or in process
• Demonstrated expertise in subject area
• Commitment to and experience working with underserved communities
• Determination to drive student achievement and set high expectations for all students
• The ability to motivate, support, and challenge students in a student-centered, standards-driven classroom community
• A positive mindset and a drive for personal excellence
• Solutions-oriented resiliency to respond positively and effectively to challenges
• Outstanding instructional skills driven by data and delivered through rigorous and engaging strategies

Physical Requirements:

Ability to physically perform the essential duties of the role, and to work in the environmental conditions required, such as: traveling to network campuses; maneuvering in office spaces (including standing, walking, sitting for long periods of time, speaking loudly and clearly, seeing and hearing things both near and far away); stooping, kneeling, reaching file cabinets/shelves; fine finger and hand manipulation in use of computer, chalkboard, dry erase, &/or projectors; filing, faxing, scanning, coping, typing, mailing, and making phone calls; sitting for up to two (2) hours looking at a computer monitor, using a keyboard/mouse, and typing.