Uncommon Schools is a non-profit network of 55 outstanding public charter schools in grades K-12 across New York, New Jersey and Massachusetts. Our mission is to start and manage outstanding urban public charter schools that close the achievement gap and prepare students from low-income backgrounds for success in college and beyond. We are accomplishing that mission every day, with a college graduation rate that is well above the national average and thousands of stories of our students and alumni achieving their dreams.

In addition to the duties set forth below, the Employee agrees that s/he will perform all the other duties that are assigned by his/her supervisors, the school’s Principal and the Principal’s designees, and/or the Board of Trustees, including, but not limited to:

• Taking all steps required by the School to ensure that the Employee becomes highly qualified and certified which includes holding a bachelor’s degree, full-state certification or licensure and otherwise authorized to teach in a public school in the state of employment (charter rights should be included);
• Being present and engaged from 7:00AM- 5:00PM Monday through Friday each week of the school year;
• Providing appropriate supervision of students during class, breaks, meals and transitions to maintain an optimal work environment and to ensure students’ safety and well-being;
• Attending and participating in events outside of normal school hours as needed (e.g., family nights, student performances, field trips, report card nights, Teacher - Parent Conferences, June and August Family Saturday Orientations, etc.).
• Researches, designs, and/or documents standards and curricula for art for students in grades K-4.
• Ensures a coherent and enriching art experience for students.
• Teaches Art to all students in the school Monday-Thursday each week of the school year.
• Teachers after school enrichment two days per week if included in the school’s programmatic offerings.   
• Designs, supervises, and implements all aspects of the Art program, including coordinating with outside providers and vendors, maintaining records, participating in required trainings and certification processes, etc.
• Assists in the purchase and maintenance of the school’s Art equipment.
• Provides, during summer training, an orientation to all staff on the school’s art program, including transitions, standards, appropriate singing, integration, Friday plays, winter holiday celebration(s), arts as a student motivator, arts as an avenue to increase parent involvement, and collaboration and team projects.
• Assists the Director of Operations/Dean of Students in coordinating the school’s annual winter holiday celebration(s), weekly Community Meetings, and Stepping Up celebration(s).
• If requested, teaching at least 1 section of Reading each Monday-Friday each week of the school year;
• Provides instruction in the schools’ core reading program (Reading Mastery) and in other subjects as needed;
• Works with classroom teachers to ensure the integration of academic instruction into Art instruction, particularly Core Knowledge social studies and science curricula.
• Participates in the collaborative curriculum development process.
• Communicates effectively with students, families, and colleagues.
• Engages families in their children’s education, including involving families in periodic student Art concerts.
• Participates actively in department meetings, faculty meetings, and other meetings.
• Meets the school’s “Standards for Excellence in Art Instruction” and “Standards for Excellence in Instruction”
• Consistently demonstrates alignment with the school’s core values and educational philosophy.
• Leads by example on how to hold oneself accountable first for student mastery of academic standards
• Manages the department folder on the school server and ensures that curricular materials are well-organized and easily accessible for both current and future teachers.
• Meets with the Principal to review results and plan future actions.
• Completes all necessary school-wide duties for the successful and orderly functioning of the school.

• A commitment to the mission of Uncommon Schools and investment in our vision for being an anti-racist organization
• A demonstrated commitment to supporting students’ social emotional and academic development
• An enthusiasm for collaborating with internal and external partners in the best interest of students
• A self-directed learner who solicits and implements feedback to improve outcomes and achieve objectives
• Required Experience:
  • A demonstrated interest in impacting K-12 students in urban schools and communities (1-2 years experience preferred).
  • Prior to the start of employment, you must have a bachelor's degree from an accredited college or university. Certification is not required to be hired at Uncommon, but you do need to meet NY state certification eligibility requirements. To meet these requirements, you must enroll in a teacher preparation program and maintain a GPA of 2.5 or higher during your employment with us if you do not have a degree in education. Uncommon Schools teachers are required to become certified in the state of New York within a reasonable period after beginning employment.

Uncommon Schools offers competitive salaries commensurate with experience and a comprehensive benefits package.  Aside from extensive professional development, all our staff members are equipped with a laptop computer, email, and all necessary supplies.

Uncommon believes in the importance of being a diverse, equitable and inclusive organization that enables our students and staff to thrive.  We are committed to building a talented team that reflects the diverse backgrounds and experiences of our students. At the same time, we work to ensure an inclusive community through creating a space for important dialogue about issues of race and identity for our staff and students.  As an equal opportunity employer, we hire without consideration to race, religion, creed, color, national origin, age, gender, sexual orientation, marital status, veteran status or disability.