Social Studies Teacher; SY

Position: Social Studies Teacher (26-27SY)
SANKOFA MISSION

The mission of Sankofa School of Success, Inc. is to create an environment that is safe, nurturing and seeks to meet students' academic, social and emotional needs using neuroscience, mindfulness, and rigorous education.

JOB DESCRIPTION

Title Social Studies Teacher

Reports to Director of Student Services

Job Type Certified

JOB SUMMARY:

This innovative and adaptive teaching role will lead and steward a new "specials" class focused on engaging, standards-aligned instruction using media to explore history, government, geography, and civics to help students develop a deep understanding of social structures, critical thinking skills, and responsible citizenship. This teacher will teach grade-level bands of students across PK-6, with a particular emphasis on employability skills like problem-solving, collaboration, and self-awareness.

The Whole Child Problem-Based Learning team will teach each group of students in the school once per week and lead innovative interdisciplinary problem-based learning experiences with a rotating grade level once per week.

This role requires a passion for teaching, strong instructional practices, and the ability to foster discussions on historical and contemporary social issues. The ideal candidate will inspire students to think critically, analyze primary and secondary sources, and connect historical concepts to real-world applications.

QUALIFICATIONS

EDUCATION:

Bachelor's Degree required

LICENSE:
Must hold a valid Indiana State Teacher's License (Elementary Education). Must be deemed Highly Qualified in accordance with the Indiana Department of Education

PREFERRED EXPERIENCES:

Experience leading youth civic engagement or media activities

Experience teaching in an elementary specials or related arts model

Experience teaching in a school wide problem-based learning, project-based learning or interdisciplinary model

Experience working in a Title I school or with a similar population of students

Experience implementing mindfulness and restorative practices

COMPETENCIES

Problem-Based Learning Implementation:
Proficiency in implementing problem-based learning lessons that are culturally responsive, engage authentic audiences in the community, and emphasize employability skills

Exemplary Student Engagement:
Demonstrate excellence and ability to model the creation of positive classroom culture with structures that enable rich problem based learning experiences

Content Knowledge:
Familiarity with Indiana Integrated Social Studies Standards and Indiana employability skills and civic, financial and digital literacy expectations

Use of Evidence-Based Instructional Practices:
Demonstrate understanding and use of evidence-based instructional strategies

Relationship Building &

Collaboration:

Foster collaborative relationships with students, colleagues, families, and other stakeholders and share work with others to maximize impact

Operational Efficiency:
Utilize time management and organizational strategies that maximize instructional impact while fulfilling operational duties with accuracy and timeliness

Growth Mindset:
Commit to ongoing professional learning, seeking and applying feedback and staying grounded in a belief in our students' potential

Adaptability & Resilience:
Demonstrate willingness to try new approaches, show flexibility and patience with change, and communicate concerns and potential solutions proactively as challenges arise

ESSENTIAL DUTIES AND RESPONSIBILITIES:

Instructional & Social Emotional Excellence

Plan for and implement STEM curriculum during daily 30-60 minute blocks, supplementing and modifying curriculum to build towards problem-based learning experiences, teach and assess employability skills, and frequently and fluently to respond to student need

Plan weekly interdisciplinary problem-based learning experiences that incorporate authentic audiences and experiential learning in collaboration with Whole Child PBL Coach and general education teachers.

Create and maintain an environment conducive to safety and learning that promotes both intellectual growth and emotional well-being

Internalize and deliver rigorous, engaging lessons tailored to meet the diverse needs of…