Job Description
Reports to: School Principal/Assistant Principal (primary site)
FLSA Status: Exempt Position Type: Full Time Location: Two FirstLine Schools sites (mileage reimbursable)
FirstLine’s Vision Of Teaching Excellence:
We develop teachers at FirstLine by focusing on excellence in teaching. To do so, we coach teachers and center professional development on our Vision of Excellence in Teaching rubric. The components include:
- On Task (Maintaining high expectations and maximizing instructional time)
- Community of Learners (Establishing Expectations and Responding to Student Behaviors)
- Essential Content (Planning effectively)
- Cognitive Engagement (Maintaining High Academic Expectations and Building Thinking Skills)
- Demonstration of Learning (Leading Instruction, Checking for Understanding, Responding to Student Misunderstanding)
Position Summary:
FirstLine Schools is seeking a talented, passionate math educator for a unique teaching role spanning two schools. The Algebra Teacher will deliver 8th grade Algebra instruction at two FirstLine campuses, provide 8th grade math review support at one site, and teach 4th grade math acceleration to round out the schedule. This position requires a teacher who is equally strong in abstract algebraic thinking and foundational numeracy — and who thrives in a dynamic, multi-site environment. The ideal candidate is a flexible, collaborative professional who can build strong relationships across two school communities while maintaining rigorous, consistent instruction for every student.
Position Responsibilities:
8th Grade Algebra (Two Sites)
- Delivers rigorous, standards-aligned Algebra I instruction across two FirstLine campuses, ensuring consistency of curriculum, pacing, and high expectations at both sites
- Designs lessons that lead to mastery of Louisiana Student Standards for Algebra I, aligned to end-of-year LEAP 2025 assessment expectations
- Uses data from assessments, exit tickets, and daily checks for understanding to identify student misconceptions and adjust instruction accordingly
- Provides scaffolded feedback that affirms correct understanding, addresses errors, and extends scholars’ algebraic thinking
- Prepares students to reason through complex, multi-step problems and to communicate mathematical thinking clearly
8th Grade Math Review (One Site)
- Provides targeted review and reinforcement of 8th grade math standards for Algebra students to ensure preparation for the LEAP 2025 8th grade math exam
- Uses formative data to group students flexibly and to personalize practice sequences
4th Grade Math Acceleration (One Site)
- Delivers accelerated math instruction to high-performing 4th grade students, extending grade-level standards into enrichment and above-grade-level content
- Designs engaging, differentiated tasks that deepen number sense, problem solving, and mathematical reasoning for advanced young learners
Professional Responsibilities
- Establishes effective classroom routines and manages students without disruptions across all three instructional contexts
- Inspires and invests students in achieving their goals; builds strong, trust-based relationships across two school communities
- Administers classroom, practice, and state assessments in accordance with school and state guidelines, ensuring testing integrity and timely completion
- Seeks out and constructively responds to feedback; collaborates with school leaders, colleagues, and network staff across both sites
- Participates in school-wide duty rotations, faculty meetings, professional development, and events at both campuses as required
Education & Experience:
- Bachelor’s degree (BA or BS) required; degree in Mathematics, Mathematics Education, or related field strongly preferred
- Louisiana Teacher Certification completed or in progress; out-of-state applicants must be eligible to obtain Louisiana certification
- Strong command of Algebra I content and Louisiana Student Standards for Mathematics (LSSM); familiarity with upper elementary math standards a plus
- Experience teaching Algebra or secondary math in a K–8 or secondary urban school setting preferred
- Demonstrated success improving student math achievement through data-driven instruction
- Comfort working across multiple grade levels and multiple school sites; proven ability to manage a varied schedule independently
Desired Qualities & Characteristics:
- Believes in every student’s ability to achieve in a rigorous college or career prep curriculum
- Flexible and adaptive; thrives in a multi-site environment and builds strong relationships across school communities
- Achieves results based on agreed-upon expectations; takes personal responsibility and follows through consistently
- Highly detail-oriented; collaborates effectively with a range of stakeholders across two campuses
- Shares a commitment to creating great schools in New Orleans
- Models the FirstLine Commitments: We Keep Learning, We Work Together, We Are Helpful, We Are the Safekeepers of our Community, We Share Joy, We Show Results!
Physical Requirements:
Teachers must be able to perform the physical duties of the role, which include frequent standing, walking, sitting, reaching, and use of hands, continuous talking and hearing, and occasional stooping, kneeling, or lifting up to 25 pounds. Travel between two school sites is required; mileage is reimbursable. Reasonable accommodations may be granted depending on the essential functions of the job.
About FirstLine Schools-
In 1998, FirstLine Schools started the first charter school in New Orleans. FirstLine now operates several (Pre)K–8th grade schools. Our mission is to create and inspire great, open-admissions public schools in New Orleans. Our staff is a diverse and talented group dedicated to our students’ success and to their own growth.
Salary is competitive and commensurate with experience. FirstLine Schools offers a comprehensive benefits package with a generous 403b plan.
FirstLine Schools provides equal employment opportunities (EEO) to all employees and applicants for employment without regard to race, color, religion, gender, sexual orientation, national origin, age, disability, genetic information, marital status, amnesty, or status as a covered veteran in accordance with applicable federal, state and local laws.
How to Apply: Please apply online via: http://www.firstlineschools.org/careers
About FirstLine Schools
Mission & Vision
Our Mission
The mission of FirstLine Schools is to create and inspire great, open admissions public schools in New Orleans
Our Vision
Our schools will prepare students for college, fulfilling careers, and a healthy life by nurturing students in mind, body, and spirit.
Why FirstLine Schools?
We Believe In:
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Deeply Committing to Teacher Support and Growth
- FirstLine recruits and retains a diverse group of teachers who hold high expectations for their students and strive to create joyful classrooms where students are responsible for doing the majority of thinking, writing, and discussion in class.
- FirstLine teachers receive weekly coaching and lesson feedback from a school-based instructional coach and also participate in network-wide bi-weekly Professional Learning Time.
- FirstLine teachers are developed over their career using our “Vision of Excellence” classroom teaching rubric.
- FirstLine has instituted a teacher career pathway that focuses on our commitment to developing teacher skillfulness. Teachers have access to increased teacher leadership opportunities and compensation as they grow.
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Working to Becoming an Antiracist Organization
- FirstLine’s commitment to doing what is right for kids is rooted in doing the necessary work of deeply examining policies, procedures, and practices to ensure we are working toward dismantling the effects of systemic racism on our students.
- FirstLine partners with Overcoming Racism, an organization that seeks to build more equitable institutions through comprehensive race and equity training, which benefits all staff, and through us, our students, and their families.
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Focusing on Social / Emotional Learning and Community Building
- FirstLine is committed to training teachers in trauma-informed approaches that nurture supportive and caring relationships as the foundation of positive culture, enabling teachers to de-escalate behaviors and thus reduce suspensions.
- FirstLine’s signature program, Edible Schoolyard New Orleans (ESYNOLA), teaches children and adults to make healthy connections through food and the natural world. Hands-on garden and culinary / nutrition education classes have provided FirstLine students with social/emotional learning opportunities since we built the first school garden at Samuel J. Green School in 2006 immediately following Hurricane Katrina. Through this work, students learn respect for life, the power of personal choice, and the value of community.
- FirstLine is implementing the Valor Collegiate Academies’ social/emotional learning curriculum, involving staff and student individual personal storytelling and reflection work and community circles.
- We are committed to innovation, to constant assessment, and to making the thousands of small changes needed to keep improving our practice.
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Creating a Sense of Belonging
- FirstLine aims to create school environments that are nurturing and supportive for students, families, and staff of all races, socioeconomic status, and abilities to ensure inclusive, safe, and brave spaces where people can show up as their whole selves.
- At FirstLine, we live by these Commitments:
- I commit to my own and others’ development.
- I commit to listening and understanding.
- I commit to speaking with honesty and respect.
- I commit to doing what it takes to serve others.
- I commit to keeping myself and others safe in mind, body, and spirit.
- I commit to bringing my personal joy to our work.
- I commit to holding myself and others accountable.
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Striving for Academic Excellence
- FirstLine fosters a culture of academic excellence and intellectual curiosity through instruction that meets the learning needs of every student. A FirstLine education helps students develop the academic skills and character strengths needed to succeed in school and in life.
- We set expectations high for our students and develop teachers to have the will and skill to help them meet these expectations.
- FirstLine aspires to offer classes that are rigorous, engaging, and joyful, where students drive most of the thinking and discussion, and we coach and develop our teachers and leaders to get there.
- FirstLine utilizes culturally relevant curriculum that provides “windows and mirrors.” Our children are more engaged when they see themselves represented through a historically accurate socio-political lens that broadens students’ choices and develops them into justice-oriented, curious, creative global citizens.
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Cherishing Family and Community
- As New Orleans’ oldest homegrown charter school organization founded in 1998, FirstLine was created and always values its deep and long-standing partnerships with families and community-based organizations, churches, and local universities.
- FirstLine partners with Valor Collegiate Academies and Tulane University’s Safe Schools program, a National Institute of Justice initiative, to teach teachers how to incorporate social/emotional learning and trauma-informed practices in their instruction – encouraging relationship building and providing emotional support for students during class, which promotes learning.
- FirstLine engages artists, musicians, writers, and athletic educators to create a rich array of afterschool and summer programs and classes, all of which are free and open to all students.
- FirstLine maintains communication with our families and understands the challenges our families face economically, especially during a pandemic, and works to link families to community resources and social services, working in partnership with Communities in Schools and our team of mental health professionals.