Elementary Associate Teacher - 2025-2026 (Jamaica)

Mission Statement: The Growing Up Green Charter School (GUGCS) supports children to be conscious, contributing members of their community through a rigorous, anti-racist, anti-bias, curriculum and an engaging green culture. Graduates of GUGCS will be prepared to attend high-performing schools where their interdisciplinary academic foundation, knowledge of sustainability, and strong sense of self sets them apart as leaders and social justice advocates of the future.

School Culture: GUGCS teaches students our school culture through the acronym GREEN: Giving, Respect, Empower, Embrace, and Nurture. Students are taught the expectations of our GREEN culture through assemblies, class meetings, and various lessons.

Associate Teacher Overview:

• A two year rotating program, based on performance and experience, designed to nurture and develop teachers early in their career
• A gradual release program beginning with observations and support to planning, preparing and implementing lessons independently

Associate Teacher Responsibilities:

Learning Environment

• Guide and support the Growing Up Green school community in fulfilling its mission and charter goals
• Establish and maintain ongoing positive relationships and constructive interactions with students, families, colleagues, and administration
• Demonstrate commitment to working with diverse populations of families and students and model behavior which depicts respect and a feeling for the dignity and worth for all students
• Use the Responsive Classroom model for community-building, behavior management and communication with students throughout the school building
• Create and maintain an engaging and organized physical classroom environment, making learning accessible to all students

Curriculum and Instruction

• With support from coach, plan and implement GUGCS curricular programs as well as units written in-house
• Adhere to grade level pacing calendars
  
• Participate in grade-level team, and curricular planning meetings, and AT Program professional development meetings, as needed
• Use and eventually create daily lesson plans to help drive instruction
• Differentiate instruction in meaningful ways to support student learning
• Work closely with the Special Education department (learning specialists, interventionists, service providers)
• Collaborate with the Special Education and Counseling department to help meet the needs of all students
• Understand and implement interventions recommended for students as outlined by an IEP, support services or the counseling department

Assessment (With support of coach and coordinators)

• Maintain organized records of anecdotal notes and assessments
• Administer formal and informal assessments throughout the school year (examples: Fountas & Pinnell running records, conferencing, end-of-unit rubrics, student portfolios, etc.)
• Use assessment data to modify lesson plans, inform groupings, and support student referrals
• Use assessment data to differentiate instruction to meet the needs of all learners
• Share data systems with classroom teacher
  

Parent and Community Engagement

• Establish and maintain ongoing positive relationships with families
• As necessary, communicate social, emotional and academic success and concerns with families
• Encourage our “open door” classroom design, inviting families to regularly be a part of classroom activities
  

Related Professional Responsibilities

• Actively help establish and participate in the school community through weekly staff meetings, PD opportunities, staff committees, school events, etc.
• Fulfill breakfast, lunch, and recess
• Act as in-house substitute teacher for designated grade bands and subjects, as needed
• Fulfill duties, responsibilities, and commitments as outlined in the GUGCS faculty handbook
• Work closely with Master teacher, responding and implementing feedback
• Collaborate with Master teacher to ensure all students are supported
• Work with instructional coach on specific goals throughout the year
• Actively participate in weekly Associate Teacher meetings
• Respond productively to ongoing, year-round professional feedback
• Assume any other duties from time to time as delegated by the Executive Director and/or the School Leader (note: The Executive Director and/or the School Leader may make any adjustment in the scope of responsibilities as outlined above which will be in the interest of Growing Up Green)

Minimum Qualifications

• Strong commitment to Growing Up Green Charter School's mission, anti-racism, anti-exclusion, and green culture
• Demonstrated ability to work collaboratively with a team
• Ability to integrate technology into teaching
• Excellent organizational skills
• Commitment to participating in adult learning communities
• Ability to receive and implement feedback
• Experience in environmental education a plus
  
• Salary range is $45,000-$50,000 Salaries are determined using an equitable compensation scale that accounts for years of experience as a teacher in a K-12 setting and levels of attained education and/or certification

Education

• Associate’s Degree required, Bachelor's Degree preferred

Required Certificates & Licenses: NY State teaching certificate ideal (not required), NYC DOE/Fingerprinting & Background Clearance required