Excel Academy Charter Schools Careers

Description

Organization Overview

Excel Academy was founded in 2003 with the mission to provide a high-quality, free, and public education to students in East Boston and Chelsea Massachusetts, communities that are predominantly low-income and Latinx and historically have faced significant social and educational barriers. Our success in Massachusetts is proof that the opportunity gap can be closed and we opened a new school in Rhode Island in 2022.  At Excel Academy Charter Schools, we believe that when a student has the support and tools to pursue a productive post-secondary pathway aligned to their personal identity and values, it can fundamentally change their life trajectory.  

At Excel Academy we learn from our students, families, and staff and make improvements. We have increasingly adapted to provide a holistic education that values our community as collaborators in the learning process, social-emotional support, equity for diverse learners, and fosters identity development. We prioritize an approach that is both rigorous and inclusive. Our team of passionate, intelligent, driven, and loving staff are at the core of the work we do. 

Growth Happens Here.

About the Role

Excel teachers are responsible for delivering effective, high-quality, rigorous college-preparatory instruction designed to foster the success of their students.  Teachers who thrive at Excel tend to be entrepreneurial instructors and hungry learners who crave frequent high-quality feedback on their practice.  Excel Academy High School is seeking a strong Learning Specialist to be responsible for ensuring that all Special Education students make significant academic gains through classroom (inclusion) support and additional out-of-class support.  

Your Impact

Instructional

• Teach self-contained courses.
• Serve as an inclusion co-teacher as needed to more effectively support the learning abilities of students with high needs;
• Work closely with general education teachers to differentiate curriculum, help create effective accommodations, and modify curriculum when appropriate; and
• Ensure that all work with students with special needs is aligned with the school’s academic goals for student achievement.

Administrative Responsibilities

• Monitor and track student performance and develop action plans, as needed, to support individual students academically and behaviorally (in self-contained and co-taught programming);
• Collect data and report on student IEP goals and objectives, quarterly;
• Provide IEP or 504 plan input and consult with students to develop and make changes to their transition plans
• Communicate with staff members supporting Special Education students, including but not limited to, related service providers, school counselors, and the Dean of Students; and 
• Maintain regular communication with students’ parents/guardians and families.

Team Member Responsibilities

• Create a safe learning environment for all students by implementing Excel’s classroom management strategies and best practices with consistency;
• Continually communicate with students and families regarding academic and behavior performance and progress;
• Serve as a homeroom teacher and student advisor; and
• Serve as a productive member of the Excel Community.

Qualifications

• A Bachelor’s degree is required; a Master’s degree is strongly preferred;
• License or a plan to pursue DESE required licensure prior to the start date:   
  • Learning Specialists, Special Education Teachers, ROSE Teachers, and Special Education Coordinators and Administrators must hold a Moderate Disabilities or Severe Disabilities license.
• A minimum of two years teaching experience in an urban public school or charter school setting preferred;

Preference will be given to applicants who share points of intersection with our students, such as speaking Spanish, Portuguese, Arabic, or a language commonly spoken by our students and families at an advanced level, being first generation college graduates, or having grown up low-income. 

Mission Alignment

• You share a commitment to and belief in all students and the mission of Excel Academy Charter Schools, including Excel’s values and educational model;
• You are committed to addressing racial and economic inequity in education;
• You work effectively in a team environment and have a willingness and desire to support others in doing their best work; and
• You are open to change, are willing to problem-solve, and seek feedback for your own professional growth and improvement.

Excel Academy Charter Schools do not discriminate on the basis of race, color, national origin, creed, sex, ethnicity, sexual orientation, gender identity, disability, age, ancestry, athletic performance, special need, proficiency in the English language or a foreign language or prior academic achievement.

Applications will be reviewed as they are received and candidates are encouraged to apply as soon as possible.