7th/8th Grade English Teacher

Denver Language School (DLS) is a public, tuition-free language immersion charter school located in East Denver. DLS provides an innovative academic program to reach the highest levels of student achievement through comprehensive language immersion education in Spanish and Mandarin Chinese. DLS offers traditional learning activities in the target language, making the language both the medium and the object of instruction.

7th/8th Grade English Teacher (Full Time, Part-Time may be considered)

Summary of Position

Teaching as part of the G7/8 team, this educator must feel comfortable challenging all students in Grade 7 and Grade 8 classrooms. Denver Language School is one of the highest achieving schools in Denver and the State of Colorado as measured by the School Performance Framework. Teachers of English have a significant role in contributing to the development of learners who have not received a traditional anglophone education. The strongest candidates for this role will be able to teach at, and above, Grade 7 and Grade 8 standards and to curate a culture of reading and writing. We require that the candidate is comfortable working within an English team, and as such we require this person to meet the direction of the Head of English, the Assistant Principal and/or Campus Principal.

Essential Functions and Objectives

• A commitment to ensuring a rigorous, culturally adept, written, taught and assessed curriculum for the students and families of Denver Language School;
• A demonstrated aptitude to identify learning objectives and to intentionally develop a pathway to attainment and mastery of subject matter and content area skills;
• An awareness of, and a commitment to, the expectations of Denver Public Schools and the State of Colorado standards and benchmarks;
• Comfort and confidence in leading a classroom environment that is safe, a space for appropriate whole-group, small-group, and personalized instruction, and an environment where students strive for continued excellence;
• A responsiveness to feedback and counsel in pursuit of ever-adaptive lessons plans and instructional materials that maximize instructional time in pursuit of learning;
• A commitment to ensuring students flourish in terms of their usage of grammar and syntax, sentence and paragraph structure, composition, vocabulary and proper word usage, word denotations and connotations, creative writing, independent thinking, communication and speaking;
• A desire to develop the skills of critical analysis in order to ensure student readiness for the world around them;
• Alignment with the school’s data-informed approach to instruction and a conviction that data samples can and should influence future lesson plans and pathways for all learners;
• A conviction that students with IEPs, 504s, and other reasonable accommodations receive the education they desire;
• An interest and ability to teach in a school without a one-to-one technology culture and in a space whereby students may not use their personal cellular devices;
• Continues to acquire professional knowledge and learn of current developments in the educational field by attending seminars, workshops or professional meetings, or by conducting research.
• Organizes and maintains a system for accurate and complete record-keeping, grading, and reporting for all student activities, achievement and attendance as required by school procedures and applicable laws.
• Encourages parental involvement in students education and ensures effective communication with students and parents.
• Ensures that student conduct conforms to the school's standards and school district policies, and establishes and maintains standards of student behavior needed to achieve a functional learning atmosphere in the classroom.
• Coordinates with other professional staff members, especially within grade level, and participates in faculty meetings and committees.
• Selects and requisitions appropriate books, instructional aids and other supplies and equipment and maintains inventory records.
• Performs other related tasks as assigned by the Principal and other administrators, inclusive of duties as assigned for the smooth operation of a school.

Qualifications

• Bachelor's degree required - If BA is not in English/English Language Arts, then 24 hours must be applicable to the CDE English Language Arts Endorsement Worksheet
• Colorado State Certification as an English Education Teacher; or
• Passing scores on Praxis 5038
• The ability, confidence, and willingness to communicate effectively and honestly with students and parents regarding learning, attainment and growth
• Ability to engage in self-evaluation with regard to performance and professional growth.

Annual Salary Range: For candidates new-to-DLS the salary at entry shall be $50,000 - $61,001 per year, depending on experience and educational attainment.

Denver Language School honors full-time lead teaching experience for incoming educators. This experience shall take place within the last ten years and should be at an accredited K-12 US or international school.

Denver Language School is committed to providing an environment that is free from discrimination and harassment based on race, age, creed, color, religion, national origin or ancestry, sex, gender, disability, veteran status, genetic information, sexual orientation, gender identity or expression, or pregnancy and will not discharge or in any other manner discriminate against employees or applicants because they have inquired about, discussed, or disclosed their own pay or the pay of another employee or applicant. Denver Language School is an equal opportunity/equal access/affirmative action employer fully committed to achieving a diverse workforce and complies with all Federal and Colorado State laws, regulations, and executive orders regarding non-discrimination and affirmative action.