The ancona school (ancona) is an independent school located in chicago's historic hyde park kenwood community, educating students 3 years old through 8th grade. Since our founding in 1962, ancona has been dedicated to diversity in both our community and our curriculum, which draws upon the montessori and progressive education models. Social justice education is the cornerstone of ancona’s mission as a school; it informs what we teach and how we teach it. At every grade level, ancona students learn to identify inequality and are empowered to address injustice in the world.
at ancona, we seek diversity in our faculty and staff to broaden students’ academic experiences and to enrich our school community. Ancona is looking for individuals who will contribute to our social justice mission and embrace the rich diversity of our school and city as we prepare our students for an increasingly complex world. Candidates must be sensitive to the needs of, and possess an interest in, working in a school community that is diverse with regard to gender, race, ethnicity, religion, nationality, sexual orientation, gender identity and expression, and disability status.
summary/objective
the ancona school seeks a full-time head teacher for 1st-8th grade spanish. The teacher will provide instruction of the spanish language using a cultural context to embed the teaching and learning. The language teacher is responsible for evaluating student progress in the subject matter and communicating regularly with parents, including weekly updates.
our program
the spanish curriculum builds upon the belief that students’ language learning should be a positive, non-threatening process, similar to the way children acquire their first language. Within our classroom, students learn not only language and pronunciation skills, but also learning strategies that will aid them as they continue their studies in later years. Our approach is meant to foster spontaneous and meaningful communication among students, interest and enthusiasm for spanish-speaking cultures, and empathy for the people living within those cultures. We frequently use a process known as tprs – teaching proficiency through reading and storytelling. This method emphasizes the importance of repetition of “comprehensible input” — listening and reading that is understood by the learner – as a way to more effectively acquire language. Our curriculum weaves lessons related to geography, daily life, history, politics, music, art, and struggles for peace and social justice within the spanish-speaking world. The intense focus on these themes as seen through the lens of human rights and social justice is both progressive and potentially transformative; cultivating compassionate, culturally proficient, and geographically knowledgeable global citizens who have the power to become positive change agents. Each year, within a four-year cycle, we focus on a different part of the world where spanish is spoken: 1) spain 2) mexico, central america & the spanish-speaking caribbean, 3) south america, and 4) the latinx community in the u.s.a.
essential job function
* develop and follow a curriculum that incorporates language and cultural studies with a focus on social justice issues within the target regions
* engage in discussions about equity and inclusion as it relates to the target cultures
* plan and supervise overnight student learning experiences and an annual study-abroad trip
* assess and report on student progress four times per year
* plan and lead field trips to local institutions to augment classroom learning
* partner with all adults responsible for students; collaborate with colleagues to plan and execute weekly flex days
* participate in professional development, faculty work days, and weekly faculty meetings
* prepare for and present at school events, such as open houses and informational dinners
* communicate regularly with parents via email and the classroom website
* use innovative approaches to world language instruction (speaking, reading, listening, writing)
* incorporate song, dance, theater, and storytelling into lessons
* partner with community-based organizations to enrich the curriculum
occasional and ongoing expectations
* support student-led fundraising events
* meet with co-workers, division head, and head of school to share ideas, plan, and problem-solve
* attend weekly staff meetings and participate in staff professional development in staff meetings
* participate in parent education events, as requested
* participate in board meetings, as requested
* participate in professional meetings outside of school
* prepare for school’s community activities such as open houses, observations, and all general meetings or special events
reporting relationships
reports to the head of school and/or department head
required qualifications: education and experience
* masters degree in education, spanish, or related area
* minimum of three years of teaching experience rooted in progressive education
* elementary teaching experience
* experience integrating social justice themes into a curriculum
* familiarity with macintosh platform, google suite of products, and virtual conferencing applications (i.e. Zoom)
* fluency in spanish
* strong classroom management skills; knowledge of responsive classroom a plus
* experience teaching and supporting a diverse student population
* strong communication skills; ability to communicate constructively and productively with colleagues and parents
* openness to growth and change
institutional requirements
* cpr/first aid certification (preferred)
* pass a background check
* have the physical capacity to work with children.
* keep up with professional development – 15 hours per school year.
physical demands
* reaching
* standing
* walking
* lifting
* feeling
* talking
* hearing
* repetitive motion
* sedentary work, light work, medium work
* inside and outside environmental conditions
expected hours of work
monday-friday, 7:50 am-3:30 pm
wednesdays, 3:35-4:45 pm (reserved for staff meetings)
travel
chaperone one 5-day/ 4-night out-of-state outdoor education experience each fall and one international week-long trip each spring
other duties
please note this job description is not designed to cover or contain a comprehensive listing of activities, duties, or responsibilities that are required of the employee for this job. Duties, responsibilities, and activities may change at any time with or without notice.
eeo statement
it is the policy of ancona school not to discriminate against any employee or any applicant for employment because of age, race, religion, color, handicap, sex, physical condition, developmental disability, sexual orientation, or national origin. This policy shall include, but not be limited to, the following: recruitment and employment, promotion, demotion, transfer, compensation, selection for training including apprenticeship, layoff, and termination.
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