Job Description

About St. John’s

St. John’s is an independent, coeducational Episcopal school serving up to 500 students in grades pre-k through eight. Located in a park-like setting on 10 acres in East Dallas, the School offers its employees and students a supportive esprit de corps fueled by a common mission – one dedicated to a program of academic excellence designed to train the mind, strengthen the character, and enrich the spirit of each student in a Christian environment. We think of St. John’s not only as a school, but also as a very special kind of community. We seek to employ people who – regardless of the role they play in the School –understand that they impact the lives of our students, families, and colleagues. The St. John’s Code calls us to model honesty and respectfulness in our relationships, responsibility in the performance of our assignments, and a caring attitude that extends to all members of our community. Do you dream of becoming the best educator you can? Of coming to work each day with a sense of mastery, belonging, and purpose? Of working with fun, collegial, collaborative, growth-minded professionals? If so, you could thrive at St. John’s.

Position Purpose

This full-time position requires the teacher to teach four sections of Middle School English in a school community that values collaboration and differentiated instruction. The English teacher develops students’ close reading, analysis, and writing skills through the study of literature and poetry, vocabulary, grammar, and expository and creative writing. The teacher is responsible for collaborating with vertical team members on curriculum, instruction, and the progression of Middle School students’ reading, literary analysis, note-taking, study, and writing skills.

The teacher also serves as a Middle School advisor to a group of students. The advisor attends chapel with students, meets with them in a dedicated afternoon period, acts as their mentor, and provides organizational assistance and instruction of social and emotional learning lessons. The advisor works with the grade-level teaching team to plan, develop, and facilitate appropriate skills, conversations, and team-building activities for the grade. The advisor communicates regularly and as needed with parents and other teachers, conducts advisory meetings and discussion groups, and prepares for and participates in parent/student/advisor conferences.

Key Accountabilities

• Teach students to refine their reading, writing, and critical thinking skills.
• Cultivate a culturally competent English classroom by establishing and maintaining a respectful and conscientious environment and through the exploration of a variety of literary genres and voices.
• Participate in continuous curriculum evaluation with grade-level and vertical peers.
• Collaborate with vertical team members to ensure English/Language Arts curriculum continuity between Lower and Middle School and as students progress through Middle School. The vertical team monitors and advances the quality of the overall program and the progress and success of students.
• Maintain curriculum documentation in accordance with Middle School division requirements.
• Understand and meet the developmental and academic needs of Middle School students of varying academic, social and emotional abilities. Differentiate instruction to meet individual student needs.
• Adapt instructional strategies to accommodate the needs of students with diagnosed learning differences according to the accommodations outlined on Student Support Plans.
• Provide feedback to students and parents using a variety of tools including progress and grade reports, in-person and video conferences, phone calls, emails, and one-on-one meetings. The teacher is expected to write thoughtful, meaningful, and well-articulated comments that reflect students’ progress, give specific direction for growth, and regularly assess students Habits of Scholarship.
• Maintain daily lesson plans and effectively use the Student Information System, Learning Management System, and various other online tools. The teacher is expected to electronically record attendance, gradebooks, reports, and conference notes.
• Attend and contribute to regular grade‐level, vertical, divisional, and all-employee meetings.
• Fulfill other duties as assigned, such as lunch, recess, and carpool duty. Participate fully in the School community through club sponsorship, coaching, or other means.
• Adapt curriculum and instructional modalities as necessary based on whether learning is taking place on campus, at home, or in a hybrid/blended environment. Demonstrate technical proficiency and the ability to plan, organize, teach, and communicate in person, to a blended in-person/online class, and in synchronous and asynchronous online environments.
• Assist with the planning of and participate in field trips, whether they be virtual, day, or overnight.

Opportunities and Challenges

The Sixth Grade English teacher prepares students for the self-advocacy, stamina, and rigor required in seventh and eighth grades as students prepare for the transition to high school. The teacher helps students develop effective habits, skills, and attitudes in the completion of their academic work. The teacher must:

• Model the St. John’s Code of respect, responsibility, honesty, and care.
• Demonstrate clarity in verbal and written communication.
• Demonstrate strong listening skills.
• Embrace the School’s Episcopal identity, ethos, and commitment to respecting the dignity of each individual.

Growth Mindset

• Collaborate with colleagues on the development of curriculum, evaluation of data, and practice of instructional strategies.
• Leverage the knowledge, skills, and abilities of the Student Formation Team in support of students’ academic, social, and emotional needs.
• Pursue growth in relevant technology skills.
• Network with peers at other local and national independent and Episcopal schools.
• Demonstrate commitment to personal and professional growth. Able to meaningfully receive, reflect on, and apply feedback to one’s professional growth.
• Attend conferences and professional meetings to remain current with English/Language Arts curriculum, instructional strategies, culturally responsive instruction, and social and emotional learning.

Qualifications

• A Bachelor’s degree in English, humanities, or a related field; an advanced degree preferred.
• Minimum of five years of experience teaching English/Language Arts or humanities to middle school students preferred.
• Demonstrated ability to design and deliver lessons in hybrid/blended and online learning environments preferred.
• Must meet minimum technology proficiency standards, including the ability to work in online Student Information and Learning Management Systems, to schedule and conduct classes via Microsoft Teams and Zoom, and to use the Microsoft 365 suite.

Physical Requirements

• Ability to lift approximately 30 lbs.
• Ability to work for extended periods of time, including weeknights and weekends when required.
• Ability to work with children and adults in indoor and outdoor settings.
• Ability to work in on-campus, home, field trip and overnight trip settings.

In our commitment to diversity and equity, St. John’s Episcopal School does not discriminate regarding race, color, ethnicity, national origin, sexual orientation, gender, age, genetic information, disability, pregnancy, marital status, religion, military status, and/or any protected category. This commitment extends to our employment, educational, admission, and financial-aid policies, and other school-administered programs.

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