Position: 2015-2016 Middle School Teachers, Harlem Village Academies

Start date: August 3rd, 2015

Subjects: Mathematics

Location: Harlem, New York
What makes Harlem Village Academies different?

Harlem Village Academies is a community of educators working together to build an urban school district in Harlem based on the ideals and rich tradition of progressive education.
Teachers here have more than a voice: we are trusted every day to make important decisions for our schools. Each of us is passionate about creating a rich intellectual life for ourselves and our students. We deeply value the craft of excellent teaching. As educators, we are constantly digging deeper into the intricacies of learning and student work. We plan curriculum together, observe each other’s lessons, and talk all the time about teaching. We are lit up with entrepreneurial drive, and the intellectual energy is palpable.

Progressive Educational Philosophy

“Are we forming children who are only capable of learning what is already known or should we try to develop creative and innovative minds?” – Piaget

We believe students learn best through experience, deep engagement and discovery. We want our students to be intellectually curious, creative, and independent. We want them to love reading, to be articulate and reflective. We want them to be open-minded as well as skeptical, to take initiative, and to be kind, respectful and compassionate. Students should spend their school days constructing knowledge, grappling with text, and doing the intellectual heavy lifting, with teachers as adept guides.

Harlem Village Academies Middle

HVA middle schools provide students with a rich academic curriculum in a close-knit, caring school community. Teachers give students choices that foster independence and a love of learning. Literacy instruction is grounded in the workshop model. Reading and writing are closely linked in the curriculum, and students cultivate a love of reading while becoming more sophisticated writers and thinkers. Mathematics instruction is problem-based: each day students wrestle with unfamiliar problems and discuss their strategies in class, leading to deeper conceptual understanding.

The Opportunity: A Unique Academic Leadership Role

This role is a unique professional step for an instructional leader with deep knowledge of mathematics and math pedagogy because:

We’re an organization committed to both social justice and to progressive pedagogy, including the most sophisticated teaching of mathematics
The new Progressive Education Institute, which the Math Director contributes to building, is poised to make a national impact by innovating a new approach to teacher preparation
The PEI provides the Math Director with an unparalleled intellectual community of master educators
Our culture is special: we put kids first, care about each other, and work with passion and joyThe Math Director will guide the professional learning of HVA’s talented, committed middle school mathematics teachers and will directly impact the learning of our students. S/he will ensure that each teacher is supported in the development of high quality math pedagogy, with a focus on student learning through problem solving, classroom discourse, and fostering conceptual understanding. The Math Director will provide expertise to teachers in all aspects of math instruction and cultivate a culture of continual professional learning for teachers.

Responsibilities

The key responsibilities of the Math Director include, but are not limited to, the following:

Ensure the Highest Quality Mathematics Pedagogy

Continuously elevate the quality of teaching through high-quality coaching, purposeful collaboration, and maintaining a culture of professional learning
Continuously deepen student learning in math, shown by increasing quality in student work, authentic assessments, classroom talk, external assessments and other evidence
Develop, and guide teachers to develop, mathematics curricula, assessments, units and lessons that lead to deep mathematical understanding by students
Study and analyze student work with teachers to inform instruction
Monitor student learning and lead effective interventions for low-performing students
Model excellent instruction by teaching demonstration lessons Contribute to the Progressive Education Institute

Be part of the team of master educators who are developing the PEI, a new institution of higher learning for teachers that will be closely integrated with Harlem Village Academies
Contribute formally to the design process of the PEI through periodic retreats and meetings during the year, as well as informally on an ongoing basisQualifications

The successful candidate will have all or most of the following qualifications:

Extensive math teaching experience, with exceptional results in student engagement and learning
Strong understanding of core tenets of effective math instruction, including teaching through problem-solving
Demonstrated experience coaching teachers to significantly improve their practice, strongly preferred
Exceptional ability to build relationships with, influence, and motivate adults
Entrepreneurial attitude with a focus on results and teamwork
Shares all HVA values, including a deep conviction that educators are accountable for student motivation and learning at a high level

How to apply

To Apply

Please review our website (www.harlemvillageacademies.org) and consider whether Harlem Village Academies is the place for you. If your background and experience are a fit for the requirements of this role, please apply by sending your resume and a thoughtful cover letter to Diego Merino at dmerino@harlemvillage.org. Include “Math Director” in the subject line.

Harlem Village Academies is committed to diversity among our staff. Applicants of diverse backgrounds are strongly encouraged to apply.