Job description

Merit Academy is currently seeking Grammar School Teachers to join our growing faculty, starting this 2023-2024 school year.

ABOUT MERIT ACADEMY:
Merit Academy is a new school-of-choice in the beautiful mountain community of Woodland Park, CO. This classical, Core-Knowledge® school is currently in the start-up process, with doors opened in August, 2021 at max capacity of 184 with over 70 students on the waitlist. We currently have 331 full and part time students, grades K-9. For our third year, we are anticipating over 400 full time students, grades K-10. There is great need and desire for a classical, public school option in our area.

Merit Academy will serve grades K-10 during this third year, growing to K-12 over the first five years. At maturity, Merit Academy will have two classes per grade, with purposefully smaller class sizes. Merit is also growing our homeschool enrichment opportunities with Merit Academy.

Merit Academy is unique in that it is situated in an area that provides many opportunities for tremendous Rocky Mountain Enhancements. Additionally, to honor our rural culture and demographics, there is a “rocky mountain version” of a uniform, unique to what you may find in an urban and traditional classical school.

Merit incorporates a vertical and horizontal integration within academics and the House System on various Fridays. This careful design not only allows team cohesion among students of all ages and abilities in community and school projects, but it also provides our valued educators with additional collaboration and planning time.

Vision: To graduate students prepared for success in a free society, promoting civic responsibility and contributing their talents in a flourishing republic by pursuing beauty, truth, and good.

Mission: Merit Academy will cultivate the minds and nurture the hearts of K-12 youth in the Ute Pass/Woodland Park region with instruction in the principles of moral character and civic responsibility.

POSITION:
Grammar School teachers are critical to the successful growth of Merit Academy. In that, it is important that the 6th grade teacher is a solid fit for the school, community, and curriculum (and vice versa). Teachers will work with the Dean of Grammar through the development and growth of Merit Academy. Our teachers will bring to our students and our school poise, joy, respect and an ability to cultivate the positive relationships needed to instill confidence and trust.

It is important that our teachers are courageous, personable, encouraging, and well-spoken. The ideal candidate will create a classroom of inquiry-based, modern Socratic teaching approaches in classical education. Attention is on rigorous, classical, Core Knowledge academics. The school culture is one of trust, respect, joy, and deep engagement in one another and in our community. In summary, our staff, parents, and volunteers will inspire students to pursue excellence and put forth their best efforts in all aspects of life.

The ideal candidates will embrace the “rocky mountain version” of traditional-classical education that makes Merit Academy unique. Merit educators are passionate for the Core Knowledge® curriculum, liberal arts, Merit’s vision and mission, and our five virtues of valor, perseverance, responsibility, goodness, and friendship. Staff also embrace and support the ideas and philosophy of America’s Founding. Teachers will be subject matter experts in classical education, Core Knowledge®, Colorado State Standards, performance assessments, and other required educational components.

Additional opportunities/positions:

Elementary Teachers: 3rd and 6th

K-5 Science

DUTIES & RESPONSIBILITIES:

• Understands child growth and development, incorporates that knowledge in planning and implementation of curriculum for best retention and comprehension
• Identifies with and adheres to the vision of Merit Academy and our principles of classical education
• Teaches subject areas in accordance to curriculum guidelines through Core Knowledge sequence and with guidance of the Dean of Grammar
• Convey knowledge to students, meet each child’s academic needs in collaboration with the academic team
• Implements curriculum and instruction in a matter consistent with Merit Academy
• Supports students in growth and mastery of literacy and mathematics, among other liberal arts study
• Support discipline procedures, including requiring students be respectful of teachers, staff, and volunteers
• Tolerate no cruelty among students: support respect, understanding, and civic responsibility which includes interaction with others
• Provide clear expectations and effectively redirect misbehavior
• Work with teams to ensure vertical and horizontal alignment of curriculum through Core Knowledge sequence
• Assign, correct, and grade assignments, quizzes, tests.
• Evaluate each student’s progress on a regular basis and communicate this progress to the student, parents, academic team and Deans.
• Cultivate the fundamental virtues of Merit Academy
• Embrace the school’s vision and mission
• Works with Dean of Grammar in student performance assessments, and achievement of student and professional objectives

REQUIRED QUALIFICATIONS

• Bachelor’s degree or higher in K-6 Education or similar
• Must love working with elementary age students, their thirst for knowledge, and their wonderful, endearing persons
• An understanding of charter schools or other schools-of-choice
• Works well with students, staff, and parents
• Enthusiastic about and able to teach with the Core Knowledge curriculum, inquiry-based strategies, projects of learning, fitted to each student’s ability
• Conviction in Merit Academy’s vision, mission and in a classical, liberal arts education
• Ability to maintain classroom decorum
• Strength of character
• Desire for professional development, growth and mentorship
• Appropriate Colorado Licensure, Out of State Licensure, or a passing score of the appropriate Praxis exam, including READ Act requirements.

PREFERRED QUALIFICATIONS

• Experience teaching the Core Knowledge curriculum
• Experience in a classical charter or independent school

REPORTING STRUCTURE:

Reports to the Dean of Grammar School. Works side-by-side with teachers, counselor, specialists, and additional staff.

PAY & BENEFITS:

There are 164 contact days and 13 in-service days for teachers. Additional in-service (voluntary) or summer work may also include a stipend or comp time, TBD.

• $42,000-$55,000, depending on experience
• School holidays and breaks
• Additional 10 days personal/sick leave
• Awards for grants
• Health insurance
• Dental insurance
• Optional vision insurance
• Retirement benefits
• Employee Assistance Program

CONDITIONS OF EMPLOYMENT:

• Offers of employment are conditional subject to successful background and reference check
• This is a full-time, salaried position, exempt from overtime.
• Employees are at-will employees
• As required by the IRCA, employees must be verified as legally eligible to be employed in the United States.

APPLICATION PROCEDURE:

Please submit the following required documents by email

• Cover letter
• Resume/CV
• Minimum of three reference letters within the past two years
• Unofficial transcripts and any applicable certifications
• Short essay answers to the following question/topic:

* Describe your educational philosophy and how your teaching would contribute to Merit Academy’s vision, mission, and overall culture. * Explain how you would respond to a parent who is upset about a child's grade. * What does a successful school look like to you?

Job Type: Full-time

Pay: $42,000.00 - $53,000.00 per year

Benefits:

• Dental insurance
• Health insurance
• Life insurance
• Paid time off
• Retirement plan
• Vision insurance

Schedule:

• Monday to Friday

School type:

• Charter school

Education:

• Bachelor's (Required)

License/Certification:

• CO or Other State License or Praxis Score or Bachelor's (Required)

Work Location: In person

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