Current Openings:
- Science Teacher(Advisor)
- Math Teacher(Advisor)
Position Summary
The primary responsibility of this position is to collaborate with a team of innovative educators to develop and implement a unique project-based learning curriculum focused on cultivating a community that is participatory, just, sustainable and peaceful. As a member of a Teacher Powered School, Advisors hold some collaborative leadership duties and are a part of the decision-making of the school. Grounded in constructivism, Advisors are primarily generalists who support and advise 9th-12th grade students to not only meet their academic goals, but also to provide opportunities for students to actively engage in community-based opportunities and experiences in preparation for life after graduation. While the primary role of an Advisor is to act as a coach, mentor, facilitator, or guide for independent project-based student learning, this position also includes leading workshops and coaching staff as the expert in the subject area hired for.
Escuela Verde Vision and Mission
Escuela Verde cultivates a community that is participatory, just, sustainable and peaceful. We live our vision through:
- Graduating high school students prepared to live happy, healthy, meaningful lives;
- Collaborating with the community to create a strong sense of place and skills to flourish without harm;
- Providing staff who model our vision and embrace education as liberation;
- Engaging youth by adhering to an ecopedagogical praxis;
- Developing biliteracy and honoring linguistic and cultural identities by engaging in translanguaging practices; and
- Offering immersion opportunities for those interested in transformative education.
Ideal Candidate
- Licensure issued by Wisconsin’s Department of Public Instruction (or eligibility for such licensure) in subject area to be taught; ability to obtain within one year
- Belief in constructivist pedagogy
- View of students as capable learners
- Understanding of Project Based Learning
- Ability to create a classroom environment that is inclusive, multicultural, and equitable
- Democratic mindset that puts all school members (advisor, students, and parents) on equal terms
- Belief in restorative practices as a method for problem-solving
- Ability to work in a collaborative environment
- Bilingual in Spanish
Essential Duties and Responsibilities
This list of duties and responsibilities is not all-inclusive and may be expanded to include other duties and responsibilities, as leadership may deem necessary from time to time.
Duty/Responsibility: Advising & Teaching Students
- Advise a cohort of approximately 20 students, coaching them as they complete curricular requirements and graduation goals
- Guide students in creating and completing rigorous quarterly independent projects that adhere to the PBL process
- Establish rapport and hold high expectations for dignified interactions with students, parents, staff and the community
- Support students both academically and personally as they navigate PBL, EV school systems, restorative practices, and post-secondary planning
- Use restorative practices to keep the school environment conducive for learning; uphold student safety and dignity
- Maintain records for student attendance, goals, and progress
- Plan and lead at least two workshops each quarter
- Execute meaningful and engaging learning experiences
- Select and create exemplary instructional materials for students
- Align content with content standards, the school’s sustainability themes, and PBL
- Apply best practices in teaching and classroom management
- Use data to inform teaching and learning goals
- Plan and lead advisory curriculum, all-school activities, and specialty weeks throughout the year
- Attend community nights, parent nights, presentation nights and specialty nights throughout the year
- Parent/Caregiver Engagement
- Create trusting relationships with students and their caregivers; involve parents in the student’s overall success
- Lead parent/teacher/student conferences
- Remain reasonably accessible to parent calls and meetings during work hours
- Maintain record of parent communication via JMC platform
Duty/Responsibility: Non-Instructional Tasks
- Collaboration with Staff
- Contribute to a culture that promotes learning and growth
- Actively participate in staff meetings & decision making
- Adhere and be an active participant in our discipline process including having direct involvement with student issues, being part of restorative practices processes as well as discipline committee meetings, contacting parents, and properly documenting discipline issues
- Communicate proactively and promptly with staff, make adequate preparations for time off
- Commit to using restorative practices with other staff members
- Maintain openness to giving and receiving feedback from the professional learning community
- Attend overnight strategic planning week in February
- Personal Growth
- Create and follow a professional PD plan, which includes Effectiveness Project goals
- Attend at least one conference/professional development opportunity per year
- Conduct, compile and analyze action research related to student learning and engagement
- Model a commitment to caring for yourself, the community and the environment in alignment with our school’s vision.
- Ground decision making and implementation of equity work in data and best practices for students
- Establish and maintain community relationships in order to provide authentic, meaningful experiences for students.
- Understand that new/additional responsibilities will arise and will require advisors’ willingness to collaborate
Education and/or Experience
- Licensure issued by Wisconsin’s Department of Public Instruction (or eligibility for such licensure) in subject area to be taught; ability to obtain within one year
- Bachelor’s Degree
Language Skills
Ability to speak effectively to other employees of the organization. Spanish speaking is a plus.
Mathematical Skills
Ability to calculate figures and amounts such as overtime, time report calculations, and percentages.
Reasoning Ability
Ability to apply commonsense understanding to carry out instructions furnished in written, oral, or diagram form. Ability to deal with problems involving several concrete variables in standardized situations.
Physical Demands
The physical demands described here are representative of those that must be met by an employee to successfully perform the essential functions of this job. Reasonable accommodations may be made to enable individuals with disabilities to perform the essential functions. While performing the duties of this job, the employee is regularly required to sit. The employee frequently is required to use hands to finger, handle, or touch objects, tools, or controls and talk or hear. The employee is occasionally required to stand, walk, and reach above shoulders.
Work Environment
The work environment characteristics described here are representative of those an employee encounters while performing the essential functions of this job. Reasonable accommodations may be made to enable individuals with disabilities to perform the essential functions. The noise level in the work environment is usually moderate. This role will be in-person, in the community, and based out of Escuela Verde located at 3628 W Pierce St, Milwaukee, WI 53215.
Equal Employment Opportunity
TransCenter for Youth (Escuela Verde) is an equal opportunity employer and believes in equal opportunity for all employees and applicants. Accordingly, all employment decisions are based on the principles of equal opportunity. These decisions include recruitment, selection, promotion, transfer, discipline, compensation, benefits, training, and other personnel actions involving persons in all job titles and shall occur without regard to race, color, creed, religion, sex, marital status, pregnancy (including childbirth and related conditions), age, ancestry, national origin, disability, genetic information, veteran or military status, sexual orientation, gender identity, arrest and conviction records, the use or nonuse of lawful products off the employers’ premises during nonwork hours, declining to attend meetings or participate in communications about religious or political matters, or any other characteristic protected by law.