Middle School Math Teacher

Reports To: Head of Middle School
FLSA Status: Exempt, Full-time Position
Department: Middle School Faculty/Math Department
Grade Level: 8th-Grade
Alexander Dawson School Overview  Located at the foot of Red Rock Canyon in the Summerlin community of Las Vegas, Nevada, The Alexander Dawson School at Rainbow Mountain is a top-ranked independent school serving approximately 580 students from Early Childhood through grade eight. As the state's first Stanford University Challenge Success partner school, Dawson embraces a modern learning philosophy and student-centered educational program emphasizing academics, creativity, student safety and wellbeing, and a healthy school-life balance. Our graduates are prepared to achieve their individual potential, savor life, and meet the challenges of the world. 
Alexander Dawson Middle School Guided by the Mission of the School and driven by Alexander Dawson's strategic plan, grades 5-8 of the Middle School are a time for inquiry and self-discovery. The middle school experience allows for risk-taking and the pursuit of deeper intellectual challenges, and Dawson students are prepared to take on such challenges with the support of master teachers who provide individual attention, promote the freedom to be curious, and empower every student to find their passions and voice. Learning and growth are in every corner of the Middle School, from the accessibility of conversations with advisors, teachers, administrators, and coaches to the strength of a community that fully believes and invests in each child. Teachers create lessons and learning environments that balance the intersection of academic knowledge, competency skills, and habits of mind.
Shared Values & Competencies of Dawson Employees Alexander Dawson educators are engaged and innovative academic leaders committed to modern learning. Those who see opportunities before problems, lead with questions, assume positive intentions, are professional and respectful in their relationships, and collaborate effectively with colleagues of varied backgrounds find success in this working environment. Additionally, this position seeks individuals who:
Commit to shaping a just, inclusive community and understand how centering equity impacts all aspects of the job Adapt a nimble mindset when dealing with frequent changes, delays, or unexpected events Act with intentionality, transparency, humility, and honesty Develop solutions when faced with problems, challenges, or dysfunctions and make decisions with resolve and empathy Communicate with care and clarity with parents Build trusting relationships and demonstrate teamwork through attentive listening and a commitment to collaboration Believe they can learn from others and lead with questions to gain perspective Act ethically, morally, and legally to maintain compliance with organizational policies  In addition to resourcefulness and adaptability, effective problem-solving fundamentals include respect for differences and a willingness to brainstorm with others to reach creative solutions Position Summary The Alexander Dawson School at Rainbow Mountain seeks a full-time eighth-grade math teacher for the ******** school year. Working closely with the other members of their grade level team and the math department, this educator is responsible for classroom instruction, communication with students and parents, facilitating daily advisory lessons, and remaining current on best practices in adolescent math instruction. Providing explicit math instruction through a workshop approach is the primary focus of the role. 
Comfort with and the ability to connect with Middle School students is required. In addition to teaching three sections of eighth-grade math, the role is expected to serve as a middle school advisor for 10-12 students. The advisor is the main point person for families and guides students' academic, social, and emotional development and success. Finally, the role will teach sections of what Dawson calls "What I Need" (W.I.N.). W.I.N. is a targeted instructional time outside the core academic blocks designed to meet the needs of all learners. 
This is a full-time, 10-month position that will begin August 1, 2024; however, the successful candidate must attend a new faculty onboarding program from July 23-25, 2024.
Essential Functions: The essential duties and responsibilities of this position include but are not limited to:
Learning Environment Support and value social-emotional learning Create a dynamic and engaging classroom environment Interact with students by making genuine connections and demonstrating warmth, care, and respect Convey high expectations for student achievement through instructional goals and activities, interactions, and classroom environment Maintain a learning environment where student voice is encouraged and valued Establish effective classroom routines and maximize instructional times Involve students in the development of classroom norms Create a safe, well-organized classroom environment that reflects student ownership Exhibit the philosophy that process has as much value as product Demonstrate an awareness for and be responsive to student needs and behavior. Employ a relational discipline approach Planning and Instruction Use high-impact strategies rooted in the School's Mission and effectively engage students in modern learning, including Project-Based Learning, inquiry, financial literacy, Socratic Method, etc. Utilize multiple grouping strategies such as individual, small-group, and whole-class activities. Ask questions that require higher-order thinking. Communicate focus and purpose of lessons with students in written and/or oral form Exhibit student work in the process of development and final product Encourages student goal-setting by providing timely, specific, realistic, and relevant feedback and coaching.  Use data to make informed curricular and instructional decisions; modify lessons based on student needs Assign meaningful and purposeful homework Provide opportunities for the application and transfer of students' knowledge and skills Use technology to create student experiences that have transformative impacts on learning. Design authentic assessments and performance tasks to measure student learning Leverage AI tools that prepare students with world-readiness skills. Use small and large-scale assessments to align curriculum and department goals Professional Responsibilities Work collaboratively with department and division colleagues to plan curriculum, review student data, and share instructional best practices Critically reflect on teaching and learning Embrace cultural competency and commit to ongoing growth in the areas of diversity, equity, and inclusion  Maintain an effective system for recording student progress where outcomes are continually monitored and assessed Communicate with families in a professional, positive, caring, and timely way; regularly share student progress and remain responsive to concerns Accompany students on occasional off-campus and sometimes multi-day field trips related to the school's educational Mission Qualifications, Education & Experience: Minimum of three years of teaching experience Bachelor's degree in education (ideally, related to mathematics with a focus on middle-level education) required ; master's degree preferred Experience teaching pre-algebra, algebra, and geometry required Nevada teacher certification required Experience providing research-based math instruction to adolescents Excellent written and verbal communication skills Experience and enjoyment working with students in the intermediate or middle school age group Strong awareness of current brain research related to adolescents, social-emotional development, and the use of technology Work Environment: The work environment characteristics described here are representative of those an employee encounters while performing the essential functions of this job. Reasonable accommodations may be made to enable individuals with disabilities to perform essential functions. The noise level in the work environment is usually moderate. Physical Demands: The physical demands described here are representative of those that must be met by an employee to successfully perform the essential functions of this job. Reasonable accommodations may be made to enable individuals with disabilities to perform essential functions. While performing the duties of this job, the employee is regularly required to stand and walk, reach with hands and arms, and stoop, kneel, crouch, or crawl. The employee must frequently lift and/or move up to 10 pounds and occasionally lift and/or move up to 25 pounds. About The Alexander Dawson School
The Alexander Dawson School at Rainbow Mountain is a coed, preschool to eighth-grade independent school located in the Summerlin area of Las Vegas, Nevada. Close to Red Rock Canyon National Conservation Area and about twenty minutes from downtown Las Vegas, Dawson's Mission, Vision, Diversity Statement, and Core Beliefs are a reflection of the beautiful environment it calls home. A Stanford University Challenge Success School, Dawson has emerged as a beacon school where student voice is the fabric of the culture.Apply today:
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