Founding High School History Teacher | Des Moines Prep

Founding High School History Teacher | Des Moines Prep

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About Des Moines Prep 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.

About the Role:
Founding High School History Teacher The History Teacher will play a critical role in shaping a rigorous, engaging, and supportive learning environment where all students develop a strong understanding of inquiry and content standards. This position may also help identify and construct additional social studies electives aligned to our school’s postsecondary readiness goals. As a founding teacher at Des Moines Prep, you will have the opportunity to build a dynamic and inquiry-driven social studies program that fosters critical thinking, civic engagement, and a deep understanding of historical and contemporary issues.

Your role will involve delivering high-quality instruction, designing and facilitating engaging discussions, collaborating with colleagues to align curriculum and instructional practices, leveraging student data for continuous improvement, and helping students develop the analytical and 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 social studies, 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 History, determined based on candidate experience, strengths, and student needs

Instruction Delivery & Curriculum Development (65%)

• 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 historical inquiry, critical thinking, and real-world connections
• Design and facilitate engaging discussions, simulations, and project-based learning experiences that help students analyze and apply historical and social concepts
• Utilize a variety of instructional strategies to meet the needs of diverse learners, including primary source analysis, debates, case studies, and digital resources
• Regularly assess student progress using a combination of formative and summative assessments to guide instruction
• Provide students with clear, actionable feedback that supports growth in scientific understanding and reasoning

Student Engagement & Support (20%)

• 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 civic-minded school culture through tutoring, clubs, or extracurricular opportunities such as Model UN, debate team, student government, or history club

Collaboration & Professional Growth (10%)

• Work closely with fellow teachers and school leadership to align curriculum, assessment, and instructional…