English as a New Language Specialist - job 1 of 2

Uncommon Schools is a nonprofit network of high-performing public charter schools dedicated to providing an exceptional K-12 education in economically disadvantaged communities. Operating in Boston, Camden, New York City, Newark, and Rochester, we are committed to closing the college completion gap and preparing every student for college and beyond. Our students consistently exceed national benchmarks, reflecting our dedication to their success. We invest deeply in our educators, offering weekly coaching, feedback, and professional development to ensure excellence in teaching and leadership. Join us to work hard, do good, and make a lasting difference!

Uncommon English as a New Language Specialists are passionate, fierce advocates for their students, who manage both teaching our diverse population of English Language Learners and supporting their General Education colleagues.. They also provide crucial academic interventions to students who are developing their English language skills and believe they are capable of high academic achievement.

Responsibilities

1.     Instruction

• You will review intake assessments to ensure that all students receive the educational services and instructional methods that they need to succeed aligned with their English proficiency.
• You will provide small group instruction to entering and emerging English Language Learners.
• You will serve as push-in support for English Language Learners across grade and content areas.
• You will partner with general education teachers and advocate for all classroom accommodations required to support student growth.
• You will work closely with families in all grades of the school to address their questions regarding student progress and accommodations to support student needs.
• You will use standards-based assessment data to refine and differentiate curriculum and instruction.

2.     English as a New Language Specific Responsibilities

• You'll collaborate with general education teachers, school leaders, and families to analyze and respond to trends in student work samples and assessments and ensure language development and access to curriculum..
• You will gather academic growth data and write goals to support student progress towards English proficiency.
• You will teach small groups of newcomers across grade levels, push into  the general education setting across content areas and grade levels, implement strategies to differentiate instruction, and create modified materials for English Language Learners.

3.     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.
• You’ll deliver school-wide professional development to support teachers’ in their development of differentiated plans.

• 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).
  • Academic expertise in English as a New Language Instruction, the Humanities, Social Sciences, STEM, or related fields of study.
  • Teaching English to Speakers of Other Languages (TESOL) certification is required.

Our people are what make us Uncommon. We offer competitive compensation and comprehensive benefits that support the personal health, wellness, and finances of our staff and their families. Our compensation philosophy values equity & fairness and attracting & retaining top talent.

Compensation

Compensation for this role is between $72,000 to $115,000. 

Starting pay is determined using various factors including but not limited to relevant full-time teaching experience, education certifications, and tenure with Uncommon Schools. Candidates without full-time Teaching experience will likely have a starting salary of $72,000.

* The range above represents our compensation scales for the 2025-2026 school year. If starting prior to June 30th, 2025, compensation will be based on a slightly lower range, reflective of current compensation scales. New hires who fall into this category will see an increase in their compensation starting on July 1st, 2025  for next school year which aligns to the scale above.

Benefits

• Generous paid time off inclusive of sick time, paid holidays, and 10 weeks of paid breaks (Spring, Winter, and Summer). 
• Extensive, best-in-class training and development  
• Comprehensive health, dental, and vision insurance plans + pre-tax flexible spending (FSA), dependent care (DCFSA), and health saving accounts (HSA)
• Financial Planning
  • 403(b) retirement savings program + employer match
• Paid leave of absence options (parental, medical, disability, etc.)
• Mental health and counseling support + wellness benefits

*A detailed list of all benefits is located HERE.

At Uncommon, we believe that a supportive and welcoming environment helps our students, staff, and community thrive. We are dedicated to building a team that brings a wide range of perspectives and experiences, reflective of the communities we serve---with over 70% of our staff identifying as people of color. Our organization values respect and open dialogue on important topics that shape our school culture.

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].