Founding High School English Teacher | Des Moines Prep

Founding High School English Teacher | Des Moines Prep

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Des Moines Prep is a new growing public charter school in downtown Des Moines committed to achieving exceptional outcomes for students: where they own and drive their learning and love their school experience. Our model combines rigorous college preparatory academics and a robust student-centered approach to instruction. We believe students learn best when they are known well, challenged deeply, and supported fully.

Des Moines Prep opened in 2025 and serves grades 8–9, expanding to serve grades 7–12 in the coming years. Our school emphasizes agency, purpose, and preparation for the future, giving students opportunities to explore college and career pathways and pursue their ambitions in a supportive, close‑knit environment.

The English Teacher will play a critical role in shaping a rigorous, engaging, and supportive learning environment where all students develop the reading, writing, and analytical skills needed for success in high school, college, and beyond.

As a founding teacher at Des Moines Prep, you will have the opportunity to build a strong literacy program that fosters a deep love of reading, writing proficiency, and critical thinking. Your role will involve delivering high-quality instruction, collaborating with colleagues to align curriculum and instructional practices, leveraging student data for continuous improvement, and helping students develop the communication skills essential for future careers and academic pursuits.

Reporting to the school principal, with regular coaching from the school's Dean of Academics, this role is ideal for an educator who is passionate about English Language Arts, skilled in engaging students of diverse backgrounds, and excited about being part of an innovative school model that prioritizes academic excellence, student agency, and college readiness.

Grade Level: 9th or 10th Grade English, determined based on candidate experience, strengths, and student needs

• Deliver engaging and rigorous instruction in alignment with state standards, college readiness assessments, and school priorities
• Develop and implement student-centered lesson plans that promote reading comprehension, analytical writing, and strong communication skills
• Utilize a variety of instructional strategies to meet the needs of diverse learners, including Socratic seminars, writing workshops, project-based learning, and multimedia integration
• Regularly assess student progress using a combination of formative and summative assessments to guide instruction
• Provide students with clear, actionable feedback to support growth in reading and writing

• Build strong relationships with students, fostering a culture of high expectations, accountability, and support
• Serve as an Advisory teacher, mentoring a small group of students in academic and personal growth throughout their four-year experience at Des Moines Prep
• Differentiate instruction and provide targeted interventions to ensure all students succeed, including students reading below grade level
• Collaborate with Special Education staff and other support personnel to meet the needs of all learners, including those with IEPs or 504 plans
• Contribute to the development of a strong school culture through tutoring, clubs, or extracurricular opportunities that enhance core ELA skills (e.g., debate team, journalism club, creative writing workshops)

• Work closely with fellow teachers and school leadership to align curriculum, assessment, and instructional strategies
• Participate in school-wide professional development to continuously refine instructional practice, including regular data and assessment reflection cycles
• Engage in feedback cycles with the Dean of Academics and Principal to improve teaching effectiveness

• Communicate regularly with families about student progress,…