PreSchool-8th grade Teachers

DC Prep is looking for highly dedicated and talented educators for PreSchool through 8th grade teaching positions for the 2010-11 school year. Successful candidates will have a demonstrated track record of success in improving student achievement, at least two years of teaching experience (preferably in an urban public school), and a “whatever it takes” attitude to ensure that all students succeed at a high level. DC Prep’s classroom teaching positions include:


• PreSchool and PreKindergarten
• Kindergarten-3rd Grade
• 4th-6th grade ELA,
Social Studies/Science, Math
• 7th and 8th grade ELA, Social Studies,
Science, Math
• PreSchool-8th grade Special Education
• PreSchool-3rd grade Spanish
• PreSchool-8th grade Music, Art, and PE
Do you have the drive, talent, and commitment it takes to work at one of the nation’s highest-performing charter management organizations? Join our effort and ensure that all students are prepared – both academically and socially – for successful futures.

ABOUT DC PREP
Now in its seventh year, DC Prep has built an excellent early childhood, elementary and middle school program and demonstrated uncommon success in student achievement, and organizational development. With a dual focus on rigorous academics and character development DC Prep is ensuring that its graduates have the skills, knowledge, and attitudes necessary for success in competitive high schools and colleges. Currently serving students in PreSchool through 8th grade at three campuses, DC Prep will grow to 10 schools enrolling 10% of public school students in Wards 5-8. To learn more, visit our website at www.dcprep.org.

TEACHING AT DC PREP
DC Prep's teachers are passionate, talented, and uncompromising educators with a mission to make sure all students succeed at a high level. Every aspect of our organization and program is designed – and continually refined – to ensure that goal. DC Prep’s supportive, stimulating, and professionally rewarding learning environment continuously develops and motivates high-performing teachers. DC Prep's staff and school leadership are building schools that promote meaningful relationships between faculty and students, enable excellent teaching, and foster professional collaboration. The management team is ensuring an organization that is focused and effective. The end result: great outcomes for students.
DC Prep students spend approximately 25% more time in school than other DC public school students. Elementary campus students attend school from 8:00 AM – 4:00 PM with optional after-care until 6:00 PM. At the middle campus, all 4th graders, new 5th graders, and students receiving tutoring or participating in Homework Center attend school from 8:00 AM – 5:00 PM. All other middle school students are in school from 8:00 AM – 4:00 PM. Teachers are on call every evening until 8:00 to assist students with homework questions and challenges.
RESPONSIBILITIES OVERVIEW
Curriculum and Planning
• Working with DC Prep’s scope and sequence, create purposeful and appropriate lesson plans that employ a variety of effective teaching strategies, provide meaningful instruction, and maximize time on task
• Ensure that lesson plans are aligned to DC state standards
• Collaborate with colleagues and the school’s instructional leadership team to regularly evaluate and improve curricular maps and materials

Managing Student Behavior/Learning Environment
• Create a positive, achievement-oriented, and structured learning environment in which all students can experience success
• Ensure that all students are fully and consistently engaged during class time
• Implement the school-wide behavior management policies and social skills development program within classrooms and throughout the school

Instructional Delivery
• Structure compelling, standards-based lessons that challenge students’ critical thinking and align with lesson, unit, and grade-level objectives
• Infuse joy and rigor in lessons and so that students are excited about and invested in their academic excellence
• Utilize strong content knowledge to effectively present material to students
• Employ multiple methods to accommodate different learning styles and abilities, including special education students and English language learners

Assessments
• Regularly evaluate student progress using a variety of assessment methods including DC Prep interim assessments, teacher-designed tests, and samples of student work
• Use data to analyze students’ academic strengths and deficits, to drive individualized instruction, and to design academic interventions as needed

Professionalism
• Fully participate in opportunities for professional growth including weekly professional development meetings, instructional coaching, and outside professional opportunities
• Keep current in subject matter knowledge and learning theory and be willing to share this knowledge for continual improvement of the school’s curriculum
• Take full responsibility for all duties and share responsibility for grade-level and school-wide activities

School Community
• Communicate regularly with families to share academic progress and develop a supportive home-school relationship
• Model and support DC Prep’s mission of instilling character and leadership values and infusing the school’s character education and social skills development program into daily instruction
• Fully embrace DC Prep’s mission, vision, and values and promote them to students, staff, other faculty, parents, and members of the outside community


SKILLS AND CHARACTERISTICS
• Deep belief in DC Prep’s vision and mission
• Strong accordance with DC Prep’s values: results for students, first and foremost; good minds and good hearts – inextricably linked; excellence, always; reflection and refinement; optimistic determination; and generosity and humor
• Exceptional instructional and classroom management skills
• Demonstrated content area mastery
• Passion for teaching and connecting with students and families
• Commitment to academic and personal excellence
• Desire to work as a team player with teachers and staff
• Focus on maintaining a school environment promoting academics, character, leadership and continuous learning
• Ability to interact professionally with parents and community members
• Understanding of need for and willingness to “do whatever it takes” to support student achievement in traditionally under-served communities
• Meticulous organizational ability in order to set priorities, organize workload, handle multiple responsibilities and meet deadlines
• Emotional constancy and extraordinary interpersonal skills
• Positive attitude, maturity, and personal stability sufficient for a demanding position

EDUCATIONAL BACKGROUND AND WORK EXPERIENCE
• Two years of lead teaching experience, preferably in an urban public school, with a record of high student achievement
• Meet the appropriate grade level and subject area requirements to obtain “Highly Qualified” status for the District of Columbia under the No Child Left Behind law
• Bachelor’s degree from a competitive college or university

COMPENSATION AND BENEFITS
• Highly competitive salary with the opportunity to earn performance pay based on individual and organizational results
• Comprehensive benefits package including medical, dental, vision, short- and long-term disability insurance; maternity, paternity, and adoption leave; and a 403b retirement plan
• Laptop for school and home use and monthly cell phone stipend
• Leadership opportunities and/or flexible schedules (for teachers who demonstrate stellar student academic gains and superior contributions to the entire school community)

APPLICATION INSTRUCTIONS: To apply, please complete an application and submit a resume at http://jobs-dcprep.icims.com. No phone calls, please.