Summary 

Beacon Academy seeks an experienced Social Sciences (History) teacher to join our community as a full-time faculty member. This teacher should have experience in creating a student-centered classroom, history instruction, and curriculum development. They should also work to fulfill Beacon Academy’s mission to “offer an innovative and challenging education based on Montessori principles that places a priority on experiential learning, entrepreneurial thinking, and in-depth interdisciplinary studies. Beacon Academy students will master the skills, knowledge, and habits of mind necessary to meaningfully contribute to a complex and diverse world with compassion and confidence.” Beacon Academy’s faculty is committed to academic excellence, is passionate about teaching and working with adolescents, creates a classroom environment that facilitates learning and critical thinking, and delivers innovative and interdisciplinary curriculum. 

For SY27, the instructor in this position will teach four (4) Social Sciences (History) classes - three (3) of which are 9th Grade American History courses and one (1) of which is an 11th Grade XP American History course. Additionally, strong candidates will have comfortability teaching and collaborative planning for current and future 9th - 12th Grade courses and in engaging with community partners. 

Essential Duties and Responsibilities

• Teach a curriculum and work in collaboration with a community that embraces diversity, provides equity, and ensures inclusion and belonging for all
• Contribute knowledge, expertise, and passion to the on-going collaborative effort to innovate and improve Beacon Academy’s and the Social Sciences’ Department’s curriculum
• Be aware of and coordinate teaching objectives, materials, methods, and means of assessment used within the Social Sciences Department
• Support student learning through innovative and interdisciplinary curriculum
• Articulate the Department's strategies in achieving the mission and goals of the school and work with colleagues to set departmental objectives, assessments, and policies accordingly
• Work collaboratively with the Social Sciences Department on vertical alignment
• Pursue continuous growth and development in understanding and implementation of diverse and effective instructional practices
• Be open to interdisciplinary collaboration with colleagues and outside institutions
• Be present and accessible to students and colleagues during school hours
• Serve as a co-advisor to a cohort of students
• Plan and lead two (2) one-week I-Term courses for 9th - 12th Grade students
• Attend all faculty meetings, department meetings, check-ins, and professional development in-service days
• Support the philosophy and mission of the school and its leadership
• Actively support our school’s DEIJB Inclusion initiatives
• Maintain appropriate attendance and punctuality
• Maintain and manage sensitive and confidential school, student, family, and employee information
• Communicate regularly with parents and guardians regarding student progress
• Familiarity with educational LMS portals, Mac OS, Microsoft 365, Google apps, and other Social Sciences and History education-enhancing educational products
• Flexible, resilient, and creative working within a fast-paced environment
• Strong written and verbal communication skills
• Outstanding interpersonal skills and a track record for building strong relationships with both students and colleagues
• Strong analytical skills and an ability to learn new systems quickly
• Student-centered educator with a commitment to investing in the lives of young people
• Other duties assigned by the Assistant Head of School and/or Head of School

Qualifications or Comparable Experience

• A bachelor’s degree in History; a graduate degree in History is strongly preferred
• 3-5 years (or more) of experience teaching high school History
• International Baccalaureate teaching experience strongly preferred (not mandatory)
• Montessori teaching experience strongly preferred (not mandatory)

Physical Demands and Work Environment

• While performing the responsibilities the employee is required to talk and hear and have close, distant, and peripheral vision
• The role requires standing, sitting, reaching, and light lifting
• Typical work hours are limited to Monday through Friday, but additional days/hours are required at times depending on the demands of the Department and school events

Non-Discrimination Policy

Beacon Academy does not discriminate on the basis of race, color, national or ethnic origin, sexual identity, gender, or religion, in the administration of its hiring policies, educational policies, admissions policies, scholarship and loan programs, and athletic and other school-administered programs.  

Interested applicants should email a resume and philosophy of education statement to jpitts@beaconacademychicago.org. 

About BEACON ACADEMY

Beacon Academy brings together independent school best practices and the IB Diploma curriculum with the independence, freedom, and student-centered methods of Montessori. The students experience a learning community that inspires self-motivation and personal challenge and celebrates intellectual, cultural, and socioeconomic diversity. Based in Evanston, but using the entirety of Chicago as a classroom, Beacon Academy has experienced explosive growth since its founding in 2014. It is a school that values entrepreneurialism, creativity, and innovation.

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