TK Teacher

Position Description

Our TK teachers are subject experts who specialize in either Humanities or STEM. Every Rocketship school is supported by leaders who provide weekly coaching and real-time feedback in the classroom to help teachers continually grow their practice. Just as our teachers invest their time and energy in the progress of their students, we invest in their professional growth through collaboration, development opportunities, and eligibility for performance-based pay tied to student growth and instructional excellence.

Rocketship’s collaborative learning environment extends well beyond the classroom. We are deeply committed to parent engagement as a driver of student success. Annual teacher home visits, monthly parent community meetings, and a vibrant parent volunteer network create authentic relationships, a rich school culture, and a devoted community that propels student achievement.

This position reports to the Principal or Assistant Principal.

Essential Functions:

• Build a classroom culture of excellence and deliver rigorous instruction by building content expertise in Humanities or STEM that is captured in units of study and daily plans.
• Engage in cycles of data driven instruction to inform planning and personalize instruction to student needs.
• Collaborate with special education staff so students identified as needing extra support are meaningfully included.
• Other duties as assigned

Student and Parent Partnership:

• Partner with all students and families through frequent communication, building trusting relationships, and embracing the knowledge parents have as their child's first teacher.
• Build authentic relationships with families beginning with home visits that form the foundation for frequent ongoing communications to support student success.
• Engage with families on academic and behavioral goals and transparently share student progress so that both parents and teachers own each child's successes and challenges.

Rocketship Professional Culture:

• Commit to doing and being their best, and to growing their skills as professionals and as individuals
• Attend all professional development meetings and opportunities
• Urgently and courageously takes actions in the best interest of students, even if they are new or unfamiliar
• Meet all professional obligations and proactively communicate when changes come up
• Exhibit a high level of honest and humble self-reflection owning good and bad outcomes
• Effectively respond to and implement constructive feedback
• Communicate effectively with colleagues and contribute to positive staff culture
• Collaborate with all staff members to ensure that all students have consistent and well-coordinated support

Required Qualifications:

• Hold a B.A./B.S. degree from an accredited institution
• Satisfaction of one of the following subject matter requirements:
• 24 semester units of coursework in Child Development or Early Childhood Education, or
• A bachelor’s degree in Child Development, Early Childhood Education, or a closely related field, or
• Beginning July 1, 2023: three or more years of full-time teaching experience in a transitional kindergarten, preschool-age early childhood, or child development program, or a combination of these experiences.
• Possession of a valid Child Development Teacher Permit or higher.
• All Rocketship teachers must hold a valid teaching credential or enroll in an accredited credentialing program during their first year at Rocketship. Rocketship partners with all teachers needing to transfer an out-of-state credential or enroll in a program to meet this requirement.
• Preferred: Prior experience in urban education.