Sankofa School of Success

    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 & Media Teacher

    Reports to Director of Student Services

    Job Type Certified



    TO APPLY: Please click the link HERE

    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 schoolwide 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 all students
    • Implement evidence-based instructional strategies and apply neuroscience and mindfulness principles to support students' developmental needs

    Data-Driven Practice

    • Frequently assess and document student skills and growth across academic, social, emotional, and behavioral domains
    • Utilize common assessments and shared data systems across the team to evaluate student learning and instructional effectiveness
    • Collaborate with colleagues to analyze student work and assessment data and plan targeted instructional adjustments

    Communication & Collaboration


    • Meet and communicate regularly with Whole Child team and grade level teams to collaboratively own student achievement
    • Participate in shared communication systems, including posting assignments and plans and inputting real-time data in a timely manner
    • Encourage meaningful family involvement in the educational process, including:
      • Contacting families weekly to maintain open communication channels
      • Arranging family conferences each grading period
    • Collaborate effectively with administration, student support staff, and all staff
    • Seek and utilize community resources to enhance instructional programming
    • Resolve conflicts promptly using reason and emotional intelligence, focusing on solutions rather than blame
    • Uphold school policies and procedures while contributing to a culture of excellence and accountability.

    Professional Growth

    • Attend and participate fully in all professional development opportunities
    • Solicit and respond to feedback to continuously improve instructional practice
    • Proactively communicate challenges with a solutions-mindset

    Perform other duties as assigned.

    SUMMARY OF ESSENTIAL JOB FUNCTIONS:

    • Plan and implement engaging, student-centered lessons aligned to state social studies standards.
    • Teach key civics concepts, including government structures, civic responsibilities, and democratic principles.
    • Guide students in critical analysis of historical events, primary sources, and current events.
    • Promote discussion and debate to encourage civic engagement and critical thinking.
    • Integrate technology and project-based learning to enhance student understanding of historical and civic topics.
    • Assess student progress using formative and summative assessments, adjusting instruction as needed.
    • Foster a classroom environment that is inclusive, respectful, and encourages diverse perspectives.
    • Collaborate with colleagues to align instruction, share resources, and support school-wide academic goals.
    • Communicate regularly with students, families, and administration to provide progress updates and support student success.
    • Uphold school policies and procedures, modeling professionalism and ethical teaching practices.

    EDUCATION AND EXPERIENCE QUALIFICATIONS

    • Deep knowledge of social studies content, historical analysis, and civic education.
    • Strong ability to foster engaging discussions and inquiry-based learning experiences.
    • Commitment to student-centered learning and differentiated instruction.
    • Excellent classroom management and relationship-building skills.
    • Ability to integrate technology and multimedia resources to support instruction.
    • Minimum of 2-3 years of teaching experience preferred.
    • Experience with inquiry-based learning, debate, and project-based instruction is a plus.
    • Prior experience in secondary education or upper elementary civics instruction is beneficial.

    MAJOR RESPONSIBILITIES:

    • Deliver engaging instruction on history, government, economics, and civic engagement.
    • Encourage students to analyze historical sources, form arguments, and engage in discussions.
    • Implement instructional strategies that promote critical thinking, inquiry, and problem-solving.
    • Support students in understanding their rights, responsibilities, and the importance of civic participation.
    • Assess student learning through quizzes, essays, presentations, and performance tasks.
    • Stay informed on current events and legislative changes to connect classroom learning to real-world issues.
    • Maintain accurate records of student progress and provide feedback to students and families.
    • Engage in ongoing professional development to stay updated on best practices in social studies education.
    • Participate in school events, extracurricular activities, and community outreach to enhance student learning.
    • All other duties and responsibilities assigned.

    CERTIFICATES, LICENSES, REGISTRATIONS

    Bachelor’s degree in Education K-6. Valid teaching license/certification in Social Studies (or eligibility for certification).

    LANGUAGE SKILLS:

    Excellent oral and written communication skills and ability to compose documents and tools for instructional use required. Thorough knowledge of grammatical rules, spelling, punctuation and formats required.

    MATHEMATICAL SKILLS: Ability to add, subtract, multiply and divide in all units of measure, using whole numbers, common fractions, and decimals. Ability to compute rate, ratio and percent and to draw and interpret bar graphs and all other statistical measurement tools.

    REASONING ABILITY: Ability to apply common sense understanding to carry out detailed and involved written or oral instructions. Ability to deal with problems involving a few concrete variables in standardized situations. Ability to utilize courtesy and tact when communicating with others to deliver clear and concise messages.

    PHYSICAL DEMANDS: The physical demands described here are representative of those that must be met by an employee to successfully perform the essential functions of this job. Reasonable accommodations may be made to enable individuals with disabilities to perform the essential functions. While performing the duties of this job, the employee is regularly required to stand, walk, and reach with hands and arms. The employee frequently is required to use hands to finger, handle or feel; and talk or hear. The employee must occasionally lift and/or move more than 10 pounds. Specific vision abilities required by this job include close vision, and ability to adjust or focus.

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