WHO WE ARE

The mission of Envision Education is to transform the lives of students – especially those who will be the first in their family to attend college – by preparing them for success in college, career, and life. 

 

We accomplish our mission through our nationally replicated Portfolio Defense assessment model, which authentically measures the most important things students need in order to succeed in college and career: academic content, leadership skills, and deeper learning competencies such as reflection and growth mindset.  Portfolio Defense uniquely prepares students, particularly those who are historically underserved, to get into college and then to persist until they earn a degree. Envision is also differentiated by a focus on whole-child education that integrates rigorous academics, high-quality social-emotional learning, and critical cultural literacy.

Read about our approach here.

 

We operate three high schools and two middle schools, serving approximately 1,500 students in the San Francisco Bay Area: 70% are low-income; 94% from communities of color; and 75% first generation college bound.  100% of our graduates are accepted to 2- or 4-year colleges, with 78% accepted to 4-year institutions.  What’s more, our students persist in college once they enroll. Our college persistence rate is 87% from first to second year, compared to the national average of 74%.  We also operate Envision Learning Partners, a coaching and training division working with schools across the country to adapt and adopt the Portfolio Defense model.  ELP is working with more than 1,000 educators in 30+ school networks and reaching more than 200,000 students.

 

Envision Education has made an explicit commitment to becoming an exemplar network of schools with an instructional and cultural vision rooted in an anti-racist and pro-Black framework. We believe that targeted universalism–focusing on the needs of a group that has historically been marginalized–will support not only that group, but everyone, and that being explicitly anti-racist and pro-Black is essential to changing the status quo for all of our students.

 

ABOUT ENVISION ACADEMY MIDDLE GRADES (EAMG)

Envision Academy of Arts & Technology (Oakland) is excited to expand to include middle grades in the 2019-2020 school year. Envision Academy Middle Grades enrolled its founding 7th grade class in Fall 2019. In 2020-2021, EAMG will have only a 6th and 7th grade. In the 2021-2022 school year, EAMG will be fully enrolled with 6th-8th graders. 

 

Envision Academy Middle Grades’ mission is to develop lifelong learners with the skills and confidence to find success in high school, college and beyond.  As a community, we will support each other to work hard and take risks. EAMG will:

• Accelerate academic skills so students are ready for 9th grade.
• Engage students in authentic learning experiences that instill a love for learning.
• Strengthen social-emotional skills so students develop a strong sense of self and a connection to community.
• Empower students to develop their agency by reflecting on their learning and growth in order to become agents of change. 

 

POSITION SUMMARY

We are seeking a dynamic instructional leader to join the Envision Academy Middle Grades team as a Founding Teacher. As a Founding Teacher you will be charged with supporting the Founding Principal and Vice Principal with developing a high quality educational experience for EAMG’s 6th grade students. For this role, we are seeking someone who is excited about rolling up their sleeves and building a school. This person is a team player, a strong educator, and an innovator who is inspired by this unique opportunity.  As a Founding Teacher with EAMG you can expect to be part of a professional learning community that fosters the following: respect, trust, risk-taking, openness to learning and the sharing of ideas, and continuous improvement of practice.

 

YOUR MISSION: Excite and empower your students’ love of learning by building and implementing a culturally relevant, rigorous, and personalized STEM Project Based Learning (PBL) course.

 

KEY RESPONSIBILITIES: Instruction

• Implement an engaging and rigorous course with projects linked to CCSS: Math, CCSS: Literacy in Science and Technical Subjects, and Next Generation Science Standards
• Grade students based on Mastery of CCSS – Standards Based Grading
• Facilitate wall-to-wall personalized projects, problems, and performances which help students construct deep knowledge and skills in Science & STEM.
• Empower students with a sense of agency as they build problem solving skills to enter high school ready for success 
• Provide necessary accommodation and modifications to all students with IEPs/504s; including inclusive strategies, differentiated instruction and general student support.
• Leverage student-facing data, technology, and web-based programs to guide students in their own learning and accelerate their skills
• Apply Data Driven Instruction cycles to improve student outcomes and help students identify their next area of growth 
• Willingness to collaborate with the 6th grade team to integrate course content and grow in teaching practices.
• Develop a grade level STEM Exhibition, culminating performance assessments that demonstrate student learning.

 

KEY RESPONSIBILITIES: Culture

• Serve as an advisor and teach daily advisory curriculum for a small group of students.
• Teach school-wide curriculum focused on adolescent development, team building, growth mindset, social-emotional learning, and brain science.
• Reflect frequently with students to prepare evidence for portfolio defenses.
• Know their students well, develop a strong sense of community in the classroom, and personalize each student’s learning experience.
• Build strong relationships with families, including meeting with families on a scheduled basis to share information about their students and the school.

 

QUALIFICATIONS

• B.A. or B.S. required
• Valid California Teaching Credential or out of state equivalent with ability to transfer.
• English Language Learner authorization or in process
• Experience delivering strong data-driven instruction to achieve significant student academic achievement gains
• Receptiveness to feedback and desire to continuously improve 
• Experience working successfully with parents and families, especially African American, Latino, and immigrant families
• Commitment to the mission of Envision Education

 

COMPENSATION & BENEFITS: Competitive based on credential, education, and experience; Paid sick leave; Retirement system from STRS; Excellent health benefits package with employer contribution to benefits; Optional Flexible Benefits Plan; 403b Plan; Commuter Check Plans; Life Insurance at no cost to employee 

 

TO APPLY: Please submit your application, including a thoughtful cover letter at Envision CareersEnvision Careers 

 

As an equal opportunity employer, we believe deeply in diversity and are committed to creating an inclusive environment for all people. Envision recruits, employs, compensates, and promotes regardless of race, religion, color, national origin, gender, disability, age, veteran status, and the many other characteristics that make us diverse.