Special Rights Co-Teacher
www.schoolofnorthernlights.org
St. Paul School of Northern Lights is a public charter school serving students in grades K-8 in the West 7th neighborhood. St. Paul School of Northern Lights is looking for educators who are passionate about supporting students’ curiosity and love of learning. The ideal candidate will have a strong desire to teach in a multi-age, progressive, culturally relevant classroom and community. We are seeking teachers who view the challenging endeavor of working in our school as an opportunity to work with agency, autonomy, and purpose. Desirable candidates will appreciate time for reflection, collaboration, and innovation with colleagues. Effective teachers will see the absence of a prescribed curriculum as an asset, not a barrier.
Required Qualifications
● Current Minnesota teaching license for Special Education or ability to secure a variance
● Experience with diverse student populations across disability categories
● Commitment to the Northern Lights’ Mission and Vision
Preferred Qualifications
● Experience with trauma-responsive teaching
● Urban special education teaching experience
● Project-based learning experience
● Restorative practices experience
● Dual licensure in Elementary or Middle School Education, ESL, Counseling or Social Work
Successful candidates will...
● Understand that:
○ Our learners are competent and curious
○ Relationships are central to our work as educators
○ Knowledge is constructed by the learner in a social context
○ Multiple points of view deepen understanding
○ The environment drives learning
● Communicate effectively, building strong relationships with students, families, colleagues and the broader community
● Commit to engaging in conversations that challenge and disrupt dominant narratives
● Document learning to deepen thinking, build a community of learners, communicate with families and community, and research teaching and learning
● Appreciate uncertainty: value participating in a dynamic and evolving educational process
● Value their role as a researcher and curriculum designer
● Value collaboration
● Demonstrate leadership both in and out of the classroom
● Possess and foster creativity and imagination
● Love spending time and learning outdoors
Basic functions and responsibilities
● Plan and implement effective co-taught instruction and assessment driven by student inquiry and aligned with state standards and IEP goals
● Collaborate with students, families and colleagues in support of students and our community
● Co-lead the development of a classroom culture that fosters relationships, student learning, student inquiry, critical thinking and advocacy
● Support the development of general education classroom cultures that are inclusive and responsive to student IEP needs
● Facilitate IEP meetings
● Manage a caseload of students
● Manage student evaluations
● Follow due process timelines and paperwork
● Attend four all-school events per year
● Attend annual Special Rights Advisory Council meetings
● Advocate with, and on behalf of, students and families
● Monitor and share student progress, educationally and socially, to students and families
● Implement restorative practices to address conflict
● Monitor students in and out of the classroom/school building
● Attend and engage in staff meetings, Child Study meetings, professional development trainings, and professional collaboration time
● Seek, reflect on and learn from feedback
● Support the operational work of the school
Interested candidates should send a cover letter, resume, letters of recommendation, and one page philosophy of education to Rachel Ngendakuriyo at employment@schoolofnorthernlights.org. Applications will be reviewed on a rolling basis.
Thank you for your interest in St Paul School of Northern Lights. SPSNL is authorized by Innovative Quality Schools.
