High School Film & Media Teacher

Uncommon Schools is a nonprofit network of high-performing, public charter schools providing an outstanding K-12 education in historically under-resourced communities. We have proudly built schools that reflect our student population, with more than 60% of our teachers and staff across our network identifying as a person of color. Uncommon currently manages 52 schools serving more than 20,000 students in five cities: Boston, Camden, New York City, Newark, and Rochester. We are proud that Uncommon graduates persist in and graduate from college at five times the rate of their peers nationally. We achieve this by offering strong academic, co-curricular, and social-emotional learning that prepares students for success in college and beyond.

North Star Academy currently manages fourteen schools in Newark, NJ serving students in grades K through 12. We believe in strong authentic relationships between teachers and students, supported by effective school systems and an engaging instructional model that enables students to flourish academically and personally. North Star Academy is NJ's #1 highest performing public charter school and has served Newark families for over 20 years.

North Star Academy Lincoln Park High School is seeking an innovative Film & Media Studies Teacher to teach a new electives class focused on media production. The class will provide students with a simulated media arts-based environment and hands-on learning experience with tools used in the film industry. The teacher will support students with creating premium films and broadcasting quality coverage of school events and athletics using professional-grade cameras, lighting, microphones, computers, and other equipment. 

Responsibilities

1.     Instruction

• You'll create a safe and interactive environment where students feel empowered to engage in media production.
• You’ll use your expertise to develop students' ability to learn the various aspects of creating a film, including how to effectively and efficiently operate a variety of cameras and lenses, composition, lighting, editing, color correction, and color grading.
• You’ll support students with long-term project-based learning to ultimately enable them to produce their own short films by the end of the course.
• You’ll foster collaboration with the English and Theatre departments to lend an interdisciplinary approach to learning, school comradery, and endless creativity.

2.     School Culture

• You’ll build positive relationships with students to ensure they feel seen, loved, and heard.
• You’ll partner with students’ families to ensure appropriate resources are available to support their child's learning needs.
• You'll engage in practice-based professional development, mentorship, and coaching sessions.
• You'll participate in weekly, school-wide meetings to cultivate community, model our core values, and encourage student achievement.
• You'll partner with your grade level team to develop academic goals and practice instructional strategies.

• Candidates ideally have relevant experience and/or coursework, but more importantly, they must have the energy and passion to empower our students through technology
• A commitment to the mission of Uncommon Schools and investment in our vision for being an anti-racist organization
• A demonstrated commitment to supporting students’ social emotional and academic development
• An enthusiasm for collaborating with internal and external partners in the best interest of students
• A self-directed learner who solicits and implements feedback to improve outcomes and achieve objectives 

Required Experience:

• A demonstrated interest in impacting K-12 students in urban schools and communities (1-2 years experience preferred).
• Expertise in film and media (2-3 years of experience preferred).
• Prior to the start of employment, you must have a bachelor's degree from an accredited college or university. Teacher certification is not a prerequisite for consideration at Uncommon Schools in the state of NJ, but you do need to meet NJ state certification eligibility requirements (a final undergraduate or graduate cumulative GPA of 3.0 for graduates on or after 9/1/16, or 2.75 if you graduated prior to 9/1/16). All instructional staff are required to become certified in the state of New Jersey within a reasonable period after beginning employment.

Our people are what makes us Uncommon.  We believe our compensation philosophy and benefits should reflect our values—equity, transparency, and clarity—to enhance our ability to attract and retain talent and reward their expertise.  Our staff receive best-in-class training, coaching, and support to develop and operate mission-driven schools that provide a high-quality education to our students and families.

Compensation for this position: The starting compensation for this role based in Newark is between $59,000 to $83,000.  The starting pay will depend on various factors that may include but are not limited to professional experience, education, training, certifications, tenure with Uncommon Schools, and work location.  Because one of the things that we value is staff tenure in a role, we do not currently cap salary ranges.  Please note: ranges may differ for staff who work from a location other than Newark.

Benefits: We offer comprehensive, flexible, and competitive compensation,  benefits and perks that support the personal health, wellness, and finances of our staff and their families.

• Comprehensive Health Insurance

• Financial Planning & Wellness

  • 403(b) retirement savings plan and/or region specific Pension plan 

• Public Service Loan Forgiveness  Program  & 529 Savings plan

• Generous Time-Off plan aligned with school calendars

• Leave of Absence

  • 12 weeks of fully paid parental leave +

• Mental Health and Counseling support

• Relocation Assistance

• Other Perks and Discounts

Uncommon believes in the importance of being a diverse, equitable, and inclusive organization that enables our students and staff to thrive. We are committed to building an exceptional team that reflects the diverse backgrounds and experiences of our students. We also strive to ensure an inclusive community by creating a space for meaningful dialogue about issues of race and identity for our staff and students. As an equal opportunity employer, Uncommon provides equal employment opportunities to all employees and applicants for employment and prohibits discrimination and harassment of any type without regard to race, color, religion, age, sex, national origin, disability status, genetics, protected veteran status, sexual orientation, gender identity or expression, or any other characteristic protected by federal, state or local laws. We also ensure that individuals with disabilities receive all privileges and benefits associated with employment and are provided reasonable accommodations for the interview process and to perform core job functions. If you would like to request an accommodation, please email [email protected].