Science Teacher, Tacoma

WA Charters; Tacoma (WA); On-site; USD 57,000 - 93,000; Full time

Benefits offered by this job

Retirement plan

Unlimited PTO

11 paid holidays

Office closures 3 weeks/year

Health/dental/vision plans (employee ¼

Job summary

Summit Public Schools seeks exceptional, diverse teachers to guide students toward a fulfilled life through a rigorous, project-based curriculum. You will mentor a fixed group of students, collaborate with high-performing colleagues, and engage in ongoing professional development in a mission-driven network.

We prioritize culturally responsive teaching and equitable learning pathways, with a strong emphasis on continuous improvement and leadership development from within Summit.

Qualifications

• Teaching credential in Washington or another US state.
• Bachelor’s Degree required; Master’s Degree preferred.
• Clear health and background check.

Responsibilities

• Teach project-based, high-impact lessons in a Summit school.
• Mentor a consistent group of students year after year.
• Lead and participate in professional development and collaboration sessions.
• Support a diverse student population in an intentionally heterogeneous setting.

Skills

Teaching

Collaboration

Mentoring

Growth mindset

Cultural responsiveness

Education

Bachelor’s Degree

Teaching Credential

Master’s Degree preferred

Job description

Whatifallstudentsgraduatedhighschoolwiththeknowledge,skillsandhabitstheyneedtoleadafulfilledlife?This is the question that guides our mission at Summit Public Schools .

Summit is a leading network of public schools thatprepare a diverse student population for success in a four-year college and to be thoughtful, contributing members of society. We operate 14 schools serving over 4,500 students in the Bay Area and Washington state.100% of Summit graduates are college ready and Summit graduates complete college at double the national average.

We need exceptional, diverse, and mission-aligned teachers to join our team to help prepare our students for a fulfilled life. Join us!

The Summit Model

Summit’s research-backed model makes teaching and learning at a Summit school unlike any other.

At Summit, our teachersmentorthe same group of students each year in advisory groups, which allows them to build strong relationships based on deep trust over multiple years.Mentors meet 1:1 with each student regularly tocoach students toward their personal goals,and meet daily as a mentor group.

During Project Time, teachers teachuniversal skills through real-world projects– using their subject-area expertise to help students apply their knowledge to the world around them. Through our research-backed curriculum, Summit gives teachers the tools they need so that they can focus on teaching and becoming the best project-based teachers in the world.

We are deeply committed tocontinuous improvementat Summit, both as an organization and for our individual faculty. With dedicated days of professional development built into the academic year, regular coaching sessions with a school leader, and a culture of honest, actionable, and timely feedback, we equip our teachers with the tools necessary to improve their practice and tackle challenging issues. We also prioritizedeveloping leaders from withinand have invested in multiple career pathway programs for our teachers and school leaders.

Summit hasintensive collaborationstructures built in to our weekly schedules. Teachers collaborate at the grade and subject levels, forming regular communities of practice to support each other in continuously improving as project-based teachers and mentors.

By design, our schools aresmall communities where every student is known. They areintentionally heterogeneousand reflect the diversity of the communities in which we operate. As a teacher, this will require being culturally responsive and creating equitable learning pathways for all students.

• Project Time:Teach 90-minute blocks in high school or four 55-minute blocks in middle school, per day of project time. Most teachers teach one course for the entire grade (e.g. 9th Grade Biology), and see each section twice per week. Teachers work with students on projects that develop cognitive skills andapply their content knowledge to real-world situations. Teachers facilitate discussions in the classroom, coach students in applying their cognitive skills, and give students feedback.Between teaching blocks, teachers analyze student data, build lesson plans, support school culture, and other personal development activities. Summit teachers build lesson plans through a deep understanding of student progress data, which determines the group and individual supports needed for their students to succeed.
• Mentor Time:Build deep relationships and sense of community when teachers meet with their small group of mentees daily for their entire time at Summit. Daily, teachers meet with their mentor groups, work on habits of success as a group, and check in one-on-one with their mentees. Mentors coach and advocate for their mentees both inside and outside of the classroom, and strive to support them as they develop their sense of purpose as they become self-directed learners.
• Self-Directed Learning Time and Interventions:Facilitate Self Directed Learning time and daily literacy or math interventions, which don’t involve lesson planning. During this time, teachers provide student support, monitor progress, and check in with individuals or groups of students.
• Collaboration & Professional Development:Twice a week, teachers participate in all-faculty after-school meetings where community decisions are made, professional development takes place, and faculty collaborates as a grade-level team or subject-level team.

What You Need

• Commitment toupholdSummit’svalues,and the belief that all children deserve a rigorous and equitable education that prepares them for college and for life
• TeachingCredential in Washington or another US state
• Bachelor’sDegree(a Master’s Degree in Education is preferred, but not required)
• Clearhealthandbackgroundcheck
• Teachingexperiencein your subject preferred, but not required

Who You Are

• You want to be aworld-class project-based learningteacher
• Youthrivewhilecollaboratingand are excited to work with mission-aligned, high-performing colleagues. You find positivity inshared successes.
• You’re excited to teach Summit’scommon curriculumand assessment system, which was designed for teachers and by teachers in partnership with learning scientists.
• You care deeply about working inintentionally heterogeneousschools and are ready to support all diverse students to reach a fulfilled life
• You’re eager toengage in professional development and be developedas a practitioner in a network that iscommitted to continuous improvement.
• You have agrowth mindsetand see feedback as a positive
• You arepassionateaboutservingasamentorand advocate for a group of students that you’ll follow year to year. You’re open to having hard conversations to support students.

What You Get

In addition to joining a highly motivated team and engaging in meaningful work, you’ll have access to a comprehensive suite of benefits including a retirement plan, unlimited “take what you need” PTO policy, 11 paid holidays, and 3 weeks of organization-wide closures during the year. You and your dependents will have access to multiple health, dental, and vision plans at 25% cost (we cover the other 75%) and employee life and disability insurance at no cost. Our compensation policy strives to be equitable and transparent. The salary for this position starts at $57,078 and goes up to $93,149 commensurate with experience and qualifications.

Summit is an equal opportunity employer. We believe that diversity, equity, and inclusion are directly intertwined with education. We are ALL better when we are able to bring our whole selves to work and honor each other’s voices across identities, cultural backgrounds, and life experiences. We welcome and encourage applications from individuals who are members of historically marginalized communities. Spanish language proficiency is a plus.