About this role
Long Term Substitute (Grade 1 Teacher), (8/31/26-12/22/26) Witchcraft Heights Elementary School, Salem Public Schools [SY 2026-2027] About Salem Public Schools, where belonging leads to opportunity. Salem is a small, diverse city with a proud maritime and immigrant history. Salem Public Schools is an urban public school district enrolling nearly 4,000 students in 11 schools. Our vision is to ensure that all students will be locally engaged, globally connected, and fully prepared to thrive in a diverse and changing world. We hold dear our core values of belonging, equity, and opportunity in everything we do. We seek individuals who are passionate about urban education and understand the urgency of improving student achievement for all students, regardless of ability, economic status, gender/gender identity, language, race/ethnicity, sexual orientation, or other backgrounds. We invite you to learn more about our strategic plan and core priorities on our website at https://salemk12.org/. What You'll Do: Elementary School teachers are responsible for preparing all students for personal and academic success. The successful candidate will work collaboratively with colleagues to ensure a high-quality program for all students. The elementary teacher will effectively manage a partnership with families including regular communication informing of students' success towards mastering content and personal learning habits. The elementary teachers will participate in ongoing professional learning to deepen their knowledge of rigorous, engaging curriculum and pedagogy in both academic content and social-emotional learning. Role Responsibilities:
• Teaches reading, language arts, mathematics, social studies, and science, using the district curriculum and other appropriate learning activities reflecting a deep understanding of state frameworks and use of the workshop model.
• Plans and uses appropriate instructional and learning strategies, activities, materials, and equipment that reflect an understanding of the learning styles and needs of students assigned.
• Provides structure in the classroom by promoting a positive classroom environment that is conducive to learning.
• Prepares teaching materials and related reports, including ongoing data analyses to improve instruction, implementing lesson plans, and documenting student progress.
• Participates in professional development to enhance the overall educational experience for students.
• Instructs and assists in student learning, individually or in groups, designing lessons that present and reinforce learning concepts.
• Works under the general supervision of the building principal and other building administrators, manages student behavior, and assesses student achievement.
What You'll Bring: We are looking for candidates with diverse backgrounds and experiences who are inspired by our mission and are highly motivated to change children's lives through education. You'll be right at home here if you are a reflective practitioner who values collaboration with colleagues and pushes yourself, your work, and the people around you to the next level. We expect our SPS employees to:
• Hold a deep commitment to students and families and value diversity- The SPS community is vibrant and diverse in background, ethnicity, language, and perspective. You embrace and affirm the backgrounds of all members of the SPS community and view our diversity as a powerful resource that supports us in learning and doing our best work.
• Hold high expectations for yourself, students, and colleagues– You see potential in all, especially our SPS students, and maintain high expectations for achievement while providing the support necessary to meet that bar. You hold yourself to high expectations, model SPS values, and seek opportunities to continuously improve.
• Build authentic, caring relationships with colleagues, students, and families – You build strong relationships with students, families, and colleagues that are collaborative and contribute to the individual and collective success of SPS. You partner with families and colleagues to make decisions in the best interest of students and learning.
• Embrace feedback – You are a reflective practitioner who learns from mistakes and challenges and uses them as opportunities for professional development. You model persistence and a growth mindset and thrive in a culture of feedback.
Job Requirements:
• Bachelor's Degree Required; Master's Degree preferred
• Preferred Massachusetts teaching certification/licensure
• Sheltered English Immersion (SEI) Endorsement (Preferred within 1-year of start date)
• Dual Certification (content area) a plus
• Maintain professional competence through in-service education activities provided by the District and/or self-selected professional growth activities.
• Experience teaching and working in an urban public school or charter school setting is preferred.
• A proven track record of raising student achievement scores in an urban/turnaround environment is highly desired.
• Proficiency with technology (blended learning, teacher/family communication suites (Remind preferred), Google G-Suite Apps, etc.) desirable.
• Ability to meet the expectations of the Massachusetts Standards and Indicators of Effective Teaching Practice
• Bilingual candidates and candidates of color strongly encouraged to apply
• Current authorization to work in the United States
Work Year: 8/31/26-12/22/26 Salary: Long-term Substitutes are paid the substitute per diem rate for the first 20 consecutive days. After that, if qualified, they may be paid the appropriate per diem rate on the teacher salary schedule. Teacher salaries in the Salem Public Schools are determined by the STU collective bargaining agreement. Salary information can be found in Appendix A. Benefits: Not included Equal Opportunity Employer Salem Public School District is committed to maintaining a work and learning environment free from discrimination on the basis of race, color, religion, national origin, pregnancy, gender identity, sexual orientation, marital/civil union status, ancestry, place of birth, housing status, age, citizenship status, veteran status, political affiliation, genetic information or disability, as defined and required by state and federal laws. Additionally, we prohibit retaliation against individuals who oppose such discrimination and harassment or who participate in an equal opportunity investigation.