Special Education Teacher/Coordinator - Immediate Opening

School Overview

St. Louis Voices Academy of Media Arts is a new, innovative charter public school that will open in fall 2023 to serve students and families within the boundaries of St. Louis City. The school will start with kindergarten through first grade and add a grade each year, growing to kindergarten through fifth grade. St. Louis Voices Academy is a public charter school that leverages media arts and storytelling to equip students with the agency to excel academically, author their own futures, and make meaningful contributions in their communities. St. Louis Voices Academy is committed to media and storytelling, whole-child development, real-world inquiry, and progressive learner autonomy as design elements that allow the school to fulfill its mission.

Role Overview

Teachers are our most critical resource. They will be responsible for creating a culture reflective of our mission and nurturing students reflective of our graduate aims (self-directed learners, powerful communicators, effective collaborators, compassionate changemakers). Teachers at St. Louis Voices Academy must embrace their own stories to support students who are compelling storytellers. St. Louis Voices Academy teachers are results-driven educators with experience in, and commitment to, standards-based curricula and the use of data and assessments to drive instructional decisions. Our teachers assume personal responsibility for the academic progress of all students through an engaging instructional model that enables students to flourish academically and personally. We seek teachers who are committed to continuously improving curriculum and instruction in a supported, professional learning environment.

Mission Alignment

Mission-aligned members of the St. Louis Voices Academy community share the following dispositions: 

• Dedication to the school’s mission, vision, values, and graduate outcomes; 
• Understanding that relationships are essential to working with students who have experienced the effects of poverty or trauma; 
• Belief that our students have strengths and assets and build on these strengths in their work;
• A positive attitude and a solution-based approach to challenges in the workplace;
• Commitment to restorative justice as a means of addressing conflicts or challenges in the community, whether between students, staff members, or students and staff members;
• Commitment to inclusive excellence, including a willingness to engage in conversations about privilege, power, equity, and diversity and to invest time in community-building and professional development based on inclusive excellence;
• Active participants in a supportive and demanding professional community that fosters respect, trust, honesty, risk-taking, open-mindedness, flexibility, collaboration, and continuous improvement. 

Qualifications

• Undergraduate degree or higher in Elementary Education or other related fields of study
• Missouri Teacher Certification or ability to be certified within one semester after beginning employment 
• A demonstrated interest in impacting K-12 students in urban schools and communities (1-2 years of experience preferred)
• A demonstrated commitment to supporting students’ social-emotional and academic development
• A self-directed learner who solicits and implements feedback to improve outcomes and achieve objectives
• Evidence of alignment with school’s mission: leveraging media and storytelling to equip students with the agency to excel academically, author their own futures, and make meaningful contributions to the communities
• Evidence of alignment with St. Louis Voices Academy’s core values: community, commitment, courage, confidence, compassion, and celebration
• Demonstrated commitment to educational equity and a deep understanding of drivers of the opportunity gap
• Proactive, strategic problem-solver who is able to work successfully in a fast-paced environment, often while balancing competing priorities
• Personal responsibility and commitment to continual professional growth

Responsibilities

Instruction

• Teach a small group of students and individuals inside and outside of the classroom
• Prepare and execute lessons and resources
• Assess the student’s work
• Develop and adapt individualized teaching methods that are suitable for each of their students
• Use special tools and equipment provided to stimulate an interesting learning environment

Special Education

• Collaborate with general education teachers, school leaders, and families to analyze and respond to trends in student work samples and assessments and ensure compliance with Individualized Education Plans
• Collect academic and social/emotional growth data and writing goals to prepare for annual IEP meetings
• Teach small groups and one-on-one instruction and implement strategies to differentiate instruction for all learners
• Manage special education timeline and due dates for students through the intervention process
• Coordinate services and vendors for students, managing services for student and timeline for students with IEPs.

School Culture

• Build positive relationships with students to ensure they feel seen, loved, and heard
• Partner with students’ families to ensure appropriate resources are available to support their child's learning needs
• Engage in practice-based professional development, mentorship, and coaching sessions
• Participate in weekly, school-wide meetings to cultivate community, model our core values, and encourage student achievement.
• Partner with your grade level team to develop academic goals and practice instructional strategies.
• Collaborate with grade-level teams to build a better learning environment for the children
• Update parents on their kids’ progress and give recommendations to promote a better learning environment at home

Additional Information

St. Louis Voices Academy offers competitive salaries commensurate with experience and a comprehensive benefits package. Aside from extensive professional development, all our staff members are equipped with laptops, email, and all necessary supplies. Performance is evaluated by the Director of Teaching and Learning in accordance with St. Louis Voices Academy’s human resources policy.

St. Louis Voices Academy 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 by creating a space for meaningful 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.