Founding Middle School English Language Arts Teacher | Cedar Rapids Prep

Founding Middle School English Languages Arts Teacher | Cedar Rapids Prep

www.cedarrapidsprep.com 

About Cedar Rapids Prep

Cedar Rapids Prep is a new public charter school opening in August 2025 to serve 300 sixth and seventh grade students in its inaugural year. The school will add an additional grade level each year, building out a full comprehensive middle and high school that offers academic excellence, a wide array of extracurriculars, and hyper-focused college prep experience. As one of our flagship schools for Opportunity Education, Cedar Rapids Prep aims to set a model for schools nationwide.

About the Role: English Language Arts Teacher

The ELA Teacher will play a critical role in shaping a rigorous, engaging, and supportive learning environment where all students develop the reading, writing, and analytical skills needed for success.

As a founding teacher at Cedar Rapids Prep, you will have the opportunity to build a strong literacy program that fosters a deep love of reading, writing proficiency, and critical thinking. Your role will involve delivering high-quality instruction, collaborating with colleagues to align curriculum and instructional practices, leveraging student data for continuous improvement, and helping students develop the 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 English Language Arts, 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.

 

Responsibilities

As a dynamic and growing organization, responsibilities will evolve; however, core areas of focus include:

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 reading comprehension, analytical writing, and strong communication skills
• Utilize a variety of instructional strategies to meet the needs of diverse learners
• Regularly assess student progress using a combination of formative and summative assessments to guide instruction
• Provide students with clear, actionable feedback to support growth in reading and writing

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 middle school experience
• 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 school culture through tutoring, clubs, or extracurricular opportunities that enhance core ELA skills  (e.g., debate team, journalism club, creative writing workshops)

Collaboration & Professional Growth (10%)

• Work closely with fellow teachers and school leadership to align curriculum, assessment, and instructional strategies
• Participate in school-wide professional development to continuously refine instructional practice, including regular data and assessment reflection cycles
• Engage in feedback cycles with the Dean of Academics and Principal to improve teaching effectiveness

Family & Community Engagement (5%)

• Communicate regularly with families about student progress, celebrating successes and addressing challenges proactively
• Participate in school events, family conferences, and outreach efforts to build strong relationships with families and the community
• Support families in fostering a love for reading and writing at home, emphasizing literacy as a key component of their child’s future academic and career success

Ideal Candidate Experiences

• 3+ years of teaching experience, preferably in high school English Language Arts
• Strong track record of student achievement in ELA
• Experience designing and implementing differentiated instruction to meet the needs of students of varying reading levels
• Proven academic growth for s