Science Learning Guide (7th & 8th)

The Meliora School; Snellville (GA); On-site; USD 48,000 - 60,000; Full time

Job summary

The Meliora School seeks a knowledgeable Science Learning Guide to teach seventh-grade life science and eighth-grade physical science in Georgia. You will deliver rigorous, hands-on instruction aligned with Georgia standards and prepare learners for the Milestones assessment.

New hires must have experience teaching physical science including chemistry and physics concepts. The role emphasizes explicit instruction, inquiry, and mastery-based assessment to support all learners.

Qualifications

• Bachelor’s degree is required.
• Experience teaching physical science, including chemistry and physics concepts.
• Strong knowledge of middle school life science and physical science.
• Ability to translate Georgia science standards into rigorous instruction and assessments.
• Ability to use assessment data to plan reteaching, monitor growth, and improve learner outcomes.
• Experience planning and supervising safe laboratory investigations.
• Strong classroom management, organization, communication, and collaboration skills.
• Commitment to mastery‑based learning, learner ownership, and continuous improvement.

Responsibilities

• Teach seventh-grade life science and eighth-grade physical science.
• Unpack Georgia science standards into learning targets and measurable criteria.
• Plan instruction using GaDOE assessment guides, blueprints, and descriptors.
• Maintain a pacing plan for instruction, investigations, reteaching, and review.
• Use STEMscopes and supplemental resources to create standards-aligned units.
• Prepare learners for Georgia Milestones readiness and assessments.
• Provide targeted small-group support and reassessment opportunities.
• Communicate progress toward mastery to learners and families.

Skills

Middle school science knowledge

Assessment data usage

Lab safety supervision

Classroom management

Collaboration

Mastery-based learning

Education

Bachelor's degree

Tools

STEMscopes

Job description

Position Overview

The Meliora School seeks a knowledgeable, engaging Science Learning Guide to teach seventh-grade life science and eighth-grade physical science. This educator will deliver rigorous, hands‑on instruction aligned with Georgia’s science standards and prepare eighth-grade learners to demonstrate proficiency on the Georgia Milestones Science End‑of‑Grade assessment.

New hires must have previous experience teaching physical science, including chemistry and physics concepts.

At Meliora, Learning Guides combine explicit instruction, scientific inquiry, personalized support, and mastery‑based assessment. The successful candidate will help learners understand scientific concepts, apply them to unfamiliar situations, and support explanations with evidence.

Content Knowledge and Instruction

The Science Learning Guide will:

• Teach seventh-grade life science, including cells and body systems, heredity, classification, biological diversity, and ecosystems.


• Teach eighth-grade physical science, including properties of matter, physical and chemical changes, energy, forces and motion, waves, electricity, and magnetism.


• Unpack Georgia’s science standards into clear learning targets, lesson sequences, and measurable criteria for mastery.


• Plan instruction using the applicable GaDOE assessment guides, test blueprints, and achievement‑level descriptors.


• Maintain a pacing plan that provides time for initial instruction, investigations, reteaching, enrichment, and cumulative review.


• Use STEMscopes and supplemental resources to create coherent, standards‑aligned units.

Georgia Milestones Readiness

The Science Learning Guide will:

• Prepare eighth-grade learners for the content knowledge and reasoning required by the Georgia Milestones science assessment.


• Design classroom assessments that reflect the rigor and application demands described in current GaDOE assessment resources.


• Teach learners to interpret scientific diagrams, models, tables, graphs, and investigation results.


• Help learners evaluate evidence, identify relationships, draw conclusions, and apply concepts in unfamiliar contexts.


• Build familiarity with the online assessment environment and applicable item formats using state‑approved practice resources.


• Analyze assessment results by standard to identify misconceptions and determine which learners need additional instruction.


• Provide targeted small‑group support and reassessment opportunities throughout the year.


• Establish and monitor individual growth and proficiency goals with school leadership.


• Communicate progress toward grade‑level mastery clearly to learners and families.

Scientific Inquiry and Laboratory Practice

The Science Learning Guide will:

• Facilitate regular investigations that require learners to ask questions, make predictions, identify variables, collect data, and explain results.


• Teach learners to distinguish observations from inferences and support scientific claims with relevant evidence.


• Integrate measurement, graphing, proportional reasoning, and appropriate calculations into science instruction.


• Use models, demonstrations, simulations, and engineering challenges to make abstract concepts accessible.


• Establish and enforce laboratory safety procedures.


• Maintain organized materials and equipment and plan investigations appropriate to available facilities and learner needs.

Personalized and Mastery-Based Learning

The Science Learning Guide will:

• Use daily checks for understanding to adjust instruction.


• Maintain accurate records of progress toward specific science standards.


• Provide clear, actionable feedback and structured opportunities for revision and reassessment.


• Deliver small‑group reteaching and meaningful extensions for learners who demonstrate mastery.


• Implement IEP and Section 504 supports in collaboration with specialized services staff.


• Provide vocabulary instruction, visual supports, and scaffolded scientific texts for multilingual learners.


• Help learners track their progress and take increasing responsibility for their learning.

School Community Responsibilities

The Science Learning Guide will:

• Create a structured classroom grounded in belonging, curiosity, accountability, and respect.


• Serve as a Life Navigator advisor, supporting learner organization, goal‑setting, reflection, and social‑emotional growth.


• Collaborate with colleagues to review learner work, plan instruction, and strengthen teaching practices.


• Communicate proactively with families about academic progress and needed support.


• Participate in professional learning, family conferences, learner exhibitions, House activities, and assigned supervision duties.

Required Qualifications

• Bachelor’s degree from an accredited institution.


• Previous experience teaching physical science, including chemistry and physics concepts.


• Strong knowledge of middle school life science and physical science.


• Ability to translate Georgia science standards into rigorous instruction and assessments.


• Ability to use assessment data to plan reteaching, monitor growth, and improve learner outcomes.


• Experience planning and supervising safe laboratory investigations.


• Strong classroom management, organization, communication, and collaboration skills.


• Commitment to mastery‑based learning, learner ownership, and continuous improvement.


• Ability to meet applicable employment, credentialing, and background‑check requirements.

Preferred Qualifications

• Georgia teaching certification in middle grades science or a related science field.


• Experience teaching eighth-grade science in Georgia.


• Experience preparing learners for Georgia Milestones science assessments.


• Evidence of improving science achievement and supporting learners toward proficiency.


• Experience using STEMscopes and teaching in a personalized or mastery-based setting.

Compensation

Salary: Salary based on experience and qualifications.

Application Requirements

Applicants should submit:

• A current résumé identifying science subjects and grade levels taught, including physical science teaching experience.


• A sample physical science lesson or investigation that includes a learning target, safety procedures, and an assessment of learner understanding.