Middle School Teacher: 26-27

EQA Schools•New Orleans, LA

About The Position

Educators for Quality Alternatives (EQA) is a New Orleans nonprofit with the mission of providing struggling students with the skills, confidence and experiences to succeed in the education and career paths of their choice. The organization currently runs three alternative high schools: The NET:Central City, The NET:Gentilly and The NET: East for students who have dropped out of, been expelled from, or who have otherwise struggled in a traditional school setting. EQA programs are built on the belief that alternative schools should not punish or “fix” young people; they should be vibrant, flexible, and restorative environments that support students in being their best selves. The Bridge Middle School Program Our middle school program, launched in August 2019, serves 7th and 8th grade students referred from middle schools in Orleans Parish or for their expulsion terms. The program is rooted in restorative and therapeutic practices: students will participate in intensive behavioral, social, and academic support and will work to build skills that will help them transition successfully back to their home school. Position Summary The Bridge’s innovative model pairs a teacher and a counselor in each classroom to ensure that students’ behavioral and mental health needs are being met along with their academic needs. While our program and classrooms are relatively in small in size, our teachers work hard to individualize instruction and support for each student. The Bridge’s Classroom Teachers are responsible for:

Requirements

3+ years teaching at risk students with a demonstrated record raising student achievement
A BA or BS required; Louisiana Teacher Certification preferred but not required
Experience teaching students with exceptionalities
Specialized interest and skills in working with students with learning and emotional difficulties
Excellent communication, interpersonal, relationship building & management skills
Learning mindset dedicated to effectively and innovatively problem solving and constantly improving
Passion for improving educational opportunities for urban students and for being a part of a strong, mission-driven team
Enthusiasm and joy for working with children and desire to provide a whole-child focused educational experience
Commitment to EQA’s mission, vision and growth

Responsibilities

Creating high-quality lessons for all 4 content areas for 7th and 8th grade
Delivering instruction using project-based learning and multi-modalities of learning methods
Differentiating lessons, assessments and supports
Building and leveraging transformative relationships for student growth
Assessing and monitoring student progress on an individual and course level
Constantly developing your craft
Implement curriculum aligned with the LA State Standards and LEAP2025 exams
Modify curriculum to meet the needs of students through differentiation
Develop and execute on Weekly and Daily lesson plans
Develop and execute on Labs, Projects, and other hands-on learning experiences
Collaborate and/or co-teach with Classroom counselors, special education teaching assistants, teachers, and leaders to insure all students receive the appropriate, high quality modifications and accommodations
Develop differentiated assignments and assessments
Participate in all aspects of students’ experience including: intake, RtI, special education, and behavior plans
Conduct structured bi-weekly meetings with students’ to review their progress and develop plans for success
Plan and conduct weekly community building activities for each class
Plan student expeditions and experiences to develop social skills development and expose students to a variety of opportunities
Actively practice restorative approaches and collaborative problem-solving in order to teach students how to take responsibility for improving their behavior and communication
Develop rigorous, authentic assessments to accurately gauge student understanding and mastery
Collect and analyze a variety of data to assess student’s strengths, gaps, and growth areas
Use this information to appropriately adjust course curriculum and delivery and individualize approaches and supports
Set goals for student performance and professional growth
Actively reflect on your own work and monitor progress toward goals
Productively seek, give, and use feedback
Positively contribute to the school’s collegial community
Participate in all scheduled professional development activities and seek out additional opportunities
Involve yourself in the continual development and improvement of the school’s curriculum, culture, and program