Metro

Position Begins: August 2019
Status: Full-time, Exempt
Department: Instructional Faculty, Middle School Science and Design (grades 5-8)
Mounds Park Academy is a PreK-12 independent school in Saint Paul, MN that serves approximately 500 students from throughout the Twin Cities area. For 37 years, Mounds Park Academy has engaged students in a rigorous college preparatory experience that is demanding, but not draining, and goes far beyond memorization. Students are challenged to apply their understanding to stir the human spirit, stand for justice, and shake the world. This is what we call rigor with purpose and it grounds our students in the radical idea that their identity in the world is not measured by a test score, but rather by the depth and decency of their impact on the world.

Mounds Park Academy seeks a full-time Middle School Science and Design teacher for the 2019-2020 school year, specifically, for Grades 7 and 8. Science teachers at MPA are responsible for providing a classroom instructional program that supports the individual needs of all students in accordance with the school’s mission and values and in-line with the curricular scope and sequence. More, our science teachers are well-versed in the most progressive and innovative pedagogies that challenge our students not just to know, but to apply knowledge and understanding in creative and critical ways. Our ideal candidate is innovative and creative, has experience in teaching and working with Middle School students, and has one or more degrees in science, science education, or related fields.

It is expected that a successful candidate would:

Teach grades 7 and 8 Science in the Middle School
Design and implement innovative and engaging curriculum and learning experiences reflective of the most recent MPA Science Curriculum Review
Thoughtfully attend to and incorporate the spirit of the engineering design process, scientific inquiry, and research-based instructional practice through collaboration, cross-disciplinary integration, and a Maker-mindset
Collaborate with department colleagues and faculty across disciplines, with a keen focus on design-thinking, project-based learning, and technology integration
Inspire students to enter into the creative process in classes with inquiry-driven, interdisciplinary lesson experiences that connect the science classroom to real-world applications
Possess a commitment to community engagement and service learning that encourages students to be citizen scientists capable of complex problem solving
Supervise, encourage, counsel, and evaluate students as advisor, mentor, and teacher
Create a welcoming, inclusive and effective classroom environment and attend to students’ social, emotional, and academic well-being
Utilize and incorporate available academic technologies for instruction, assessment, and communication with students and families clearly and consistently
Communicate and work in partnership with students and parents during scheduled conferences and as necessary throughout the academic year
Participate in Science Department and staff development activities as a faculty member of MPA
Show a willingness to contribute to the life of the school outside of the classroom, including but not limited to, attendance at after-school events, committee membership, and extracurricular activities
Serve as a Middle School advisor to support the whole-child approach of MPA
Perform additional duties as needed (serve on school-wide committees, advise a student club, design curriculum, etc.)
In addition, a candidate should possess the following personal qualities:

Excellent interpersonal, written, and verbal skills
Demonstrable ability to innovate and use design-based thinking in classroom instruction
Admirable leadership skills and a desire to serve
Strong collaboration and organization skills
Substantial understanding of the cognitive, social/emotional, and academic needs of the Middle School student
Openness to lifelong learning and continuous professional development
A sense of humor, warmth of personality, and nurturing energy
Ability to multi-task in a dynamic, creative, and fast-paced environment

8 Hours/day, 192 Days/year

JOB GOAL:
To enable the District to provide quality education for all students in the District.

ESSENTIAL FUNCTIONS:
Professional Skills – The teacher is expected to establish procedures of management to allow a maximum of learning and a minimum of disciplinary action by:
1. Planning and organizing effectively.
2. Demonstrating competency in his/her area.
3. Creating and maintaining an atmosphere conducive to learning.
4. Providing opportunities for individual differences.
5. Making provisions for individual differences.
6. Encouraging the development of independent work habits.
7. Using appropriate language for students to model.
8. Using varied and appropriate instructional techniques to accomplish predetermined instructional objectives.

Professional Relationships: The teacher is expected to establish and maintain a professional relationship with students by:
1. Encouraging respect for the rights, opinions, property, and contributions of others.
2. Being sensitive to factors which affect pupil achievement and behavior.
3. Being available for extra help.
4. Using methods of management that result in desired changes in behavior.
5. Communicating and maintaining a working relationship with parents.
6. Maintaining confidentiality with respect to students and their records.
7. Refraining from personal criticism of staff to students.
8. Avoiding use of position for commercial gain.

The teacher is expected to establish and maintain a professional relationship with fellow staff members by:
9. Cooperating with other staff members.
10. Consulting with co-workers in evaluating and meeting student needs.
11. Leaving clear and complete instructions for substitutes.
12. Following curriculum and policies approved by the Board.
13. Cooperating in evaluation of present curriculum.
14. Recommending possible revision of curriculum.
15. Being proficient or distinguished in all areas listed on the Teacher Performance Evaluation.
16. Communicating professionally and respectfully with students, staff, parents, and community members, using oral, written, and electronic means.
17. Attending work regularly.
18. Performing other duties as assigned.

Professional Development: The teacher is expected to demonstrate professional development by:
1. Participating actively in inservice programs.
2. Keeping abreast of professional developments in his/her particular area and in education as a whole.
3. Exploring new teaching techniques as alternatives to better accomplish predetermined instructional objectives.