Job Description:

The Blake School seeks a dynamic, creative and reflective 6th-8th Grade English teacher who is eager to help students read and write with rigor, insight and imagination. The ideal candidate will have experience in fostering a diverse and supportive community committed to pluralism and a common set of values to prepare students for purposeful lives as community and global citizens. The teacher will work closely with a grade-level team and the English department to design units, activities and lessons that develop foundational skills for learning and inquiry. Drawing from a writing workshop model inspired by Teachers College, Columbia University, teachers focus writing instruction on the moves authors make to compose meaningful personal narratives, literary essays, nonfiction articles and persuasive arguments. Middle School English courses also include explicit instruction in reading skills to develop close reading, annotation and other meaning-making strategies. This is a 1.0 FTE ongoing position starting in the 2022-23 school year. Blake is particularly interested in candidates who will enrich the diversity of identity, lived experience and thinking that makes a community strong and empowers students to engage across differences.

The committee will begin the review of applications on Dec. 1 and welcomes additional applications until Jan. 15. Blake will typically cover the travel and lodging costs for finalist candidates visiting from out of town.

Experience and Skills:

The ideal candidate will:

• have a bachelor's degree in a related field
• demonstrate experience with student-centered teaching practices such as reading and writing workshops, discussion-based activities, and inquiry approaches to reading our world
• be able to both nurture and challenge Middle School students as necessary to meet the developmental and learning needs of each individual
• have experience teaching students with a wide array of identities and lived experiences
• have some experience in shaping curricula at the middle school level
• demonstrate prior success in working collaboratively and harmoniously with other adults in an educational setting

The Blake School is a pre-kindergarten through grade 12, co-educational, nonsectarian, independent day school enrolling 1,366 bright, talented students from nearly 56 Twin Cities-area communities. Founded in 1900, The Blake School has the advantage of facilities and campuses designed for specific developmental ages. Blake's mission is to engage students with a dynamic, academically challenging education in a diverse and supportive community committed to pluralism and a common set of values. Students pursue an integrated program of academic, artistic and athletic activities, preparing for college, lifelong learning and purposeful lives as community and global citizens. The school community is also guided by its Commitment to Pluralism and core values.

The Blake School believes that a diverse society enriches all individuals and communities. Diversity of race, ethnicity, national origin, geography, religion, gender, affectional or sexual orientation, age, physical ability, and marital, parental or economic status forms the fabric of our society. As a result of these beliefs, The Blake School actively seeks students, families and employees who value and contribute to the fullness of a diverse community within the context of its mission. In doing so, we recognize our responsibility to help make each person's experience a success. EOE