Middle School Teacher (Grades 6-8)

Alakaʻi O Kauaʻi; Hawaii; On-site; USD 53,000 - 72,000; Full time

Benefits offered by this job

Dental insurance

Health insurance

Paid time off

Retirement plan

Vision insurance

Job summary

Alakaʻi O Kauaʻi is seeking a Middle School Teacher for grades 6-8, focusing on single-subject instruction in Science or ELA. The role emphasizes rigorous, standards-aligned learning through Project-Based Learning and integrates Hawaiian values such as Aloha, Pono, and Kuleana.

You will design long-term projects, mentor a small advisory group, use formative and summative data to guide pacing, and collaborate with colleagues to support adolescent growth in a culturally responsive setting.

Qualifications

• Experience designing and facilitating Project-Based Learning (PBL) units.
• Philosophical alignment with AMLE practices.
• Commitment to positive behavior support and growth mindset.
• Deep knowledge and passion for the subject area.
• Strong collaboration skills for interdisciplinary teams.

Responsibilities

• Deliver instruction for grades 6-8 (Science or ELA) with rigor and mastery of standards.
• Design and facilitate long-term PBL projects and public exhibitions of learning.
• Act as a mentor in advisory programs, supporting academic planning and growth.
• Collect and analyze data to inform pacing and scaffolding for high school readiness.

Skills

PBL design & facilitation

AMLE alignment

SEL implementation

Advisory mentorship

Collaboration in teams

Education

Bachelor's degree in Education or content area

State teaching certification for Middle Grades 6-8

Job description

Position Title

Middle School Teacher - All grades 6-8, single subject

Reports To

Principal / Head of School / VP of Instruction

Employment Status

Full-Time, Exempt

Job Summary and Core Philosophy

The middle school teacher is a content-expert educator responsible for designing and facilitating rigorous, standards-aligned learning experiences rooted in the Project-Based Learning (PBL) framework for adolescents (Grades 6-8). This role is fundamental in guiding students toward subject-specific mastery while instilling the core Hawaiian values of Pono (integrity), Kuleana (responsibility), and Aloha (kindness) during the critical period of early adolescence. The teacher serves as an essential mentor, promoting self-management and intellectual independence consistent with AMLE (Association for Middle Level Education) best practices.

Essential Duties and Responsibilities

I. Instruction, Content Mastery, and PBL

• Content Mastery & Rigor:Deliver instruction in grades 6-8 (Science or ELA) that challenges students, promotes deep conceptual understanding, and ensures mastery of all required grade-level standards.
• PBL Design & Facilitation:Design and execute complex, long-term projects aligned withPBLWorksGold Standard teaching practices. This includes developing authentic, high-interest driving questions and utilizing public exhibitions of learning that resonate with middle school students.
• Advisory/Mentorship:Actively participate in the school’s advisory program (aligned withAMLErecommendations) to serve as a consistent mentor for a small group of students, focusing on academic planning, goal setting, and personal growth.
• Assessment & Data Use:Collect and analyze formative and summative data to inform curricular pacing, adjust project scaffolding, and prepare students for high school readiness.

II. Social-Emotional Learning (SEL) & Classroom Culture

• SEL Implementation:Serve as a consistent role model and daily implementer of theHealthy Habits Compasscurriculum, leading discussions and activities that focus onMental & Emotional Well-beingandCommunity Care.
• Accountability & Intervention:Manage classroom behavior by focusing on instructing students in complex social skills and promoting self-management. This includes:
• Proactively teaching replacement behaviors (as defined by theK-8 Behavior Intervention Plan - BIP), such as the use ofAccountability Statementswhen confronted with mistakes.
• Utilizing"Teaching with Love and Logic"(Fay and Fay) strategies to empower early adolescents to take ownership (Kuleana) of the consequences related to their choices.
• Using theAOK Behavior Referral Formconsistently and objectively for major incidents, supporting data-driven intervention efforts.
• Building Community:Create a safe, inclusive, and emotionally supportive classroom environment where every student feels a strong sense ofAloha(belonging) and is encouraged to take calculated intellectual risks.

III. Cultural Integration and Professionalism

• Hawaiian Values:Model and integrate the school’s core Hawaiian values (Aloha, Pono, Kuleana) into content lessons, group dynamics, and conflict resolution processes.
• Professional Growth:Actively participate in all scheduled Professional Development (PD), with a specific focus on adolescent development,AMLEbest practices, and advancedPBLfacilitation techniques.
• Parent Communication:Maintain clear, consistent, and proactive communication with families regarding content progress, long-term project expectations, and social-emotional development, fostering a strongOhana(family) partnership.

Qualifications, Education, and Certification

• Bachelor's degree in Education or the specific content area (e.g. ELA).
• Possession of or eligibility for appropriate state teaching certification for Middle Grades (6-8) or Secondary Education.

Required Experience and Skills

• Demonstrated experience designing and facilitatingProject-Based Learning (PBL)units.
• Philosophical alignment with the practices advocated by theAssociation for Middle Level Education (AMLE).
• A commitment to positive behavior support, growth mindset, and instruction that meets the cognitive and social needs of early adolescents.
• Deep knowledge and passion for the subject area being taught.
• Strong collaborative skills and the ability to work effectively on content-area and interdisciplinary teams.

Preferred Qualifications

• Experience working in a PBL or inquiry-based school setting.
• Familiarity with the history, culture, and values of Hawai'i and their practical application in the classroom. Specifically, Hawai'i Board of Education Policy on Nā Hopena A'o - HĀ.
• Experience utilizing SEL curricula or behavior tracking systems.
• Experience serving as an advisor in a grade-level-specific homeroom program.

Pay:

$53,000.00 - $72,000.00 per year

Benefits:

• Dental insurance
• Health insurance
• Paid time off
• Retirement plan
• Vision insurance

Work Location:

In person