About New Urban
Learning
New Urban Learning (NUL) is a non-profit charter management
organization launched in 1999 in Detroit. New Urban Learning and
its schools are designed to prepare students to college at rates
equal to or greater than the most affluent suburban schools. New
Urban Learning manages three separate networks of schools for a
total of seven college preparatory schools serving students in
grades K-12 including its flagship district, University Prep, and
University Prep Science and Math, and our newest network
University Yes. Currently, there are more than 2,600 students
attending New Urban Learning schools in Detroit.
Partnership with Yes
PrepSchools
Seeking a high-quality option for students in Detroit, Doug
Ross, founder of New Urban Learning and former Governor Jennifer
Granholm visited YES Prep Schools based on their track-record of
getting 100% of their students accepted to top colleges and
universities. In 2010 New Urban Learning opened University Yes
Academy (UYA) in Detroit based on the Yes Prep schools' model.
The school currently serves 6
<sup>th</sup>
and 7
<sup>th</sup>
grade students, and is expected to add a grade each year until it
reaches full capacity of 775 students in the fall of 2016 when
the first class will graduate and matriculate to college. New
Urban Learning will expand to open University YES Academy East in
the fall of 2012.
Job Description
Teachers at University YES Academy have the primary purpose of
instructing, motivating and persistently encouraging students in
mastery of subjects that they teach. Teachers are responsible for
instruction in the core curriculum (English, mathematics,
science, & social studies) as well as elective courses that
are prescribed to the state for graduation. Teachers directly
impact the development of the character and self-image of the
students that they work with. They are committed to the student's
academic and social success in college and beyond.
Responsibilities
Core Instructional Excellence
•
Assess every student's mastery of the content and diagnose areas
of student misunderstanding
•
Demonstrate strong content knowledge; all information conveyed to
students is factually accurate
•
Model responses and provide visual anchors; lead students through
guided and independent practice and regularly check for
understanding
•
Utilizing current examples that underscore lessons and makes
learning relevant to the world the student lives in
•
Ensure academic rigor by asking increasingly difficult questions,
accepting only high quality student responses and posting
examples of high quality work
•
Use high-engagement strategies (e.g. rapid fire questioning,
non-verbal responses, etc.)
•
Meet needs of range of students, providing extra support,
enrichment, or variation of work
•
Preparing students for state and district mandated testing
Student Achievement & Character Development
•
Set and hold students to extremely high academic and behavioral
standards
•
Deliver measurable student academic growth and increase each
individual student's achievement
•
Supporting and encouraging pupils on an individual basis through
academic or personal difficulties
Classroom Culture
•
Create positive, achievement-oriented and structured learning
environment with high "joy-factor" so that students are excited
about and invested in their academic excellence
•
Set and reinforce clear expectations and routines that are
aligned with the school's overall vision
•
Discuss, celebrate, and reinforce character skills
•
Embrace and use school culture systems
•
Design classroom space to reinforce school values and culture
with obvious, posted examples of outstanding academics and
character
Planning and Data Analysis
•
Set measurable, ambitious yet attainable goals for the year and
for each interim assessment cycle
•
Use data from interim assessments, quizzes and informal
assessments to inform instruction
•
Internalize standards and scope and sequence (for own
grade/subject and the grades one year before and one year after)
and know how standards are assessed
•
Thoughtfully plan lessons and develop and implement specific
strategies to ensure that each student achieves dramatic
gains
Student and Family Relationships
•
Build rapport with students outside of class (e.g. lunches with
scholars, special events) so students understand unambiguously
that teachers care about them
•
Invest parents and families in their children's academic success
through regular communication of success and challenges
Personal Organization and Effectiveness
•
Reflect on successes and areas of growth around all areas of
teaching; seek to improve performance; receive feedback
eagerly
•
Active and positive participation in departmental meetings,
parent conferences and whole school training events
•
Working enthusiastically and collaboratively with peers in
vertical and horizontal planning configurations
•
Use system to capture and check action items and prioritize work
appropriately
•
Enthusiastically participate in structured and informal learning
and development opportunities
Contribution to UYA and School Communities
•
Collaborate with colleagues to ensure a rigorous, joyful, and
safe environment across the entire school
•
Assume responsibility for every single scholar's success by
holding all students accountable during transitions, meals,
trips, etc.
•
Create unit plans, lesson plans, or other instructional materials
as needed to ensure student success across the entire
network
Qualifications
Required knowledge, skills, abilities and experience include:
•
Strong instructional skills and classroom management
•
Demonstrated mastery of subject matter
•
Two years of teaching experience with a record of high student
achievement
•
Bachelor's degree from a competitive college or university
•
Willingness to seek certification if not already certified
•
Unyielding commitment to students, self and school's constant
learning and development
•
Relentlessness - doing whatever it takes to ensure success
•
Team player
•
Excellent communication skills
•
Highly organized
•
Maturity, humility, strong work ethic, sense of humor, and
"roll-up-my-sleeves" attitude
Compensation
New Urban Learning offers competitive salaries commensurate
with experience. Additionally, New Urban Learning offers a
comprehensive benefits package.