Middle School Science Teacher (Tentative)

Our Mission:

To inspire and challenge every learner to reach their full potential and become curious, independent, and compassionate citizens of the world.

Our Core Values

• Commitment to Excellence - We tackle challenges willingly and persevere to succeed.
• Compassion and Integrity - We care for, respect, and value one another
• Strength in Diversity - We embrace our differences, enrich our community, and make meaningful connections, ensuring our global mindedness.
• Innovative Spirit - We are creative and curious learners, empowered to adapt to a rapidly changing world.
• Lasting Impact - We contribute to a sustainable future by taking care of our planet and leaving our environment better than we found it.

Our Definition of Learning:

• Learning is a journey of authentic discovery to develop understanding, skills, and character.  This includes four principles:
• Learning is Iterative - We learn through our mistakes, providing us opportunities to be creative and find solutions. 
• Learning is Exciting - We learn when we are inspired, challenged, and active.
• Learning is Meaningful - We learn and grow when we apply our knowledge, skills, and understandings to real-world situations.
• Learning is Social - We learn through sharing, interacting, and collaborating 

Reports to:  Division Principal or designee

Collaborates closely with  Assistant Principals, Head of Department, Instructional Coach, K-12 Coordinators and Specialists, and other colleagues as appropriate.

Responsibilities: (Including but not limited to)

Classroom Responsibilities:  To provide learning opportunities for every child relative to his needs, abilities, and stages of development establish effective relationships with students based on mutual respect, recognize the individuality of each child, ensure an effective and challenging learning environment, and ensure the classroom is an attractive and welcoming place.

Planning, Curriculum, and Organizational Responsibilities:  To design authentic and meaningful units by starting with the end in mind. Use effective instructional strategies to make learning interactive, exciting, meaningful, and social. Develop and manage classroom resources. Provide students feedback to support their academic and social-emotional growth. Use standards to guide the evaluation of student work, and record results to provide an accurate assessment of student achievement.

Professional Development Expectations:  To embrace a growth mindset by keeping up-to-date on best practices, engaging in teacher development opportunities, participating in in-service courses, attending professional meetings as scheduled by Leadership, seeking out and using feedback from coaches and administrators, and participating in the ISP professional learning cycle as outlined in the evaluation process. 

Community Expectations:  Engage with our ISP community by sharing updates on the progress and development of the students in the teacher’s care, as well as important events happening in the classroom. Find opportunities to meet with parents, caregivers, and guardians to discuss the progress and development of the students, and collaborate to support the child’s specific needs, interests, and passions. Connect with our larger community by attending PTA events, athletics events, and various student performances

Science at ISP:  

ISP’s Middle School science curriculum is based on the Next Generation Science Standards (NGSS) that integrate laboratory skills, knowledge of concepts, and applications to the real world. The NGSS provides opportunities to develop content understanding through the Disciplinary Core Ideas as well as practical skills through the Science and Engineering Practices. Topics are spiraled through the three years of Middle School, covering all three aspects of Science: Physical Science, Life Science, and Earth Science.

 What you'll do:  (Including but not limited to)

• Support the ISP Teaching and Learning Philosophy by developing and teaching a curriculum that engages all learners in purposeful, connected, and balanced work that cultivates 21st-century skills
• Plan with the end in mind (Understanding by Design or other backward design models) to develop units that are focused on essential questions and enduring understandings.
• Design authentic assessments (and aligned standards-based rubrics) to measure student learning in a real-world setting
• Provide frequent feedback to students to help guide them in their learning process. Report on student progress using standards-based grading
• Build a robust learning atmosphere that leads students to value being at school and feel part of a challenging yet joyful and inclusive learning community
• Help ensure that all students achieve key learning outcomes for the grade level, targeting instruction thoughtfully to address individual needs
• Collaborate intensively and daily with colleagues to continually improve student learning and school culture. Work collaboratively to create cross-curricular learning opportunities
• Participate actively in ongoing, intensive professional learning
• Support, guide, and advocate for a group of 8-12 students through our advisory program. Through, the delivery of our advisory curriculum, facilitate discussions based on the CASEL Framework to help support the social and emotional development of students 

What you bring

• Passion for working with and appreciation of International and diverse students
• Deep dedication to continual growth and development
• A commitment to diversity, equity, inclusion, and justice-related education
• Eagerness to collaborate with colleagues
• A willingness to be flexible, adaptable, and committed to the unique nature of working in an international school
• Organization, time management, and problem-solving skills
• Experience designing authentic units and assessments using a backward design model
• Commitment to participating in the whole school experience including embodying our core values, mission, and definition of learning.
• Demonstrated a high degree of professionalism and a commitment to excellence in education