Elementary Teaching Fellow

Yellowstone Schools

 

QUALIFICATIONS

• Knowledge, Skills & Abilities:
  • Desire to move into a teaching position
  • Work toward the State of Texas’s qualifications for highly qualified teachers preferred
  • Experience working with children preferred
• Required Education and/or Experience:
  • Bachelor’s degree preferred
  • Within one year of completing Bachelor’s degree required
• Preferred Education and/or Experience:
  • Work toward the State of Texas’s qualifications for highly qualified teacher, preferred

 

Organizational Overview

Founded in 2001 and rooted in the Christian faith, Yellowstone Schools collectively educates 600 children in Pre-K through 9th grade and will grow a grade each year to serve 12th grade by 2026. Yellowstone partners with students and families—regardless of financial means—to provide a life-changing education, develop a strong moral foundation, and prepare scholars for life beyond high school. The K12 campus is located in the Third Ward, one of Houston's oldest historically Black neighborhoods.

 

Most students served live in communities without access to strong educational opportunities. With an average class size of 16 to 18, our students experience a rich academic and co-curricular model while receiving bus transportation, two meals a day, and access to a comprehensive student support program.

 

Yellowstone Schools consists of a cooperative of two school systems: a lower school (a private Christian school serving PreK-5th grade) and an upper school (a tuition-free, public charter school growing to serve 6th-12th grade).  The lower school and upper school are distinct legal and financial entities with separate governing boards. The name Yellowstone Schools reflects each school system’s shared mission, vision, values, culture, and leadership. Each school complies with all applicable federal and state laws.

 

Position Overview

Yellowstone Schools’ Teaching Fellows program is a one-year position and experience for new teachers. The fellow will spend a year in programming learning from a mentor teacher and gradually increase their teaching responsibilities before moving into a lead teaching role the following year. During this year, fellows will also receive professional development from school leaders and coaching and development from a mentor teacher. At the successful conclusion of the yearlong program, fellows will be ready to assume a lead teaching position.

 

Above all else, the ideal Teaching Fellow must be committed to the mission of Yellowstone Schools while possessing the beliefs, character traits, and skills necessary to grow and ensure student growth and achievement.

 

ESSENTIAL DUTIES:

• Gradually increase teaching responsibilities throughout the year:
  • Pair and develop a relationship with a mentor teacher;
  • Begin teaching the first few minutes of a mentor teacher’s class and gradually increase teaching responsibilities throughout the year until they are leading a full class every day;
  • Participate in other teaching and staff responsibilities, including small-group interventions, assisting during independent practice, assisting mentor teacher in lesson planning, preparing lessons, grading, and supervising lunch, arrival and dismissal.
• Support the teachers in ensuring that academic catch-up and recovery (as a response to the adverse academic impacts of COVID), as well as academic acceleration benchmarks, are met for students
• Successfully complete the fellowship assessments and checkpoints.
• Participate in regular professional learning, including:
  • Bi-weekly and summer professional development
  • Quarterly progress meetings
• Attend all campus professional development sessions.

 

WORKING CONDITIONS

Regularly required to sit, stand, walk, talk, hear, operate a computer, hand-held learning devices and other office equipment, reach with hands and arms, and must occasionally lift and/or move up to 10 pounds.

 

Yellowstone Values

Every employee at Yellowstone is committed to our PRIDE values.

 

Positivity: At Yellowstone, we smile first. We are a positive presence on campus and extend a good-natured grace and enthusiasm in all personal interactions. 

 

Responsibility: We follow through on our promises and commitments. We own our actions and will never settle for less than our best effort. 

 

Integrity: We demonstrate integrity in all circumstances and always put the best interests of the Yellowstone community first. We “walk the talk” and lead by example. 

 

Determination: We anticipate and overcome challenges. We are resilient in the face of obstacles and are committed to the success of every member of the Yellowstone community. 

 

Excellence: We hold everyone (families, students, colleagues) to the highest standard of excellence and constantly look for ways to enhance the Yellowstone experience. 

 

Compensation and Benefits:

Base salary will be commensurate with qualifications and experience. Yellowstone Schools offers a competitive benefits package that includes medical (including HSA), dental, and vision insurance, retirement savings options, $50K employer-paid accidental death and dismemberment insurance, supplemental life ( short-term disability insurance, cancer, hospital, accident), EAP, wellness day off and generous paid time off program, and 10-weeks paid parental leave, 3% matching SIMPLE IRA.

YELLOWSTONE SCHOOLS IS AN EQUAL OPPORTUNITY EMPLOYER. IT IS OUR POLICY THAT ALL APPLICANTS BE CONSIDERED SOLELY ON THE BASIS OF QUALIFICATIONS AND ABILITY, WITHOUT REGARD TO RACE, COLOR, SEX, AGE, NATIONAL ORIGIN, DISABILITY, GENETIC INFORMATION OR VETERAN STATUS.