SY High School Science Teacher; Bushwick

Math, Engineering, and Science Academy (MESA) Charter High School is a community high school in Bushwick, Brooklyn. We opened our doors in August 2013 and we now have 498 students in grades 9-12. We graduated our first class of seniors in June 2017 and our cumulative graduation rate is 94%. Our students come from more than forty different middle schools, including traditional public, parochial, and public charter schools.

Some are advanced students coming from magnet schools; others are beginning English Language Learners. What they all have in common is a desire to succeed; MESA students come to school every day, ready to work.

As an organization, MESA is entering a new phase. Based on its success, MESA is proud to be entrusted with opening a second school in District 20. Serving the diverse families of Borough Park, Bay Ridge, Bensonhurst, Sunset Park, and Dyker Heights, MESA 2 will be the first public 9-12 school built in the area in over 80 years.

We are welcoming 125 9th graders in August of 2025 and will "grow up" with them by adding subsequent grades each year. We need rockstar teachers to join our current Bushwick campus as well as to launch our South Brooklyn campus, and are hiring in all content areas, with a preference to those who want to found a school and humbly serve this community for years to come.

What makes us different is our staff. This year, 42% of staff will be in at least their fifth year at MESA! MESA teachers believe…

• that the greatest contribution we can make to social justice is to give a young person control of their destiny
• committed people, when given autonomy, will find innovative and creative ways to make change
• that being a great educator takes intellectual preparation and a strong sense of personal accountability to produce high quality work.

What makes us different is our model:

• Intentional Grading
  —MESA uses a standards-based grading system, which makes data understandable and accessible. This enables teachers to create targeted, focused instruction, and helps students understand and track their own progress. MESA teachers love data or at the very least, aren’t afraid of it!
• Intentional Support
  —MESA teachers have a minimum of rote administrative duties in order to better focus on planning and instruction. Teachers receive ongoing coaching while dedicated time for co-teaching, department and grade team planning are built into the school schedule.
• Intentional Professional Development
  —MESA has a comprehensive professional development calendar that includes sessions on instructional practices, school culture as well as diversity, equity and inclusion initiatives.
• Intentional School Culture
  —MESA’s advisory model connects small groups of entering freshmen with a teacher-advisor for all 4 years of high school. Advisors provide guidance on academic progress and are mentors, facilitators and positive influencers. Students are recognized by their teachers regularly for academic achievement and effort and are incentivized to meet school expectations around attendance, punctuality and preparedness.
• Intentional Relationships
  —MESA knows that all caregivers want their children to succeed. MESA enlists families as partners in their child’s education through regular communication, workshops, and access to student attendance information and grades. More than 85% of MESA caregivers attend the initial parent-teacher conference of the school year.
• Intentional Scheduling
  —MESA’s school day starts and ends later than most DOE schools, as research indicates that a late start helps high-school students succeed. The calendar and earlier start allows for “Intersession,” during Spring Break where students receive enrichment, skill remediation, or Regents preparation.

Job Responsibilities

• Design and teach five periods each day (two periods daily of prep time). Utilize Universal Design for Learning method of planning and instruction to reach all learners.
• Build relationships with all students. MESA teachers believe that strong rapport is key to student engagement and motivation.
• Attend, participate in, and facilitate team meetings and professional development opportunities, as well as common planning…