Job Description

Position Title: Building Substitute / Resident Teacher (Middle School)

Location: Hamden / New Haven, CT

Reports To: School Principal

Employment Type: Full-time, Exempt

Start Date: SY26-27 (launching in August with onboarding in July)

Salary Range: $43,000 - $50,000 , commensurate with experience

About Booker T. Washington Academy

Booker T. Washington Academies (BTWA) in New Haven, CT, serves K–4 scholars at its Elementary campus and grades 5–8 at its Middle School campus. Founded in 2014 around Booker T. Washington’s credo—“Excellence is doing common things in uncommon ways”—BTWA balances a rigorous academic program with the cultivation of morals, character, self-discipline, responsibility for one’s actions, lifestyle, work ethic, and educational uplift.

Scholars develop proficiency in reading, writing, critical thinking, discussion, and problem-solving to meet college and career goals, while embracing and demonstrating the morals, character, self-discipline, and work ethic to be leaders in life and community.

Recognized as a Connecticut School of Distinction in 2018 (Category 1) and again in 2024 (Category 2)—the only New Haven public school honored that year—BTWA equips graduates to work hard, harness the power of education, elevate themselves, and give back to their communities in a transformational way.

For more information about Booker T. Washington Academy, please visit www.btwanewhaven.org

About the Opportunity

BTWA Middle School is seeking a mission‑driven, high‑impact Science Teacher who is ready to join a community built on Booker T. Washington’s credo: “Excellence is doing common things in uncommon ways.” As a member of our grades 5–8 team, you will play a central role in delivering rigorous, engaging science instruction while contributing to a school culture rooted in character, discipline, and educational uplift.

As a BTWA Middle School Science Teacher, you will build a joyful, structured, and academically demanding classroom where scholars think critically, collaborate productively, and see themselves as capable scientists and problem‑solvers. You will help students develop the habits of mind, work ethic, and personal responsibility that prepare them for high school, college, and leadership in their communities.

You will join a team that holds a high bar for instruction, believes deeply in the potential of every scholar, and is committed to creating a learning environment where students are known, supported, and challenged. Your work will directly contribute to BTWA’s legacy as a Connecticut School of Distinction and to our ongoing commitment to excellence in both academics and character.

This opportunity is ideal for educators who bring strong instructional skill, deep care for students, and a commitment to helping young people grow into thoughtful, responsible, and resilient leaders.

Key Responsibilities of the Role

As a Middle School Science Teacher BTWA MS, you will be primarily responsible for:

Instructional Excellence

• Plan rigorous science learning by intellectually preparing standards‑aligned, phenomenon‑based lessons that build students’ scientific thinking and align with BTWA’s academic model.
• Deliver high‑quality instruction that develops core disciplinary skills—modeling, analyzing data, constructing explanations, and engaging in scientific argumentation.
• Build strong, affirming relationships that create a classroom where scholars feel safe taking intellectual risks, asking questions, and exploring scientific ideas.
• Integrate culturally relevant and responsive practices to make science meaningful, identity‑affirming, and connected to students’ lived experiences and communities.
• Use data and ongoing assessment (exit tickets, lab checks, discourse, formative tasks) to differentiate instruction and ensure every learner is known and supported.

Classroom Culture & School Community

• Establish a structured, joyful classroom grounded in mutual respect, high expectations, and consistent routines that support productive scientific discourse and collaboration.
• Model and reinforce BTWA’s values—excellence, character, self‑discipline, responsibility—to help scholars grow as leaders in school and community.
• Partner with families to build trust, share progress, and ensure shared ownership of student growth.
• Contribute to school life by supporting events, leading a club or enrichment experience (STEM‑related or otherwise), and helping sustain BTWA’s traditions and community culture.

Collaboration & Professional Learning

• Engage in weekly professional learning, including coaching, co‑planning, department work, and grade‑level collaboration focused on strong science instruction and deeper learning.
• Collaborate with colleagues to build a positive, high‑performing adult culture centered on continuous improvement and shared responsibility for student success.
• Give and receive feedback to refine instructional practice, strengthen lab and classroom routines, and improve student outcomes—demonstrating adaptability, openness, and a growth‑oriented mindset as part of your professional practice.

Leadership & Contribution Beyond the Classroom

• Support common school routines (arrival, dismissal, lunch, recess, transitions) to ensure safety, consistency, and a positive school culture.
• Lead a homeroom/advisory that builds community, fosters authentic relationships, and supports scholars’ social‑emotional development.
• Help design and strengthen school-wide systems, rituals, and traditions, including exhibitions, performances, and public demonstrations of learning that reinforce BTWA’s identity and celebrate scholar voice.
• Take ownership of school-wide initiatives and special projects that advance BTWA’s mission and support scholars’ academic and character development.

Qualifications of the Ideal Candidate

While no one candidate will embody all the qualifications enumerated below, the ideal candidate will possess many of the following professional and personal abilities, attributes, and experiences:

Required Qualifications

• Bachelor’s degree or higher
• Valid teaching certification, or eligibility to obtain required CT certification through reciprocity
• 2–3 years of successful teaching experience with a demonstrated track record of strong student achievement
• Ability to build a safe, structured, and intellectually challenging classroom where scholars feel supported, known, and pushed to engage deeply in meaningful work
• Reflective practice and personal accountability for student growth, achievement, and overall experience
• Commitment to BTWA’s mission and values, including excellence, character, self‑discipline, responsibility, and educational uplift
• Demonstrated commitment to educational equity, youth development, social‑emotional learning, restorative practices, and culturally responsive pedagogy
• Experience differentiating instruction for diverse learners, including multilingual learners (ELs) and students with IEPs
• Belief in the potential of every scholar to learn, grow, and achieve at a high level

Preferred Qualifications

• 3–5+ years of teaching experience with a strong record of student achievement
• Experience in an urban, high‑expectations, or charter school setting
• Experience teaching middle‑grade learners, ideally in a values‑driven school community
• Experience integrating hands‑on, inquiry‑based, or lab‑based science instruction is a plus

Mindsets We Value

Our team is passionately committed to the vision and values of Elevate Charter Schools and Booker T. Washington Academy. The ideal candidate will have a positive mindset, a very strong work ethic, an inner drive for excellence, and will thrive working in an entrepreneurial and results-driven environment

Additionally, we deeply value, and are actively seeking candidates who demonstrate the following mindsets and beliefs:

• Mission-Driven: In addition to deeply aligning and embodying the mission and values of ECS and BTWA, you believe in the brilliance and promise of all students, particularly students of color, and want to be part of their success story.
• Growth-Oriented: You welcome feedback, are deeply reflective on your personal practices, and are constantly seeking to improve your craft.
• Entrepreneurial: You are flexible, solutions-focused, and energized by the opportunity to build something from the ground up.
• Collaborative: You thrive in a team-based culture and believe that collective effort drives school success.
• Commitment to Excellence: You hold yourself, and others, to the highest of standards and have a student-centric, “whatever it takes” mentality to create a learning community where all students and stakeholders can grow and thrive.

Compensation and Benefits

At Elevate Charter Schools, we are committed to ensuring fair and equitable compensation based on the skills and qualifications required for the role. Our salaries are set through a lens of equity and based on an individual’s skills, education, and years of experience relevant to the role.

The salary range for the Middle School Science Teacher position is $50,500 to $90,000, commensurate with experience and qualifications, and reflective of the responsibilities and expertise needed to succeed in this position. Final salary may be adjusted based on experience and qualifications.

In addition to competitive compensation, Elevate offers a range of comprehensive benefits packages to all regular, full-time employees at a competitive value.

Elevate Charter Schools is an Equal Opportunity Employer.

Elevate is a non‑profit charter management organization serving public charter schools in Connecticut’s urban communities. Our scholars are 99% Black and Brown, and Elevate deeply values inclusion, representation, and diversity across our staff.

Elevate Charter Schools is committed to fostering a diverse, inclusive, and equitable environment for all stakeholders. We encourage individuals of all backgrounds and experiences to apply, especially those who share a similar background to the communities we serve.

If you have questions about the application process, experience any challenges, or need support completing your application, please reach out to our talent team at talent@elevatecharters.org. We are committed to ensuring an accessible and welcoming experience for all candidates.