Opportunity Education · 1 month ago
Founding High School English Teacher | Des Moines Prep
Des Moines, IA
Full-time
Onsite
Mid Level
3+ years expOpportunity Education is a new public charter school in downtown Des Moines focused on achieving exceptional outcomes for students. The Founding High School English Teacher will shape a rigorous and supportive learning environment, delivering high-quality instruction and fostering a love of reading and writing among students.
Education
Responsibilities
Deliver engaging and rigorous instruction in alignment with state standards, college readiness assessments, and school priorities
Develop and implement student-centered lesson plans that promote reading comprehension, analytical writing, and strong communication skills
Utilize a variety of instructional strategies to meet the needs of diverse learners, including Socratic seminars, writing workshops, project-based learning, and multimedia integration
Regularly assess student progress using a combination of formative and summative assessments to guide instruction
Provide students with clear, actionable feedback to support growth in reading and writing
Build strong relationships with students, fostering a culture of high expectations, accountability, and support
Serve as an Advisory teacher, mentoring a small group of students in academic and personal growth throughout their four-year experience at Des Moines Prep
Differentiate instruction and provide targeted interventions to ensure all students succeed, including students reading below grade level
Collaborate with Special Education staff and other support personnel to meet the needs of all learners, including those with IEPs or 504 plans
Contribute to the development of a strong school culture through tutoring, clubs, or extracurricular opportunities that enhance core ELA skills (e.g., debate team, journalism club, creative writing workshops)
Work closely with fellow teachers and school leadership to align curriculum, assessment, and instructional strategies
Participate in school-wide professional development to continuously refine instructional practice, including regular data and assessment reflection cycles
Engage in feedback cycles with the Dean of Academics and Principal to improve teaching effectiveness
Communicate regularly with families about student progress, celebrating successes and addressing challenges proactively
Participate in school events, family conferences, and outreach efforts to build strong relationships with families and the community
Support families in fostering a love for reading and writing at home, emphasizing literacy as a key component of their child’s future academic and career success
Qualification
Required
3+ years of teaching experience, preferably in high school English Language Arts
Strong track record of student achievement in ELA
Experience designing and implementing differentiated instruction to meet the needs of students of varying reading levels
Proven academic growth for students below grade level with literacy interventions
Experience integrating technology into ELA instruction, particularly to enhance student engagement
Deep belief in all students' potential and a commitment to holding high academic and behavioral expectations
A growth mindset, constantly seeking to refine and improve instructional practice
Strong interpersonal and collaboration skills, with the ability to build positive relationships with students, families, and colleagues
Adaptability and excitement about being part of a founding team at a new school
Readiness to go above and beyond, including putting in extra time in and outside of your role, to build Des Moines' premier college prep school
Company
Opportunity Education
Opportunity Education is a non-profit foundation that empowers students worldwide with growth-oriented learning programs.
11-50 employees
Funding
Current Stage
Early StageLeadership Team
Joe Ricketts
Founder
Company data provided by crunchbase