Upper School Teacher: Grades 6-8

THE OPPORTUNITY:

Emerald Academy is looking for an innovative, highly-motivated, and values-aligned leader to help grow scholars into leaders in urban Knoxville. EA is seeking individuals who are goal orientated and dedicated to the schools mission, vision, and values. These leaders will have the unique opportunity to mold the next chapter of Emerald Academy by embracing the student-centered learning environment that every child will be college-bound and career ready. Emerald Academy believes that it is possible to change the trajectory for our citys young people and that it can be done at scale. Faculty endeavor to work each day to help accomplish the schools three goals. Every scholar will read at or above grade level, every scholar will be well prepared to attend a four-year college, and EA will be ranked in the top 5% of all schools in the state of Tennessee.

REPORTS TO: 6-8 Grade Band Director, Director of School

START DATE: 2025/2026 Academic Year

TEACHER STARTING SALARY: $50,000

JOB SUMMARY:

The Lead Teacher helps to prepare scholars for the college of their choice and community leadership. The Lead Teacher accomplishes this by delivering instruction and managing the classroom in ways that maximize scholars academic engagement and outcomes. As such, the Lead Teacher is primarily a scholar-facing role. The Lead Teacher is responsible for overseeing the Associate Teacher. The Lead Teacher reports directly to the director of a grade band.

JOB GOALS:

• Design and implement rigorous lessons and classroom instruction with a focus on student achievement determined by demonstration of mastery.
• Create a classroom climate of high expectations that is focused and rewards perseverance through academically challenging materials. Holds all students accountable to themselves and collaboratively to classmates, while enthusiastically encouraging natural exploration and a love of learning.
• Communicate and build strong partnerships with families through phone calls, conferences and home visits when appropriate.
• Use current student data to drive instruction, planning and decision-making.
• Work collaboratively utilizing all Emerald Academy team members to ensure students achieve at high levels.
• Develop processes that encourage student self-assessment and self-monitoring.
• Document, analyze, and summarize student progress based on both formal and informal assessment measures, in order to communicate with students, parents and other stakeholders.
• Utilize technology to maintain student data and enhance student learning.
  

QUALIFICATIONS:

• Must hold a Tennessee Teacher License and any needed endorsements.
• Must have an active TDOE Teaching License or completed the TDOE Application process for current and active out-of-state license transfer prior to application.
• Must meet highly qualified status for area(s) will be teaching. Teaching experience preferred, but not required.
• Must possess a passion for the work itself.
• Must thrive in an innovative environment.
• Must work collaboratively to form creative solutions.
• Must have record of demonstrated expertise in their domain grade-level, and in teaching literacy.
• Must demonstrate a growth mindset-Flexibility to learn new methods and present ideas to improve learning and the school.
• Must believe all kids can learn and achieve at high academic levels.
• Must commit to being an active part of a staff that will never tire in its efforts to have all our scholars succeed academically.

THE ACADEMY:

Emerald Academy is Knoxvilles first college preparatory charter school. We are committed to the singular focus of growing all our scholars into leaders. We are a K-8 School of high expectations that creates the right learning culture for city students to thrive through our innovative use of time, personalized focus on each scholar and strong partnerships with scholars families and the community.

We believe that all students should read at or above grade level by third grade. We are committed to have our students perform in the top 5% of the state within our first decade of existence. We will develop in our scholars the skills, habits and values for them to graduate from high school, enroll in college and succeed in life.

Emerald Academy values its staff for their professional knowledge and abilities to foster student achievement. We will create an environment where teachers are empowered to make instructional decisions using the most current student evidence (data) and the teams instructional expertise.