Faculty Position: Middle School (grades 5-8) and High School (9-12) (Tucson-Oro Valley-Scottsdale)

An academically rigorous charter school organization will have several openings next year for teachers in the following subjects:
 

 
Mathematics (Pre-Algebra, Algebra, Pre-Calculus & AP Calculus)
 
Science (Physical Geography, Biology, Chemistry & Physics)
 
English (Rhetoric, English Literature, English Language, & AP English Language)
 
History & Geography (Classics, American History, World History, & AP Government)
 
Latin & Modern Languages (Mandarin, Spanish, French)
 
Fine Arts
 
Economics
 

 
Teachers should have an excellent grasp of the subject matter they would like to teach. Both recent graduates and experienced teachers are encouraged to apply. Desirable qualities include intellectual passion, enjoyment of teaching children, and the ability to communicate ideas, texts, and concepts with precision and confidence. At least one degree in the subject area or a closely related field is essential. Strong applicants will have a high GPA in their major, good recommendations, and experience working with children, not necessarily in the classroom. Coursework in education is not required, nor is certification.
 

 

 
School Profiles
 
BASIS Educational Group (BEG) currently manages two campuses in Arizona, one in North Scottsdale (BASIS Scottsdale, www.basisscottsdale.org), and one in central Tucson (BASIS Tucson, www.basistucson.org). Next year, a third campus will open in Oro Valley, AZ, which is located in Northwest Tucson. These schools are designed to be the highest-performing public charter schools in the world. For the past three years, BASIS has received both local and national media attention, including BASIS Tucson’s ranking as a Top Ten Best High School in U.S. News and World Report and Robert Compton’s documentary exclusively featuring BASIS Schools called Two Million Minutes: The 21st Century Solution. Given the media attention and demand for high quality schools in Arizona, BASIS Oro Valley will open with grades 5-9 and continue the BASIS tradition of delivering a high quality academic education to children.
 

 
Students
 
The overwhelming majority of our students are motivated and a pleasure to teach. As a charter school, students come to BASIS because they are choosing academic quality over a traditional school experience. Students tend to enter BASIS with a range of abilities; however, since the school delivers high quality instruction and requires students’ to be accountable and responsible, the students are able to rise to the challenge and advance quickly through difficult material. On average, students in the 8th grade have a minimum math level of Algebra 2, have completed a first year college intro course to Economics, and have completed all the criteria for high school credit in World History. Our high school curriculum is AP intensive, as we require our students finish at least 8 AP courses and 6 AP exams before they graduate, and we provide a rigorous and comprehensive liberal arts education to every BASIS student regardless of their educational background.
 
In order to reach all of our students, we promote the use of innovative methods which you can learn from our Master Teachers during a summer teacher training week. All new BASIS teachers, regardless of their teaching experience, are required to attend the training, which is held the last two weeks of July.
 

 
What We’re Looking For
 
In terms of character, we are looking for a highly ethical individual – someone patient (but not permissive), respectful of diversity, and diligent. You’ll create your course syllabus and decide on the instructional practices best for your subject with the cooperation of your colleagues. This classroom autonomy will carry with it the desire for results; you are solely responsible for making sure the students are working to the best of their abilities. Teachers are accountable for the material their students are learning, the ways in which the students are learning that material, and whether or not students are engaged in the lesson.
 

 
Some other qualities we’d like to some degree more or less:
 
1) Excellent knowledge in fields either related or unrelated to your discipline
 
2) Good sense of humor and/or a positive attitude
 
3) Strong presence and/or good rhetoric skills
 
4) Excellent communication or writing skills
 
5) Openness to new ideas and new methods
 
6) Desire to work with bright students
 
7) Tendency to organize your work and teach students organization skills
 
8) A passion or high energy for your interests
 
9) A commitment to showing up on time every day without excuses
 
10) A willingness to be flexible and support the vision and mission of the school
 

 
Wages are competitive based mostly on skills and somewhat on experience. That said, salary demands the first year will have to be realistic. Teaching hours are currently above the norm due to state budget cuts; however, BASIS has a serious long-term commitment to VERY competitive pay for teachers. At BASIS, we realize the only way to become the best school in the world is to hire and retain the best teachers in the world.
 

 
If you’re interested, send a resume and cover letter explaining why you would like to teach at one of the BASIS Schools to Sheri Pierce, BEG Senior Curriculum Consultant, spierce@basiseducation.net. The application deadline is April 30, 2010, but we would prefer to hear from you as soon as possible. We look forward to reading your resume, and we are excited to tell you more about BASIS schools, a model school for America and the world.