Health & Wellness Teacher
JOB DESCRIPTION: HEALTH & WELLNESS TEACHER
ABOUT BART CHARTER PUBLIC SCHOOL
Berkshire Arts & Technology (BART) Charter Public School is a nationally recognized, award-winning, college-preparatory, public middle and high school located in Adams, Massachusetts. As the only charter school in Berkshire County, it is consistently ranked among the top schools in Massachusetts for student academic achievement and growth.
Committed to its mission to prepare its students for college and a lifetime of learning, BART is a community of 363 curious and creative students, devoted and innovative teachers and staff members, and families dedicated to the success of their children. The student body is richly diverse, each member with an important personal story. The School is built around a makerspace, and its academic program comprises an intense academic core curriculum enriched by ample elective courses in the arts and technology as well as opportunities for students to pursue independent creative and scholarly projects. Before they graduate, BART students must pass courses on college campuses, take and pass collegiate-skills courses each year, complete an internship within the region, and participate in a rigorous program of mock interviews, portfolio presentations, and annual science fairs.
The success enjoyed by BART’s students and the School as a whole results from a school culture characterized by the pursuit of excellence and based on a set of foundational elements:
- A liberating, college-preparatory, academic environment that provides for students and employees alike intellectual challenge, professional development and exploration, and personal growth;
- Dedication to the education of the whole child that supports the child’s intellectual, emotional, social, and physical maturation;
- A school that embodies the best of contemporary educational knowledge, thought, and practices, including a reliance on data-driven teaching and learning in support of advancing student achievement;
- A vibrant, inclusive school that embraces diversity and individuality yet shines by the devotion of students, faculty and staff, and families to their BART and home communities;
- An educational experience that brings the world into BART and BART into the world; and
- A strong, resilient, and multi-element financial base from which resources enable students’ academic success and professional distinction and employees’ professional development and refinement.
POSITION SUMMARY
We are seeking individuals who are passionate about educating all students to succeed in college and who want to contribute to a dynamic school environment that has a strong record of academic success.
BART teachers must be skillful educators, and:
- Welcome the challenge of being a teacher in an organization committed to excellence;
- Believe that data-driven instruction is a powerful way to educate students;
- Recognize that objective assessments of student performance are important tools that must be used in concert with deep, analytical thinking assignments to assess student understanding;
- Excel in facilitating mixed-ability learning environments;
- Demonstrate depth of content knowledge and pedagogical skills in their field;
- Model themselves as continuous learners to students, parents, peers and supervisors;
- Collaborate effectively with others on curriculum, instruction and assessment;
- Believe in creating a consistent environment throughout the school for discipline, classroom management and classroom routines.
EXPECTATIONS AND RESPONSIBILITIES
Daily and Weekly Expectations:
- Instruction: Teach 3-5 classes daily in a rotating schedule (depending on subject area; class lengths may vary).
- Planning & Development (approximately 1/2 hour planning for every hour teaching): plan lessons and instruction; assess student work; collaborate with team teachers on curriculum and assessment; participate in reflective practice and professional development.
- Advisory: serve as the advisor for approximately 12-15 students; participate in community meetings, facilitate advisory circles and other advisory activities.
- Supported Study / Silent Reading: depending on teaching load, be available to help students with organization and homework in a supported study or facilitate a silent reading period.
- Discipline / Classroom Management: follow the school’s prescribed discipline, classroom management and classroom routines to ensure a consistent environment across the school for all students.
- Online Gradebook: Maintain an up-to-date online gradebook with information on class syllabus, homework, unit plans, etc. to facilitate communication with students and their families.
- Daily Team Meetings: At the start of each work day, participate in regularly scheduled grade level and discipline-based team meetings to identify students who may be struggling, improve school culture, work as a cross-disciplinary team to integrate curriculum, and build / improve curriculum across grade levels.
- Student Meetings: Attend IEP, 504 and other family meetings as needed.
- Additional Coverage and Other Duties (as needed): monitor breakfast, lunch, hallways, and the student support classroom; provide substitute coverage for other teachers.
Annual Expectations:
- Teacher Residency (August): participate in training and professional development; refine curriculum scope and sequence; participate in preparing to address school-wide annual goals.
- Instruction (Late August – June): school year runs from the end of August until the middle / end of June, following the local district’s holiday schedule.
- Professional Development Days (monthly): participate in full and half-day professional development activities.
- Observation (30-60 minutes/month): observe and/or participate in other teachers’ classes to learn and share new ideas.
- Best Practices Sharing: Support the school in developing best practices and sharing them with the broader education community.
- Proctor PARCC, MCAS, PSAT, AP, and Other Exams: Follow all instructions to maintain the integrity of accountability exams.
QUALIFICATIONS
- Commitment to the success of all children.
- Demonstrated success in collaborative teaching, managing a mixed-ability classroom and facilitating performance-based learning.
- BA required, MA preferred; teachers must be highly qualified by passing the MTEL test for the subject(s) that they teach and, where appropriate, hold the SEI Endorsement - these are requirements that can be fulfilled during the year.
- Preferably have at least two years of classroom teaching experience or equivalent.
- A team player with a growth mindset and a sense of humor.
Preference will be given to applicants with demonstrated experience and expertise in implementing multi-tiered systems of academic and/or behavioral support.
Those who can see themselves as a Health & Wellness Teacher at BART Charter Public School should send a résumé, cover letter that addresses the needs of the position, and full contact information for three professional references to employment@bartcharter.org. The cover letter should be addressed to BART’s Executive Director, Dr. James White. Applications will be reviewed as they are received, and candidates are encouraged to apply as soon as possible.
BART Charter Public School is an equal opportunity employer. BART does not discriminate in admission to, access to, treatment in, or employment in its services, programs or activities, on the basis of race, color, religion, national origin, sex, disability, sexual orientation, gender identity, homelessness, or age. For more information about BART and its programs, please visit www.bartcharter.org.