Lead Junior High Teacher for the 2024-25 School Year

City Garden Charter School (City Garden) is one of the highest-performing charter schools in the state. Our team possesses passion and determination to implement the Montessori approach to educating children in a diverse, public school environment. City Garden is committed to being an anti-biased, anti-racist community and seeks others who are passionate about these values. We are committed to fostering excellence for all City Garden children.

At City Garden we are redefining public education, reimagining community, and reinvigorating our world.

City Garden is a community-centered and people-centered organization at an exciting point in our growth and expansion. Ours is an environment that celebrates vulnerability and centers humanity in the workplace. To learn more about City Garden’s impact on the community, please read some recent articles about us, found HERE and HERE.
 

The ideal Lead Guide candidate will have... 

• Teaching Certification with Missouri Department of Elementary and Secondary Education (DESE)
• 3+ years of teaching experience in a public school or urban setting
• Be deeply committed to whole-child education, having proven success and outcomes in meeting children’s needs holistically 
• Have a grounding in anti-bias education and antiracist values and principles, and is excited to be part of a school that is reimagining education through these lenses 
• Be eager to engage deeply with students, teachers, staff and families as partners 

Responsibilities 

Planning, Preparation and Instruction

The Lead Guide provides instruction that supports the development of the cognitive, emotional, social, physical and spiritual growth of the child.

• Use the School Curriculum, State Standards and current research based instructional practices to develop interdisciplinary units of instruction that meet both the group and individual needs of students. 
• Responsible for maintaining an on-going dialogue with specialty teachers and coordinating curriculum integration and implementation with these teachers. 
• Work with students of various abilities assigned to the classroom, including those with learning differences as diagnosed. The teacher may be required to participate in meetings, training, and planning cooperatives to fully meet each child’s needs. 
• Use various assessment tools/strategies such as the Missouri Assessment Program, NWEA, observations, children’s work samples, continuums of development, portfolios, etc. to help make instructional decisions for individual students.
• Create and communicate weekly learning plans for all students.

Classroom Environment/Management

The Lead Guide is responsible for preparing an environment that meets the sensitive period/plane of development of their students

• Preparing an environment in which the furnishings and materials are complete and correspond to the needs of the group
• Maintaining a clear, orderly, and attractive environment, including the care and maintenance of classroom materials and equipment.
• Communicating needs for the classroom in accordance with school policy, i.e., maintaining inventory of classroom materials and any additional materials needed.
• Creating an environment that demonstrates rapport with, respect and kindness for, all students as well as between students. The teacher models and teaches conflict resolution and problem-solving strategies in the classroom. 
• Responsible for the safety of the children left in his/her charge until dismissed to a responsible adult. 
• Ensures that the physical environment adheres to all health and safety regulations as required by the State of Missouri and City Garden policy. 
• Manages classroom field trip and supplies budget ensuring all resources are used in support of educating students and the school’s mission.

Communication

The Lead Guide communicates with gentleness and respect, at all times, to students and in a professional, positive manner to parents and colleagues.

• Responsible for communication that supports an understanding of the school’s program, develops positive relationships within the school community, and protects the privacy and confidentiality of each student and family.
• Establishes a positive relationship with parents and guardians and maintains regular communication with parents and guardians with regard to their child’s specific needs. The guide provides for parent and guardian conferences, meetings and communication throughout the school year in accordance with school policy. Responds to parent and guardian concerns in a timely manner. 
• The lead guide communicates to parents and guardians and others in the school community about the classroom and curriculum. 
• Completes required report cards/ progress reports in accordance with school policy. 
• Assists in the development of and participates in school functions, including but not limited to Open Houses, Transition Nights, Curriculum Nights, Parent Orientations and the Family Field Day. 

Professional Responsibility

City Garden believes all employees must take an active role in their development as professionals and in developing City Garden as an institution of learning.  Lead Guides will:

• Perform self-assessment and refinement of practice in the classroom as well as collaborative professional growth.
• Actively participate in a regular evaluation process including classroom observations, feedback conferences, and an annual self-evaluation toward goals set by the guide and/or in conjunction with the school principal. 
• Maintain their teaching skills and participates in professional development activities (both within the school community and attendance at conferences, workshops, etc.). The guide is a member of professional organizations and is aware of major areas of research in teaching and resources for professional learning. 
• Participate in collegial activities designed to make the entire school a productive learning environment, for example, age level meetings, curriculum discussion groups, working committees, mentoring, etc. It is expected that lead guides attend all scheduled meetings and professional days as appropriate to their level. The lead guide participates and shares information from professional development activities with colleagues to benefit the learning community. 
• Obtain and maintain certifications as appropriate for the grade level and subject area.

Related Duties

• Conduct new student interviews and hosts prospective student applicants in the classroom as requested through admissions.
• Complete and maintain all records, reports, evaluations, and inventories of student records and tests in a timely manner as may be required by the school.
• Responsible for reading and adhering to the guidelines as established in the employee handbook and adhering to all school policies.
• Manage a classroom team of 1-2 adults, including training, supervision and evaluating the assistant guide and any support staff assigned to the classroom.
• Participating in the interview process and orientation of new staff members.

 

Qualifications 

• Bachelor’s degree
• Certification (or ability to obtain certification) with Missouri Department of Elementary and Secondary Education (DESE) in the applicable subject(s) and grade level
• At least 2 years of classroom experience, preferably in a public or urban setting, with adolescent students 
• Be deeply committed to whole-child education, having proven success and outcomes in meeting children’s needs holistically 
• Have a grounding in anti-bias education and antiracist values and principles, and is excited to be part of a school that is reimagining education through these lenses 
• Be eager to engage deeply with students, teachers, staff and families as partners 
• Strong written and verbal communication skills
• Exemplary organizational skills
• Be eager to engage deeply with students, teachers, staff and families as partners