Upper School: 8th Grade ELA Teacher (26/27)

Emerald Charter Schools; Knoxville (TN); On-site; USD 45,000 - 55,000; Full time

Benefits offered by this job

Medical, Dental, & Life Insurance

Short/Long Term Disability

PTO

13 paid Holidays

School Holidays & Staff Development

Job summary

Emerald Academy in Knoxville seeks an innovative Lead Teacher for 7th grade ELA to guide scholars toward college readiness. The role emphasizes in-class instruction, data-driven planning, and strong family partnerships.

You will collaborate with the 6–8 grade team to foster high expectations and student mastery; literacy expertise is essential to support reading growth and academic achievement. The school offers a comprehensive benefits package and a mission to prepare students for college and

Qualifications

• Must hold a Tennessee Teacher License and any needed endorsements.
• Must have an active TDOE Teaching License or completed transfer of out-of-state license.
• Must meet highly qualified status for the area(s) taught.
• Must possess a passion for the work itself.
• Must thrive in an innovative environment.
• Must work collaboratively to solve problems.
• Must demonstrate expertise in literacy and grade-level work.
• Must show growth mindset and willingness to learn new methods.
• Must believe all kids can learn and succeed.
• Must commit to supporting all scholars' success.

Responsibilities

• Design and implement rigorous lessons focused on mastery.
• Create a high-expectations classroom climate encouraging perseverance.
• Communicate with families via calls, conferences, and visits.
• Use data to drive instruction, planning and decisions.
• Collaborate with Emerald Academy team to raise student outcomes.
• Develop processes for student self-assessment and monitoring.
• Document and summarize progress for students, families, and stakeholders.
• Utilize technology to maintain student data and enhance learning.

Education

Tennessee Teaching License

Endorsements as required

Job description

Upper School ELA Teacher: Grade 7th

The Opportunity

Emerald Academy is looking for an innovative, highly-motivated, and values-aligned leader to help grow scholars into leaders in urban Knoxville. EA is seeking individuals who are goal orientated and dedicated to the school’s mission, vision, and values. These leaders will have the unique opportunity to mold the next chapter of Emerald Academy by embracing the student-centered learning environment that every child will be college-bound and career ready. Emerald Academy believes that it is possible to change the trajectory for our city’s young people and that it can be done at scale. Faculty endeavor to work each day to help accomplish the school’s three goals. Every scholar will read at or above grade level, every scholar will be well prepared to attend a four-year college, and EA will be ranked in the top 5% of all schools in the state of Tennessee.

• Short Term & Long Term Disability
• Voluntary Vision Insurance
• PTO
• 13 paid Holidays
• School Holidays & Staff Development Days
• Retirement – competitive Co. Contribution

The Opportunity

Emerald Academy is looking for an innovative, highly-motivated, and values-aligned leader to help grow scholars into leaders in urban Knoxville. EA is seeking individuals who are goal orientated and dedicated to the school’s mission, vision, and values. These leaders will have the unique opportunity to mold the next chapter of Emerald Academy by embracing the student-centered learning environment that every child will be college-bound and career ready. Emerald Academy believes that it is possible to change the trajectory for our city’s young people and that it can be done at scale. Faculty endeavor to work each day to help accomplish the school’s three goals. Every scholar will read at or above grade level, every scholar will be well prepared to attend a four-year college, and EA will be ranked in the top 5% of all schools in the state of Tennessee.

Benefits

• Medical, Dental, & Life Insurance
• Short Term & Long Term Disability
• Voluntary Vision Insurance
• PTO
• Paid Sick Leave
• 13 paid Holidays
• School Holidays & Staff Development Days
• Retirement – competitive Co. Contribution

REPORTS TO: 6-8 Grade Band Director, Director of School

START DATE: 20262027 Academic Year

TEACHER STARTING SALARY: $50,000

Job Summary

The Lead Teacher helps to prepare scholars for the college of their choice and community leadership. The Lead Teacher accomplishes this by delivering instruction and managing the classroom in ways that maximize scholars’ academic engagement and outcomes. As such, the Lead Teacher is primarily a scholar-facing role.

Job Goals

• Design and implement rigorous lessons and classroom instruction with a focus on student achievement determined by demonstration of mastery.
• Create a classroom climate of high expectations that is focused and rewards perseverance through academically challenging materials. Holds all students accountable to themselves and collaboratively to classmates, while enthusiastically encouraging natural exploration and a love of learning.
• Communicate and build strong partnerships with families through phone calls, conferences and home visits when appropriate.
• Use current student data to drive instruction, planning and decision-making.
• Work collaboratively utilizing all Emerald Academy team members to ensure students achieve at high levels.
• Develop processes that encourage student self-assessment and self-monitoring.
• Document, analyze, and summarize student progress based on both formal and informal assessment measures, in order to communicate with students, parents and other stakeholders.
• Utilize technology to maintain student data and enhance student learning.

Qualifications

• Must hold a Tennessee Teacher License and any needed endorsements.
• Must have an active TDOE Teaching License or completed the TDOE Application process for current and active out-of-state license transfer prior to application.
• Must meet highly qualified status for area(s) will be teaching. Teaching experience preferred, but not required.
• Must possess a passion for the work itself.
• Must thrive in an innovative environment.
• Must work collaboratively to form creative solutions.
• Must have record of demonstrated expertise in their domain –grade-level, and in teaching literacy.
• Must demonstrate a growth mindset-Flexibility to learn new methods and present ideas to improve learning and the school.
• Must believe all kids can learn and achieve at high academic levels.
• Must commit to being an active part of a staff that will never tire in its efforts to have all our scholars succeed academically.

The Academy

Emerald Academy is Knoxville’s first college preparatory charter school. We are committed to the singular focus of growing all our scholars into leaders. We are a K-8 School of high expectations that creates the right learning culture for city students to thrive through our innovative use of time, personalized focus on each scholar and strong partnerships with scholar’s families and the community.

We believe that all students should read at or above grade level by third grade. We are committed to have our students perform in the top 5% of the state within our first decade of existence. We will develop in our scholars the skills, habits and values for them to graduate from high school, enroll in college and succeed in life.

Emerald Academy values its staff for their professional knowledge and abilities to foster student achievement. We will create an environment where teachers are empowered to make instructional decisions using the most current student evidence (data) and the team’s instructional expertise.

Emerald Academy is an equal opportunity employer.