Title: Bilingual Teacher
Location: CICS Prairie- 11530 S Prairie Ave, Chicago, IL 60628
Reports To: Principal
Salary: Starting at $57,000, commensurate with experience
Employee Type: Regular Full Time
Start Date: September 2023

The mission of Distinctive Schools, an educational practice leader committed to social justice and the elevation of access and achievement in historically marginalized communities, is to support each child in becoming an engaged and curious learner, a confident self-advocate, and a creative problem-solver by setting high expectations and nurturing a positive culture that honors diversity, collaboration, and optimism.

Position Overview

Distinctive teachers cultivate a love for learning in every student through strong relationships, high expectations, and a belief that all students can achieve great things in school and beyond. Teachers have a laser focus on instruction that engages learners and provides multiple opportunities for application of learned content. All teachers engage in individual and team deep intellectual preparation and lesson plans aligned to grade-level standards that use the core curriculum. Checks for understanding, student work, and assessments are used to make real-time and planned adjustments and deep review of student work to address gaps in instruction. Teachers have strong content knowledge in the subject-matter they teach in order to recognize, understand and respond to the content problems. At Distinctive, teachers grow through cycles of practice, feedback, practice, and feedback. Teachers build classroom communities with strong routines, rituals, and management practices that maximize time for instruction. Teachers maintain effective and ongoing communication on progress with students and families.

Additionally, the Bilingual Teacher provides personalized academic and language instruction to English Learners in both English and the native language (Spanish), sheltered instruction, English Language Development, and ESL strategies. A Distinctive Schools Bilingual Teacher must be a passionate advocate for biliteracy and demonstrate a commitment to supporting students in their development of the language skills and subject matter needed to be productive classroom citizens.

Responsibilities

Culture

• Maintain a student-centered perspective in decision making
• Believe that all students can learn and can achieve great things
• Contribute to the equity work of the campus and network and engage in culturally responsive decision making
• Build and foster a culture of belonging through positive and strong relationships with students, families, and staff
• Cultivate a strengths-based, equity focused mindset
• Foster positive climate and culture
• Serve as a positive role model
• Belief that a students’ languages and cultures are a tremendous strength and asset

Preparation, Instruction and Assessment 90%

• Implement the DS Model
• Administer tests and language assessments for the purpose of evaluating students' language ability
• Collaborate and co-teach with classroom teachers on the implementation of the WIDA Standards in daily lessons
• Support and assist teachers in analyzing culturally & linguistically diverse (CLD) student work
• Provide direct Bilingual and ESL services and instruction to identified students in push-in and pull-out instruction
• Develop and deliver lesson plans that utilize appropriate instructional techniques that enable limited English proficient students to overcome barriers that impede equal participation by these students in the district's instructional programs
• Adapt curriculum and provide tailored academic instruction in native language to English Learners as appropriate and in alignment with student goals and program model
• Deliver strong Instruction where students hold the cognitive lift and do the thinking during the lesson and are deeply engaged in the learning
• Utilize a variety of instructional methodologies and curriculum resources geared specifically towards CLD students
• Assist and support the administration of the required English Language Proficiency screeners and assessments
• Assist with the administration of the ACCESS test and support administration of state required assessments to CLD learners
• Collaborate with other classroom instructors to lead the curriculum, instruction, and assessment for all the students in the TBE and TPI programs.
• Provide consistent opportunities for all students to work on grade-appropriate assignments using the core curriculum, resources, and strategies with frequent checks for understanding
• Commit to student-centered, personalized learning that puts every student in the driver’s seat with integration of their needs, strengths and interests into the learning.
• Maintain inventory of all instructional materials Maintain accurate and complete records of students' progress and development
• Analyze and use assessments that monitor progress to inform and design appropriate response/strategies making adjustments as needed to support students in mastering grade level standards
• Assess students daily, weekly, and at the ends of units and analyze assessment data through campus and network wide systems
• Assessing students' progress, expectations, and goals in the bilingual program
• Engage in coaching and mentoring opportunities to improve instructional effectiveness
• Participate in all required professional development and meetings
• Performs other duties and responsibilities as assigned by the Principal

Classroom Culture 10%

• Maintain an organized and welcoming environment that provides students with a sense of belonging, joy, hope, and safety
• Manage strong classroom procedures, routines, and rituals that maximize learning
• Build strong relationships with students, families and colleagues
• Communicate effectively and frequently with students and families in their preferred language
• Has a mindset of using restorative justice approach with discipline and behavior management in alignment with campus and network practices
• Collaborate with colleagues to support student growth and achievement

Requirements (minimum)

Education: Bachelor's Degree

Qualifications

• Valid Professional Educator License or equivalent in state of employment (IL or MI)
• Valid Bilingual Spanish Endorsement or equivalent in state of employment (IL or MI)
• Spanish Proficient in reading, writing, listening, and speaking
• Technology demands:
  • Ability to review and analyze student and campus data from multiple sources
  • Proficient with cloud based software solutions (such as GoogleSuite)
  • Ability to learn digital tools and and programs as needed for the position
• Travel as required for training, professional development, and collaboration
• Commitment to supporting students’ social, emotional and academic development

Physical demands

Occasional lifting, carrying, pushing, and/or pulling; some stooping, kneeling, crouching, and/or crawling; and significant fine finger dexterity. Generally, the job requires 10% sitting, 50% walking, and 40% standing

Benefits

• 25+ Paid holidays & 10 days PTO annually (in addition to summer break for educators/campus positions)
• 12 weeks family paid leave
• Comprehensive Healthcare (Medical, Dental, Vision)
• 403b match
  • Fully match up to 3%
  • 50% match up to 5%
• Professional development including tuition reimbursement
• Gym and wellness discounts
• And more

Description Disclaimer: Since no job description can detail all the duties and responsibilities that may be required from time to time in the performance of a job, duties and responsibilities that may be inherent in a job, reasonably required for its performance, or required due to the changing nature of the job shall also be considered part of the jobholder's responsibility.

EEO:

Distinctive Schools is an equal opportunity employer and does not discriminate against any employee or applicant for employment on the basis of race, color, religion, sex, gender, national origin, age, disability, veteran status, marital status, sexual orientation, gender identity, gender expression, or any other personal characteristic protected by applicable law.

Distinctive Schools is committed to the full inclusion of all qualified individuals. In keeping with our commitment, Distinctive Schools will take the steps to assure that people with disabilities are provided reasonable accommodations. Accordingly, if reasonable accommodation is required to fully participate in the job application or interview process, to perform the essential functions of the position, and/or to receive all other benefits and privileges of employment, please contact talent@distinctiveschools.org or call 773.828.4191