SANKOFA MISSION
The mission of Sankofa School of Success, Inc. is to create an environment that is safe, nurturing and seeks to meet students’ academic, social and emotional needs using neuroscience, mindfulness, and rigorous education.
JOB DESCRIPTION
Title Cadet Teacher
Job Type Non-Exempt - Elementary
JOB SUMMARY:
The Cadet Teacher position is designed for aspiring educators who are passionate about learning, growing, and developing their teaching skills in an elementary school setting. Under the mentorship of an experienced teacher, the Cadet Teacher will support classroom instruction, gain hands-on experience in lesson planning and student engagement, and receive professional development to build a strong foundation for a future career in education.
This role provides a unique opportunity to gain practical teaching experience, receive mentorship, and develop instructional competencies in a supportive and structured environment.
QUALIFICATIONS:
EDUCATION:
Must be currently enrolled in a teacher preparation program.
Must be eligible for or actively working toward a teaching license/certification (if required by state/district).
PREFERRED EXPERIENCE:
Experience working in a Title I school or with a similar population of children
One year of previous employment experience in a school or working with children
Must be currently enrolled in a teacher preparation program and actively working toward an elementary teaching license. Candidates with a bachelor’s degree and eligibility for an emergency license are preferred.
COMPETENCIES:
Growth Mindset: Willingness to learn, receive feedback, and continuously develop as an educator
Relationship Building & Collaboration: Foster collaborative relationships with students, colleagues, families, and other stakeholders and share work with others to maximize impact
Operational Efficiency: Utilize time management and organizational strategies that maximize instructional impact while fulfilling operational duties with accuracy and timeliness in a fast-paced environment
Adaptability & Resilience: Demonstrate willingness to try new approaches, show flexibility and patience with change, and communicate concerns and potential solutions proactively as challenges arise
DUTIES & RESPONSIBILITIES:
Work closely with an experienced teacher to develop instructional and classroom management skills
Gain hands-on experience in lesson planning, differentiated instruction, and student engagement techniques
Support students in small groups and one-on-one settings to reinforce learning
Participate in training sessions, observations, and feedback meetings to enhance teaching skills.
Assist in developing and implementing strategies to support diverse learners, including students with special needs.
Help create a positive, inclusive, and engaging learning environment.
Instructional & Social Emotional Excellence
Support team in fostering an environment conducive to safety and learning that promotes both intellectual growth and emotional well-being
Internalize and deliver rigorous, engaging lessons tailored to meet the diverse needs of all students in environments such as:
Co-teaching with team members
Leading small group interventions
Implementing lesson plans with a classroom of students to provide coverage for teammates
Implement evidence-based instructional strategies and apply neuroscience and mindfulness principles to support students' developmental needs
Data-Driven Practice
Frequently assess and document student skills and growth across academic, social, emotional, and behavioral domains
Utilize common assessments and shared data systems across the team to evaluate student learning and instructional effectiveness
Collaborate with colleagues to analyze student work and assessment data and plan targeted instructional adjustments
Communication & Collaboration
Meet and communicate regularly with team to collaboratively own student achievement
Participate in shared communication systems, including inputting real-time data in a timely manner
Support team mates to encourage meaningful family involvement in the educational process
Collaborate effectively with administration, student support staff, and all staff
Resolve conflicts promptly using reason and emotional intelligence, focusing on solutions rather than blame
Uphold school policies and procedures while contributing to a culture of excellence and accountability.
Professional Growth
Gain hands-on experience in lesson planning, data analysis, differentiated instruction, and student engagement techniques under the mentorship of lead teacher and teammates
Complete all requirements to remain in good standing with teacher preparation program
Attend and participate fully in all professional development opportunities
Solicit and respond to feedback to continuously improve instructional practice
Proactively communicate challenges with a solutions-mindset
Perform other duties as assigned.
SUPERVISORY RESPONSIBILITIES: None.
LANGUAGE SKILLS: Ability to read and comprehend simple instructions, short correspondence, and memos. Ability to effectively present information in one-on- one, small group, and large group situations.
MATHEMATICAL SKILLS: Ability to add, subtract, multiply, and divide in all units of measure, using whole numbers, common fractions, and decimals. Ability to compute rate, ratio, and percent and to draw and interpret bar graphs.
REASONING ABILITY: Ability to apply common sense understanding to carry out detailed but written or oral instructions. Ability to deal with problems involving a few concrete variables in standardized situations.
PHYSICAL DEMANDS: The physical demands described here are representative of those that must be met by an employee to successfully perform the essential functions of this job. Reasonable accommodations may be made to enable individuals with disabilities to perform the essential functions.
While performing the duties of this job, the employee is regularly required to sit and use hands to find, handle, or feel. The employee frequently is required to talk or hear. The employee is required to stand; walk; reach with hands and arms; climb or balance; and stoop, kneel, crouch, or crawl. The employee must frequently lift and/or move up to 20 pounds and occasionally lift and/or move up to 50 pounds. Specific vision abilities required by this job include close vision, depth perception, and ability to adjust focus.
WORK ENVIRONMENT: The work environment characteristics described here are representative of those an employee encounters while performing the essential functions of this job. Reasonable accommodations may be made to enable individuals with disabilities to perform the essential functions. While performing the duties of this job, the employee is occasionally exposed to wet and humid conditions and outside weather conditions. The noise level in the work environment is usually moderate.
DISCLAIMER:
The above job description is designed to denote the general nature and level of work performed by employees within this classification. It is not designed to contain or be interpreted as a comprehensive inventory of all duties, responsibilities, and qualifications of employees assigned to this job.
