First Grade Teacher

About the role

Persistence Prep, a new K-8 charter school in Buffalo, invites passionate and committed educators to apply to the position of Classroom Teacher for First grade. The school is founded on the belief that all students, regardless of race, disability, home language, SES status, or zip code can learn and achieve at high levels when held to the highest expectations. Its mission is to ensure that all students are firmly on the path to succeed within a four-year college and create positive change within their communities.

Responsibilities

• Execute daily lesson plans for all assigned blocks (mix of lead teaching and supporting co‑teacher)
• Implement all Persistence Prep routines and procedures with fidelity
• Submit weekly lesson plans and unit plans in a timely manner for feedback
• Create comprehensive unit assessments aligned to standards and pacing plans
• Actively participate in all professional development sessions and weekly coaching sessions
• Incorporate feedback from coaches in a timely manner
• Communicate weekly with families and other key stakeholders
• Provide scholars with frequent and accurate behavioral and academic feedback
• Identify students who are academically at risk and initiate effective intervention strategies
• Consistently analyze scholar data and engage in self‑reflection on practices
• Complete all duties, posts and tasks as assigned

Qualifications

• Bachelor's degree required; Master's degree preferred
• Minimum two years of urban teaching preferred
• New York State teacher license/certification preferred
• Dual certification in Special Education or TESOL preferred
• Successful manager of an urban classroom who has used structure, incentives, and high expectations to drive student success
• Experienced classroom teacher with demonstrated quantifiable and objective student performance gains that surpass state or local averages
• Ability to work with a variety of learning abilities, including those with special needs and low skill level in a heterogeneously grouped classroom setting
• Demonstrated ability to work well in a team, especially with parents and community members

Competencies

• Commitment to uphold and execute upon the mission of Persistence Prep
• Unwavering, high expectations for all scholars, with a belief that all children deserve access to a college education
• Clear and effective communication skills for diverse audiences including students, staff, families, and the local community
• Solutions‑focused style that encourages teamwork and collaboration to support the development of students
• Willingness to foster creativity and innovation with enthusiasm for work, and ability to motivate and unite others in the work
• Persistence in the face of obstacles, productive problem‑solving to counter setbacks, initiative to seize opportunities to make change and solicit feedback
• Belief in student empowerment and willingness to allow students to play an active role in supporting the school's vision and climate
• Commitment to a results‑driven approach, with strong ability to analyze data and use it to inform decision‑making
• Ability to reflect on how to improve, self‑awareness of strengths and weaknesses, willingness to take responsibility for actions and mistakes

Pay

Salary: $47,000.00 (competitive)

Start Date: August 1, 2026

Contact: Joelle Formato, Head of School, Phone: 716‑235‑1520, Email: jformato@persistenceprep.org