Boston Day and Evening Academy (BDEA) is seeking an extraordinary Biology Teacher to work in our school. BDEA is an innovative public high school whose mission is to serve students who are overage for grade level, many of whom have experienced life challenges that have impeded their education. Working with experienced faculty in an environment that blends strong academics and support, students are given the opportunity to earn a Boston Public Schools diploma and to reach their fullest potential through a competency-based curriculum that inspires critical and creative thinking, independent learning, and active citizenship.  As a competency-based school, BDEA does not have grade levels. Our extended program, beginning at 8:00 am and running until 4:30 pm serves students with different academic needs up to age 23, including those who are being promoted from middle school without being academically prepared for high school; those who have dropped out of high school and have decided to return to earn a diploma, and those who are unable to attend regular school hours due to health issues, full time work and/or full time parenting obligations. The school employs 60 full and part-time staff to work with 410 students and is governed by an active Board of Trustees. All employees of the school are expected to uphold the mission of the school to build a consistent, unified, anti-racist, inclusive community that stimulates greater student agency, engagement, and academic achievement.  

Boston Day and Evening Academy is looking for a Blended Learning Biology teacher who is committed to working with our students, who understands the lives of urban youth and who has a track record of working successfully with students who face academic and personal challenges. Blended Learning staff are expected to support students both academically and personally through academic classes, enrichment activities, and an advisory. Teachers, working from BDEA’s campus, will work collaboratively with other blended learning staff to support a caseload of students using BDEA’s online competency-based curriculum where students exhibit proficiency in multiple ways including through projects, exhibitions and other alternative means of assessment. 

Responsibilities

1. Support a caseload of approximately 50-60 BDEA students who have chosen to engage in BDEA’s online competency based program. Ensure tasks and roadmap courses are distributed equitably among teachers in the program;
2. Be part of a team of educators who act as an advisor who will guide students on their social emotional and academic progress; facilitate communication on a regular basis between the student, their family, and the Student Support team, as well as monitor student attendance, academic progress and overall student wellness;
3. Work collaboratively with other blended learning teachers and BDEA Leadership Team to review and provide credit for incoming students transcripts and diagnostics on the students BDEA roadmap; ensure that all students are successfully progressing through the program;
4. Develop a strong knowledge of BDEA’s competency based curriculum and roadmap and a very detailed knowledge of the courses you are teaching;  
5. Support the instructional program with web conferencing sessions and learning lab coverage for drop-in academic support hours during morning and/or late afternoon shifts; 
6. Review curriculum and devise alternate approaches to presenting lessons to increase student understanding (working directly with students);
7. Support students with alternate strategies and provide additional assistance with daily assignments and projects, when appropriate design alternative assessments;
8. Communicate with students on a regular basis progress on benchmarks/competencies, score assessments, provide feedback on student work, suggest instructional approaches and strategies, monitor completion of assignments and instruct special projects;
9. Consult and collaborate with other BDEA teachers and learning specialists to develop alternate enrichment activities and modifications to students’ programs to increase student understanding;
10. Work with SpEd coordinator to assist with the development and implementation of individual student learning plans including special education plans (IEPs and 504s);
11. Support and coach students to through MCAS prep courses to obtain passing or a better score on the MCAS and other required assessments;
12. Participate in the development and success of family meetings, all-school events and work with other BDEA staff to coordinate social activities and relevant field trips for students, creating and maintaining a sense of community in and outside of the Blended Learning community program;
13. Create and maintain accurate record keeping of student academic progress and attendance on all data systems, e.g., PowerSchool, BDEA Connects, Schoology;
14. Participate in weekly program-specific and all-school meetings.
15. Participate in all professional development and curriculum planning activities.
16. Perform other related duties to assure smooth school functioning.

Terms: BTU Group I, Full-time

As a Horace Mann Charter School, teachers and staff are paid a competitive salary in accordance with the Boston Public Schools. As a condition for employment, BDEA staff are required to sign an Election To Work Agreement (ETWA) annually, which details the terms and conditions for the work year at the school.  While the school generally follows the BPS calendar, it requires additional planning time before, after or during the year, as agreed upon in the ETWA. All staff will work on campus. Hours will be either 8:30 - 3:30. Staff will be required to split a schedule that ensures morning and late afternoon office hours. Common planning time, program, department and committee meetings, and professional development take place on Wednesdays and Fridays, generally between 1:30 - 3:30 pm. 

Qualifications 

Required:  A successful candidate will …

• Have a secondary content area certification in the State of Massachusetts. (see www.doe.mass.edu for requirements) for Biology
• Possess the core competencies of excellent teaching including charisma, compassion and intellectual curiosity
• Strong command of educational technology tools and their implementation in teaching and learning
• Strong commitment to culturally responsive teaching
• Be able to interact with young people in a respectful and caring manner 
• Be student/learning-centered and committed to coaching students towards success, devoting additional time to students if necessary 
• Commitment to designing and implementing a competency based curriculum
• Be able to assess student competency in multiple ways
• Create a learning environment where the teacher is coach and student is worker
• Have the ability to teach to multiple learning styles using a variety of methods

• Have a commitment to working with the families of our students and with parenting students
• Adhere to BDEA’s Non-Discrimination Policy (see below)

Preferred: 

• Masters Degree a strong plus
• Dual certification in SpEd or ESL
• Bilingual 
• Prior work or volunteer experience with non-traditional students in an alternative setting
• Comfortable with a workshop and/or coaching approach to instruction
• Experience with any of the following: project-based learning, portfolio assessment, competency-based education, cooperative group work, integration of technology and cross disciplinary learning, expeditionary learning, alternative assessments and integrating school to career experiences into the curriculum

• A strong commitment to supporting reading, writing and problem solving across the curriculum
• Flexible, solutions-oriented team player, willing and able to adapt to change

• A sense of humor 

Terms:  BTU, Group I

Please refer to www.bostonpublicschools.org/ohc (under "Employee Benefits and Policies") for more information on salary and compensation.  Salaries are listed by Unions and Grade/Step.

The start and end times of BPS schools vary, as do the lengths of the school day. Some BPS schools have a longer school day through the "Schedule A" Expanded Learning Time (ELT) agreement. To learn more about ELT at BPS and whether or not this school is a "Schedule A" ELT school, check here: https://www.bostonpublicschools.org/Page/6571. To see the bell schedule for every BPS school, go to: https://www.bostonpublicschools.org/Page/7017. Please note, these times may be subject to change prior to the start of the school year.

The Boston Public Schools, in accordance with its nondiscrimination policies, does not discriminate in its programs, facilities, or employment or educational opportunities on the basis of race, color, age, criminal record (inquiries only), disability, homelessness, sex/gender, gender identity, religion, national origin, ancestry, sexual orientation, genetics or military status, and does not tolerate any form of retaliation, or bias-based intimidation, threat or harassment that demeans individuals’ dignity or interferes with their ability to learn or work.