Job Description: Middle School Lead Teacher

Background

Libertas School of Memphis is a public charter school serving an underserved neighborhood in Memphis by offering humane education from six weeks old through eighth grade. Our mission is to be a school for human flourishing: cultivating minds, hands, and hearts for lives of wonder, work, and love. We offer a rich, rigorous, and personalized liberal arts education through the method of Dr. Maria Montessori, with an attachment village of wraparound family supports. We are planning to expand our school to include Middle Grades beginning in the 2025-2026 school year.

Role Summary

• Lead a peaceful, orderly, rich, nurturing classroom that cultivates minds, hearts, and hands for lives of wonder, work, and love.
• Foster relationships with families to enable open and responsive communication about student growth and needs.
• Full-time role. Work hours will vary with the published school calendar. Assist with periodic school events outside of the normal schedule.
• Start date: Summer 2025 (detailed calendar TBD)
• Leadership roles available based on interest and capacity.  
• Measures of success for position to include student academic growth, family satisfaction, observation feedback, performance evaluations, and related indicators.
• Meaningful professional development and advancement opportunities.
• Reports to: Middle School Program Director.
• Key relationships: Principal; Students and Families; Teachers; support staff.

Key Responsibilities

Planning and Instruction

• Plan and implement high-quality instruction for daily individual student lessons in alignment with our school curriculum. Prepare lessons and materials and organize the classroom.
• Submit lesson plans weekly for review and incorporate feedback into planning
• Regularly observe students to inform instruction. Collect and analyze assessment data.
• Teach students with diverse needs in an inclusive environment; implement IEP accommodations and modifications with support from Student Support Team / special education staff. Participate in our Child Study process, including presenting data and implementing plans.

Classroom Culture

• Foster habits of excellence, including order and grace & courtesy, through schoolwide and classroom-level practices and rituals such as: connecting before redirecting; using a warm and firm tone; tending the heart of virtue through presenting beautiful, enduring literature; and sharing responsibility for all our students
• Be a model of character and striving toward virtue for students
• Supervise students within the classroom and outside of the classroom

Family Communication

• Communicate frequently with families
• Prepare quarterly report cards to share about student progress

Professional Development and Relationships

• Participate in formal check-in with assigned academic support team member at least biweekly
• Engage in teacher meetings, team planning, professional development, and data reviews
• Other duties as assigned

Qualifications and Traits

• Two or more years of effective teaching experience in schools in underserved communities (preferred)
• Willing to serve all students, regardless of background or needs, in an inclusive and supportive setting
• Knowledge of curriculum content and students’ developmental needs
• Skills in instructional practices and classroom management for student achievement
• Interest in and commitment to Montessori pedagogy, liberal arts, and humane education
• Strong interpersonal, verbal and written communication skills
• Bachelor’s degree and appropriate teacher license (Note: a Montessori credential is NOT required for Middle Grades teachers, but all staff will receive professional development in the Montessori method)
• Love of learning
• Flexibility, initiative, and personal responsibility to work in a fast-paced, startup environment
• Fortitude for the challenges we will face
• Warm and firm demeanor
• Work collaboratively, with a growth mindset. Give and receive feedback in a spirit of craftsmanship.

Compensation

• Salary/wage competitive with the local school district and nearby charter schools.
• Eligible for salary increases for performance or stipends for additional duties.
• Investment in faculty professional development and growth. We also offer to eligible applicants our Teacher Residency program, which provides financial sponsorship and additional coaching and support to achieve state licensure and/or Montessori certification. Please contact us for more details.
• Paid sick leave. Deferred pay model distributes salary throughout the year (including breaks and vacations).
• Full time employees are eligible for health insurance benefits, which we sponsor at an above-market rate (including family coverage). We also offer dental, vision, and other benefits, and retirement plans similar to local schools.

Application Process

Interested candidates should apply online at www.LibertasMemphis.org, where candidates can also learn more about our school. Please submit a resume, at least three references, and a cover letter (required) explaining why you would be a good fit for this position. Please direct any questions to talent@LibertasMemphis.org. Libertas does not discriminate on the basis of race, color, gender, handicap, age, religion, sexual orientation, or national or ethnic origin.