1st Grade Humanities Teacher

School Overview

St. Louis Voices Academy of Media Arts is an innovative charter public school serving students and families within St. Louis City. The school began with kindergarten through first grade and will add one grade per year, ultimately serving grades K–5. St. Louis Voices Academy emphasizes media and storytelling, whole-child development, real-world inquiry, and progressive learner autonomy as foundational design elements supporting its mission.

Mission:
St. Louis Voices Academy leverages media arts and storytelling to equip students with the agency to excel academically, author their own futures, and make meaningful contributions to their communities.

Teachers are our most critical resource in shaping the learning experiences of our students. As a 1st Grade Humanities Teacher, you will create engaging, rigorous, and culturally responsive learning opportunities that foster literacy, critical thinking, and storytelling in young learners. You will empower students to explore diverse perspectives, express their voices confidently, and engage with the world through reading, writing, and discussion.

You will work collaboratively within a dynamic, mission-driven environment that prioritizes equity, innovation, and student-centered learning. Our teachers embrace their own stories as a means to support students in becoming compelling storytellers and engaged scholars.

Instruction & Student Learning

• Deliver high-quality, student-centered instruction aligned with St. Louis Voices Academy’s pedagogical approaches, including:
• Culturally responsive teaching
• Cooperative learning
• Inquiry-based learning
• Personalized learning
• Student presentation & storytelling
• Teach students to develop and tell their own stories by sharing your own as a model.
• Foster critical thinking, literacy, and social-emotional learning through meaningful discussions and activities.
• Design and implement engaging lessons that promote creativity, curiosity, and a love of learning.

School Culture & Community Building

• Build positive, trusting relationships with students, ensuring they feel seen, valued, and heard.
• Partner with families to support students’ academic and social-emotional growth.
• Engage in practice-based professional development, mentorship, and coaching sessions.
• Actively contribute to a positive school culture by supporting:
• Morning arrival & dismissal
• Lunch & recess duty
• Student assemblies & community circles
• Classroom transitions & behavior expectations
• Lead class meetings to reinforce core values and cultivate a sense of belonging.

Reflection & Continuous Improvement

• Regularly reflect on instructional practice and student progress to seek opportunities for growth.
• Internalize feedback from instructional leaders and colleagues, taking actionable steps to improve.
• Engage in ongoing professional learning to enhance instructional skills and cultural competence.

Additional Responsibilities

• Perform all other duties as assigned to support student success.

Qualifications

• Bachelor’s degree in Elementary Education or a related field.
• Missouri Teacher Certification or eligibility for certification within one semester of employment.
• 2-3 years of teaching experience is preferred, especially in urban schools or diverse learning environments.

Knowledge & Skills

• Demonstrated commitment to students’ social-emotional and academic development.
• Ability to analyze and use student data to inform instruction and intervention.
• Alignment with the school’s mission of leveraging media arts and storytelling to empower students.
• Commitment to the school’s core values: voice, ownership, innovation, collaboration, empathy, and scholarship.

Why Join Us?

• Competitive salary & benefits
• Performance-based bonus
• Supportive and mission-driven team
• Access to technology, resources, and professional development

St. Louis Voices Academy is an equal opportunity employer committed to building a diverse and inclusive community where all students and staff can thrive.