Environmental Science & Chemistry Teacher
Classification: HSTA Bargaining Unit 05 (BU05)
Position Type: Full-Time, 10-Month
Starting Salary: $53,522 annually; placement may be higher based on verified education and experience and the applicable BU05 salary schedule.
Position Overview
DreamHouse is seeking a passionate, student-centered Environmental Science & Chemistry Teacher to join our high school academic team. This position is responsible for providing rigorous, engaging, standards-aligned science instruction that develops students' scientific knowledge, critical-thinking skills, problem-solving abilities, and understanding of the natural world.
The Environmental Science & Chemistry Teacher will create meaningful learning experiences that connect scientific concepts to Hawaiʻi's unique environment, communities, and real-world challenges. Instruction should incorporate inquiry, laboratory investigations, project-based learning, data analysis, technology, and opportunities for students to apply their learning beyond the classroom.
The teacher is also responsible for supporting DreamHouse's schoolwide academic framework through strong Tier I instruction, standards-aligned curriculum, common assessments, data-driven intervention, collaboration, and participation in MTSS.
Essential Duties & ResponsibilitiesCurriculum & Instruction
- Plan and deliver rigorous, standards-aligned instruction in Environmental Science and Chemistry.
- Develop daily lessons, units, assessments, and learning experiences aligned with applicable Hawaiʻi State Standards and science standards.
- Maintain appropriate curriculum maps, pacing guides, unit plans, and lesson plans.
- Clearly identify learning objectives, success criteria, and priority standards for students.
- Design instruction that connects environmental science and chemistry concepts to real-world applications and issues relevant to Hawaiʻi and the Pacific.
- Incorporate topics such as ecosystems, biodiversity, climate, sustainability, natural resources, human environmental impacts, chemical reactions, atomic structure, matter, energy, and other appropriate course standards.
- Utilize inquiry-based, project-based, and hands-on learning to increase student engagement and understanding.
- Integrate appropriate educational technology, digital resources, simulations, virtual laboratories, and learning management systems into instruction.
- Differentiate instruction to meet the needs of diverse learners while maintaining access to grade-level standards and rigor.
Laboratory & Scientific Investigation
- Design and facilitate safe, meaningful laboratory investigations and scientific experiments.
- Teach students appropriate laboratory procedures, scientific methods, data collection, analysis, and interpretation.
- Provide opportunities for students to formulate hypotheses, conduct investigations, analyze evidence, and communicate scientific conclusions.
- Maintain laboratory materials, equipment, chemicals, and supplies in an organized and secure manner.
- Follow all applicable health, safety, chemical storage, disposal, and laboratory procedures.
- Explicitly teach and consistently enforce laboratory safety expectations.
- Maintain required safety documentation and immediately report safety concerns to school administration.
Assessment & Student Data
- Develop and administer formative and summative assessments aligned with course standards and learning objectives.
- Use assessment results to identify students who have mastered standards and students requiring reteaching, intervention, or additional support.
- Provide timely, meaningful feedback to students.
- Maintain accurate and current grades, attendance, assessment results, and student records within required school systems.
- Participate in schoolwide benchmark assessments, common formative assessments, and standards-based data reviews.
- Analyze student achievement data individually and collaboratively with colleagues.
- Adjust instruction based on student performance and evidence of learning.
- Participate in academic data meetings and identify instructional responses for students performing below expectations.
Tier I Instruction, MTSS & Student Support
- Provide strong, differentiated Tier I instruction for all students.
- Implement small-group instruction, targeted reteaching, intervention, and enrichment based on student data.
- Participate in DreamHouse's Multi-Tiered System of Supports (MTSS) process.
- Document interventions and student responses when additional academic support is required.
- Collaborate with Special Education teachers, Educational Assistants, counselors, administrators, and other student-support personnel.
- Implement required IEP accommodations, modifications, 504 Plans, English Learner supports, and other identified student supports.
- Participate in co-teaching when assigned and share responsibility for planning, instruction, assessment, and student outcomes.
Classroom Culture & Management
- Establish a safe, structured, inclusive, culturally responsive, and academically focused classroom environment.
- Develop clear classroom routines, procedures, and behavioral expectations.
- Maintain high expectations for student achievement, participation, attendance, and behavior.
- Build positive relationships with students while maintaining appropriate professional boundaries.
- Use proactive classroom-management and restorative practices consistent with school expectations.
- Foster curiosity, collaboration, respectful scientific discussion, and productive academic struggle.
- Promote student ownership of learning and encourage students to advocate for their academic needs.
Collaboration & Professional Responsibilities
- Participate actively in Professional Learning Communities (PLCs), department meetings, faculty meetings, professional development, and schoolwide initiatives.
- Collaborate with other science teachers and academic leadership to ensure vertical and horizontal curriculum alignment.
- Participate in instructional walkthroughs, coaching cycles, observations, and professional feedback.
- Work collaboratively with co-teachers and support staff to plan instruction and respond to student needs.
- Maintain required lesson plans, curriculum documents, assessment data, and other instructional documentation.
- Participate in school events, family conferences, student activities, and other professional responsibilities as assigned.
- Remain current with developments in environmental science, chemistry, instructional practices, and educational technology.
Family & Community Engagement
- Maintain consistent and professional communication with parents and guardians regarding student academic progress, attendance, behavior, and support needs.
- Participate in parent-teacher conferences and student support meetings.
- Partner with families to develop strategies for improving student achievement.
- Seek opportunities to connect students with environmental organizations, STEM professionals, colleges, universities, and community resources.
- Create opportunities for students to understand environmental science through the unique ecological, cultural, and community context of Hawaiʻi.
Minimum Qualifications
- Bachelor's degree from an accredited college or university.
- Degree or substantial coursework in Environmental Science, Chemistry, Biology, General Science, Education, or a closely related field preferred.
- Ability to meet applicable Hawaiʻi requirements for employment as a secondary science teacher.
- Demonstrated knowledge of environmental science and/or chemistry content.
- Ability to develop and deliver standards-aligned secondary science instruction.
- Ability to safely conduct laboratory investigations and supervise students in a laboratory environment.
- Strong written, verbal, organizational, and interpersonal communication skills.
- Ability to effectively utilize technology for instruction, assessment, communication, and student-data management.
- Ability to work collaboratively with general education, Special Education, student support, and administrative teams.
- Commitment to maintaining high academic expectations for all students.
Preferred Qualifications
- Valid Hawaiʻi Teacher Standards Board (HTSB) license in an applicable secondary science field.
- Previous high school Environmental Science and/or Chemistry teaching experience.
- Experience teaching in a Hawaiʻi public or public charter school.
- Experience with standards-based curriculum development and assessment.
- Experience with PowerSchool, Schoology, Infinite Campus, or comparable educational systems.
- Experience with co-teaching, differentiation, small-group instruction, and MTSS.
- Experience teaching students with diverse academic, cultural, linguistic, and learning needs.
- Knowledge of Next Generation Science Standards (NGSS) and three-dimensional science instruction.
- Knowledge of Hawaiʻi's environmental systems, sustainability challenges, natural resources, and conservation efforts.
Core Competencies
The successful Environmental Science & Chemistry Teacher will demonstrate:
- Student-Centered Instruction: Makes instructional decisions based on student needs and evidence of learning.
- Scientific Inquiry: Creates opportunities for students to investigate, question, analyze, and solve problems.
- Academic Rigor: Maintains high expectations and provides students with meaningful access to grade-level standards.
- Data-Driven Practice: Uses assessment results to determine next instructional steps.
- Responsiveness: Provides timely reteaching, intervention, differentiation, and enrichment.
- Collaboration: Shares responsibility for student success and works effectively with colleagues and families.
- Cultural Responsiveness: Connects learning to students' identities, communities, Hawaiʻi, and the broader world.
- Professional Accountability: Maintains accurate records, meets deadlines, communicates effectively, and participates fully in the school community.
At DreamHouse, science education should go beyond memorizing facts. Our goal is to develop students who can ask meaningful questions, analyze evidence, understand the environment around them, and use scientific thinking to address real-world challenges.
Pay: $53,284.33 - $66,578.98 per year
Benefits:
- 403(b)
- Dental insurance
- Health insurance
- Life insurance
- Retirement plan
- Vision insurance
Work Location: In person
