English Language Arts (ELA) Teacher

  • Denver
  • Dsst Public Schools
POSITION : English Language Arts (ELA) Teacher

GRADE LEVEL: Hiring for both middle school and high school positions

LOCATION: Hiring at multiple locations. You can view the current openings at this link. We encourage you to apply even if your preferred position is not listed as we will be posting new roles throughout the year.

SALARY : $58,000-$76,000 based on aligned years of experience up to 10 years. We also offer a relocation stipend for anyone joining us from 75 miles or more from Denver!

STATUS : Full-time school year, benefits-eligible, exempt, in-person position (Denver, CO)

START : First day of new staff training at the end of July. You can view our current School Year Calendar here.

THE ROLE

The goal of literacy instruction at DSST Public Schools is to build a love of literacy and develop college-ready skills that allow students to make sense of the world through reading, writing, speaking, and listening. We believe that through deep understanding and analysis of complex texts, students can develop a love of reading that will expand opportunities for them in college and beyond. DSST English Language Arts (ELA) teachers commit to facilitating learning environments in which literacy thrives, such that students can be successful in college, career, and as lifelong learners.

All of our campuses in grades 6-10 use a shared curriculum to ensure consistent, high-quality instruction that promotes rigorous academic standards and prepares all students to engage deeply with complex texts and develop critical skills. Teachers receive ongoing professional development throughout the year to deepen their understanding of the curriculum and refine instructional practices to enhance student outcomes.

Middle School Curriculum:

Depending on the campus, students may take separate reading and writing classes, or have them combined into an English/Language Arts class. The curriculum may include, but is not limited to:
  • Fiction
  • Non-fiction and Informational Articles
  • Poetry
  • Novels
  • Short Stories
High School Curriculum:
  • 9th Grade: Composition, Humanities*
    • *AST offers English I in 9th grade
  • 10th Grade: English II
  • 11th Grade: English III, AP Language
  • 12th Grade: Senior English, AP Language, AP Literature
We will inquire about your grade level and campus-specific preference at the time of the interview.

Key Responsibilities:
  • Deliver Rigorous & Engaging Content: Utilize DSST's curriculum resources to plan, intellectually prepare, and teach rigorous, culturally responsive, and grade-level aligned content to 3-5 classes daily depending on campus and content area.
  • Track and Support Student Growth: Monitor and assess the performance of all students through a variety of assessment tools & resources to guide instruction and support individual student growth.
  • Promote Positive Culture: Employ DSST culture systems to promote a unified and positive classroom and school culture as well as build and maintain trusting relationships with students and families.
  • Pursue Professional Development: Engage in professional growth opportunities, including regular coaching, feedback, and development, with a focus on Diversity, Equity, and Inclusion.
  • Contribute to School Community: Undertake additional duties as needed, such as supporting student recruitment, running a small group advisory class, after-school tutoring, etc. Explore more potential duties here.
THE PERSON

We value staff with diverse backgrounds, talents, and ideas. Our most successful employees share the following characteristics:
  • An unwavering belief that all students can succeed in school and reach their most ambitious post-secondary goals.
  • A proactive approach to learning and growth, welcoming feedback to enhance your teaching practice.
Qualifications:
  • Minimum: Bachelor's Degree in any field. Demonstrated content knowledge (known as in-field status) via various qualifications (see qualification options here).
  • Ideal: Proven commitment to and experience with serving students of color, students with disabilities, and/or multilingual students. A Colorado teaching credential is preferred but not required for most opportunities.
WHO WE ARE

At DSST Public Schools, we are proud to be the largest and highest-performing network of public charter schools in Denver and Aurora with 100% of our students having been accepted into college or post secondary programs since our inception in 2004. When you join DSST, you play a part in ensuring ALL students at our 16 schools have access to a transformational and joyful education. We encourage you to visit our website to learn more about why we've been selected as the 2018 Broad Prize Winner and as a Denver Post "Top Place to Work".

INTERVIEW EXPECTATIONS

For most of our positions, we hire on a rolling basis. Therefore, we recommend that you submit your application as soon as you are able! You can learn more about what to expect in our interview process here.

TOTAL REWARDS

At DSST, we know that our people are the greatest asset we have in reaching our mission of eliminating educational inequity. We work hard to build a work culture that allows our staff to not only feel fulfilled by the work they do but also feel supported to live a joyful, healthy life. We want this work to be your life's work. Check out our website and benefits highlight guide to learn how we deliver on our commitment to the human condition.

Some Highlights:
  • Excellent Healthcare Plan: We encourage you to check out our benefits guide to see the ways we are committed to the wellness of our staff. We are always looking to improve how we care and, through staff feedback, we've been able to implement innovative new benefits such as Fertility Benefits as well as staffing a Mental Health Counselor that is dedicated solely to DSST Staff.
  • Time Off: DSST Staff enjoy 11+ weeks off per year + paid PTO (from Day 1!)
  • Career Development: In addition to weekly coaching from a designated coach, you'll have access to internal training and development pathways designed by our Professional Development & Training Team as well as external development opportunities.


REFERRAL

Know someone who would be a great fit? Refer them here! Anyone can refer a candidate and we offer a $500 referral bonus for every successful referral.

EQUAL EMPLOYMENT OPPORTUNITY AND DIVERSITY, EQUITY AND INCLUSION

DSST Public Schools is proud to be an Equal Opportunity Employer and does not exclude participation in, deny benefits to or discriminate on the basis of, race, color, religion, National origin, sex (including pregnancy and related conditions, sexual orientation, or gender identity), Age (40 and older), Disability, Genetic information (including employer requests for, or purchase, use, or disclosure of genetic tests, genetic services, or family medical history), retaliation for filing a charge, reasonably opposing discrimination, or participating in a discrimination lawsuit, investigation, or proceeding in admission or access to, or treatment or employment in its programs and activities.

PHYSICAL DEMANDS

The physical demands described here are representative of those that must be met by an employee to successfully perform the essential functions of this job. While performing the duties of this job, the employee is regularly required to talk and hear. This position is active and may require standing, walking, bending, kneeling, stooping, and crouching throughout the day. The employee must lift and/or move items up to 30 pounds. The employee must have sufficient hand, arm, and finger dexterity to operate a computer keyboard and other office equipment. Specific vision abilities required by this job include close vision, distance vision, peripheral vision, depth perception, and ability to adjust focus.