Middle School ELA Teacher

Uncommon Schools; New York (NY); On-site; USD 72,000 - 115,000; Full time

Benefits offered by this job

Generous paid time off

Comprehensive health, dental, vision

403(b) retirement with employer match

Professional development

Family and wellness benefits

Job summary

Uncommon Schools is a nonprofit network of high-performing public charter schools dedicated to closing the college completion gap for students from economically disadvantaged communities. We invest deeply in educators with weekly coaching, feedback, and professional development to ensure excellence in teaching and leadership.

Uncommon Middle School English Language Arts teachers build engaging, culturally responsive classrooms, emphasizing writing, discussion, and student voice to prepare

Qualifications

• Commitment to social emotional and academic development of students
• Willingness to collaborate with internal and external partners in students’ best interests
• Self-directed learner who seeks and uses feedback to improve outcomes

Responsibilities

• Teach an inclusive, culturally responsive ELA curriculum with equitable outcomes
• Guide students to analyze texts, assess author’s purpose, and write across genres in student-led discourse
• Create an inclusive, safe environment and support authentic student voice
• Encourage independent reading and selection of books to foster passion for reading
• Meet weekly with principal/coach to analyze trends in student work and differentiate instruction
• Build positive relationships with students and families to support learning needs
• Participate in school-wide meetings and practice-based professional development

Skills

Social-emotional development

Collaboration

Feedback utilization

Culturally responsive teaching

Discourse-based instruction

Education

Bachelor's degree

NY state certification eligibility

Enrollment in teacher preparation program

Job description

Uncommon Schools is a nonprofit network of high-performing public charter schools dedicated to providing an exceptional K-12 education in economically disadvantaged communities. Operating in Boston, Camden, New York City, Newark, and Rochester, we are committed to closing the college completion gap and preparing every student for college and beyond. Our students consistently exceed national benchmarks, reflecting our dedication to their success. We invest deeply in our educators, offering weekly coaching, feedback, and professional development to ensure excellence in teaching and leadership. Join us to work hard, do good, and make a lasting difference!

Job Description

Uncommon Middle School English Language Arts (ELA) teachers are passionate about literature and building an engaging classroom culture. Our teachers develop subject mastery and have a keen sense of the socio-emotional changes middle schoolers experience. At the heart of all ELA classes is an emphasis on writing and discourse designed to give students the tools to be confident in the power of their own voice. Teachers are trained in a variety of research-based instructional strategies to prioritize discussion, ignite a passion for literature, build reading comprehension, and promote agency. By the conclusion of eighth grade, students are prepared for the academic autonomy and college preparatory focus of our high schools.

Responsibilities

Instruction

• You’ll empower students to be their fullest selves by teaching an inclusive, culturally responsive curriculum that seeks equitable outcomes for all students.
• You’ll guide students to analyze literary and non-narrative texts, assess an author’s purpose, write in a variety of genres, and grapple with meaningful questions in student-led discourse.
• You’ll create an inclusive and safe environment, allying with students to speak and write in their authentic voice.
• You’ll guide students to choose books of interest independently, as they develop their own passions and interests as readers.

Data Analysis

• You’ll meet weekly with your principal and/or instructional coach to analyze and respond to trends in student work samples and assessments.
• You’ll learn and implement strategies to differentiate instruction for all learners in your classroom.

School Culture

• You’ll build positive relationships with students to ensure they feel seen, loved, and heard.
• You’ll partner with students’ families to ensure appropriate resources are available to support their child’s learning needs.
• You’ll engage in practice-based professional development, mentorship, and coaching sessions.
• You’ll participate in weekly, school-wide meetings to cultivate community, model our core values, and encourage student achievement.
• You’ll partner with your grade level team to develop academic goals and practice instructional strategies.

Qualifications

• A demonstrated commitment to supporting students’ social emotional and academic development.
• An enthusiasm for collaborating with internal and external partners in the best interest of students.
• A self-directed learner who solicits and implements feedback to improve outcomes and achieve objectives.
• Required Experience:
  • A demonstrated interest in impacting K-12 students in urban schools and communities (1‑2 years experience preferred).
  • Academic expertise in Humanities, English, Social Sciences, or other related fields of study.
  • Prior to the start of employment, you must have a bachelor's degree from an accredited college or university. Certification is not required to be hired at Uncommon, but you do need to meet NY state certification eligibility requirements. To meet these requirements, you must enroll in a teacher preparation program and maintain a GPA of 2.5 or higher during your employment with us if you do not have a degree in education. Uncommon Schools teachers are required to become certified in the state of New York within a reasonable period after beginning employment.

Additional Information

Our people are what make us Uncommon. We offer competitive compensation and comprehensive benefits that support the personal health, wellness, and finances of our staff and their families. Our compensation philosophy values equity & fairness and attracting & retaining top talent.

Compensation

Compensation for this role is between $72,000 to $115,000.

Starting pay is determined using various factors including but not limited to relevant full-time teaching experience, education certifications, and tenure with Uncommon Schools. Candidates without full-time Teaching experience will likely have a starting salary of $72,000.

Benefits

• Generous paid time off inclusive of sick time, paid holidays, and 10 weeks of paid breaks (Spring, Winter, and Summer).
• Extensive, best-in-class training and development.
• Comprehensive health, dental, and vision insurance plans + pre‑tax flexible spending (FSA), dependent care (DCFSA), and health saving accounts (HSA).
• Financial Planning
  • 403(b) retirement savings program + employer match.
• Paid leave of absence options (parental, medical, disability, etc.)
• Mental health and counseling support + wellness benefits.

*A detailed list of all benefits is located HERE.

At Uncommon, we believe that a supportive and welcoming environment helps our students, staff, and community thrive. We are dedicated to building a team that brings a wide range of perspectives and experiences, reflective of the communities we serve—with over 70% of our staff identifying as people of color. Our organization values respect and open dialogue on important topics that shape our school culture.

As an equal opportunity employer, Uncommon provides equal employment opportunities to all employees and applicants for employment and prohibits discrimination and harassment of any type without regard to race, color, religion, age, sex, national origin, disability status, genetics, protected veteran status, sexual orientation, gender identity or expression, or any other characteristic protected by federal, state or local laws. We also ensure that individuals with disabilities receive all privileges and benefits associated with employment and are provided reasonable accommodations for the interview process and to perform core job functions. If you would like to request an accommodation, please email [e-mail].