Upper Elementary Teacher

ORGANIZATION:
Highline Academy Charter Schools

LOCATION:

Denver, CO

REPORTS TO:

Highline Academy Campus Principal SALARY RANGE: $55,000 to $90,000

Highline Academy is a community of diverse youth and adults striving together for academic, civic, and personal excellence. Founded in 2004, Highline is committed to inclusive excellence. In 2013, we launched our second school in Green Valley Ranch. Our students come from fifty countries, speak 26 different languages, represent a full range of socio-economic backgrounds, and previous educational experiences. Our diverse and integrated community has already begun to achieve excellence.

Highline students have consistently out-performed district and state averages. Strong faculty and student retention rates are emblematic of the school’s positive culture and strong community.

Highline has a commitment to a liberal arts education which includes Art, Music, Spanish and P.E. instruction for our students. We have high expectations for all of our learners, with an understanding that some learners need more or different instruction. We have Performance Group teachers at each grade level which enable us to give smaller group instruction for the core content areas of math and language arts.

Additionally, we have a robust intervention program with additional supports available as students show they need them. We are a fully inclusive organization for students with special needs, who are integrated into the general education classrooms. We have a character education program designed by Highline called Reach. This teaches, practices, and celebrates the Reach values of responsibility, empowerment, aspiration, citizenship and honesty.

All our students are taught to Reach Out to support and care about their classmates and community, Reach In to learn about themselves and reflect about their learning and Reach Up to their very best academic achievement. We are a students’ first, growth mindset organization and we expect all of our employees to model these values. All Highline employees are expected to read and follow all policies as written in the employee handbook and to review it annually for updates.

Reporting directly to Highline’s campus principal, our teachers are the heart of our organization - the ones who make the mission come alive for our students. We expect our teachers to be caring about the whole child, great lesson planners, strong and nurturing classroom management and excellent collaborators with teammates and families. We look for people with good communication skills, dedication to do everything it takes to make a difference for each child, and a growth mindset.

Teachers are salaried, year-round employees. The formal work calendar includes 177 student contact days, along with professional development and parent conference days, for a total of 195 required workdays. In addition to these designated days, the work teachers do outside of the formal calendar such as planning, reflecting on practice, collaborating with colleagues, and pursuing professional growth is an essential and expected part of the role.

Teachers are required to be on campus and prepared for students by 7:30 a.m. and to remain on campus until 4:00 p.m. on all days school is in session. On Fridays with early student release, teachers are required to stay until 4:30 p.m. to participate in professional development sessions, collaborative planning, or staff meetings.

As part of their work expectations, all teachers are expected to attend after-school meetings and events, which may include staff meetings, professional development sessions, family engagement events, conferences, and other school-sponsored activities, when necessary. These after-school commitments are considered part of the regular responsibilities of the position and attendance is expected of all employees. Additionally, there are up to two weeks of required professional development each summer prior to the start of the school year.

These weeks are included in the total number of professional development days accounted for in the 195-day work year.