Teacher - English as a Second Language, Gr. K-8 (SY26-27)

Orchard Gardens is a K-8 Pilot School in Roxbury with a strong academic and arts focus, committed to growth as a Transformation School. We seek educators who bring expertise, innovation, and a collaborative spirit to improve outcomes for all students. Our goal is to strengthen purposeful learning, student leadership, and inclusive classrooms grounded in meaningful relationships among students, staff, and families. Our PRIDE values—Perseverance, Respect, Integrity, Daring, and Excellence—guide our efforts to ensure every student is challenged, supported, and inspired to achieve.

About the Role

Boston Public Schools seeks an exceptional English as a Second Language (ESL) Teacher to join our community of teachers, learners, and leaders. This role is ideal for educators who desire to serve where their efforts matter. In BPS, teachers and leaders are committed to high expectations for achievement, equal access to high levels of instruction, academic proficiency for all students, and closing the achievement gap among subgroups.

Responsibilities

• Provide English as a Second Language (ESL) instruction to Multilingual Learners identified as English Learners.
• Collaborate and communicate with students’ content teachers to align instruction and support English language development across listening, speaking, reading, and writing, while addressing classroom instructional needs (e.g., instructions, vocabulary, reading/writing support, and assignment clarification).
• Work with the school’s instructional leadership team, coaches, and administration to ensure ELL students receive language support and academic assistance.
• Assist with the oversight and delivery of ACCESS administration and organize ELL student transition meetings for those ready to exit ELL services.
• Plan and deliver lessons aligned to WIDA Instructional Standards for varying levels of English proficiency.
• Demonstrate cultural proficiency and use effective, culturally relevant instructional practices.
• Integrate technology into the classroom as an instructional tool and for personal productivity.
• Demonstrate fluency using WIDA’s ELD Standards Framework and Can Do Descriptors.
• Assist classroom teachers in administering mandated state and local assessments for English language learners when appropriate.
• Attend district and state-sponsored professional development to stay current with changes in ELL instruction and teaching strategies.

Core Competencies

• Accountability for Student Achievement: Set ambitious learning goals, create cognitively demanding tasks, and model the belief that all students can master challenging material through effective effort. Assess students’ understanding regularly and adjust instruction to meet goals despite setbacks. Demonstrate passion and optimism for students, content, and the teaching profession.
• Communicating Content Knowledge: Master and convey enthusiasm for the content area and its pedagogy. Connect subject matter to real-world settings, other content areas, and relevant standards. Deliver content in creative, engaging ways aligned to standards.
• Equitable & Effective Instruction: Scaffold and differentiate instruction to enable all students to engage in complex thinking and rigorous academic work. Use practices that challenge, motivate, and engage all students, ensuring equitable participation. Build a productive learning environment where every student is valued.
• Cultural Proficiency: Actively create and maintain an environment where students’ diverse backgrounds, identities, strengths, and challenges are respected.
• Parent/Family Engagement: Build collaborative, respectful relationships with families in service of student learning.
• Professional Reflection & Collaboration: Reflect on practice, seek and respond to feedback, and commit to continuous learning. Contribute to a collaborative adult learning community.

Requirements

• Hold a Bachelor’s degree.
• Hold a valid Massachusetts Teaching License in ESL at the appropriate grade level.
• Meet state and federal guidelines to be fully licensed and “Highly Qualified.”
• Ability to meet the Standards of Effective Teaching established by Boston Public Schools.
• Current authorization to work in the United States by the first day of employment.
• Ability to model excellent spoken and written English for students learning English.

Preferred Qualifications

• Experience teaching in an urban setting.
• Fluency in one of BPS’ official languages: Spanish, Cabo Verdean Creole, Haitian Creole, Chinese, Vietnamese, Portuguese, or Somali.
• Certification in Moderate Disabilities and/or English as a Second Language at the appropriate grade level(s).

Reports to: Principal/Head of School. Terms: BTU, Group I.