Social and Emotional Instructor, Mastery Charter School

Posted by on March 12, 2007

[emailed 3/8/07]

Social and Emotional Instructor

Mastery Charter Schools is currently seeking a high-talented individual to serve as a Social and Emotional Instructor. This instructor is responsible for teaching Freshman Year Seminar (FYS) to high school freshman. FYS helps freshman acclimate to the demands and expectations at Mastery on an academic, social, and personal level. This skills-based course increases students? capacity for critical thinking in academic and non-academic settings by explicitly teaching decision-making, problem-solving, and interpersonal and communication skills. FYS includes units on violence prevention and bullying, group process and peer circles, decision-making, sexuality and drug education. The Social and Emotional Instructor reports to Principal.

About Us
Mastery Charter Schools (MCS) was created to prepare underserved youth for success in post-secondary education and the knowledge-based economy. Mastery?s first school was founded in September 2001 by a coalition of business and civic leaders. Our mission is to ensure that all students learn the academic and personal skills they need to succeed in higher education, compete in the global economy, and pursue their dreams. Student achievement is the reason we exist. Since its inception, MCS has consistently demonstrated strong student performance compared to our peers. We strive to eliminate the performance gap between low-income minority students and other students.

In September 2005, Mastery opened a second school in South Philadelphia. The school currently serves 350 students in grades 7-9. Mastery opened a third school in West Philadelphia enrolling students in grades 7 and 8. Over the next four years, each of our schools will grow to serve 600 students in grades 7-12. Mastery?s fourth campus, located in the northwest section of Philadelphia is scheduled to open in September 2007 serving 350 students in grades 7 and 8. The long-term goal of MCS is to influence the larger education system by operating multiple small urban middle/high schools that demonstrate how students can excel to meet the highest standards of high school education in America.

Key Responsibilities
? Teaching students for Freshman Seminar which focuses on for critical thinking in academic and non-academic settings by explicitly teaching decision-making, problem-solving, interpersonal and communication skills
? Supporting teachers and administrators in developing and implementing classroom management strategies and best practices to sustain a cooperative learning environment
? Maintaining and monitoring safety and order by being accessible and visible in hallways, classrooms, during arrival/dismissal of students, etc.
? Overseeing all scheduling and implementation of extracurricular activities and events
? Meeting with students, teachers and parents, collectively or independently, to implement ways to support a positive and cooperative school environment

Qualifications
? Bachelor?s degree (Master?s preferred) in relevant subject area with five years urban youth experience preferred
? Ideal candidate should have both teaching and counseling experience; additional curriculum development experience a plus.
? A background in delivering proactive resiliency skill-building, violence prevention, sexuality, alcohol/drug education is preferred.
? All candidates must be capable of relating to a diverse population of urban students about their lives and concerns while maintaining effective classroom management and teaching interpersonal skills.

Contact Information:
All candidates should be self-starters interested in working in a fast-paced, startup environment that requires flexible roles. Interested candidates should email a resume to: jobs@masterycharter.org

You may also mail a packet to:

Mastery Charter Schools
Attn: Kate McQueeney
35 South 4th Street
Philadelphia, PA 19106

* Must include a working email address. Initial correspondence is done electronically.