Grade Level Support Teacher (Permanent Building Substitute)
Catalyst Academy Charter School | Pittsburgh, PA
What We Are Seeking
Catalyst Academy Charter School seeks a skilled, flexible, and dependable Grade-Level Support Teacher to serve as a permanent building substitute and full-time member of our instructional team.
This is not a traditional day-to-day substitute position. The Grade-Level Support Teacher assumes responsibility for instruction, classroom routines, scholar supervision, and behavior management when a regular classroom teacher is absent. Assignments may change based on the school’s daily needs and may include different subjects, classrooms, and grade levels from kindergarten through seventh grade.
The successful candidate must be able to quickly review and internalize an established structured curriculum, identify the intended learning objective, follow the instructional sequence, engage scholars in meaningful learning, and check for understanding. This position requires an educator who can think critically, prepare with limited notice, establish consistency in unfamiliar classrooms, and ensure that instruction continues without unnecessary disruption.
About Catalyst Academy
Catalyst Academy Charter School is a free, open-enrollment public charter school serving scholars and families in Pittsburgh’s East End. Our mission is to create a world-class K–8 school where children are prepared for college, career, and life.
Catalyst currently serves scholars in kindergarten through seventh grade and will continue expanding toward a full K–8 model. We are committed to providing a rigorous and supportive learning environment that promotes academic achievement, personal growth, and educational equity for all scholars.
Key Responsibilities
- Provide classroom coverage based on teacher absences, staffing priorities, and other school needs.
- Assume responsibility for classroom instruction, routines, scholar supervision, and behavior management when covering for an absent teacher.
- Review and internalize established curriculum, lesson materials, and instructional expectations before teaching.
- Identify the learning objective, essential content, instructional sequence, required materials, anticipated scholar responses, and potential misconceptions.
- Deliver clear, accurate, and engaging instruction across kindergarten through seventh-grade classrooms.
- Maintain instructional continuity by following the established curriculum and provided lesson sequence.
- Use questioning, observation, scholar discussion, written work, and other checks for understanding to determine whether scholars are meeting the lesson objective.
- Provide clarification, modeling, guided practice, and targeted support when scholars are struggling while preserving the intended learning outcome.
- Maintain established classroom routines, behavioral expectations, and school-wide systems to provide scholars with a consistent learning experience.
- Build positive and respectful relationships with scholars while maintaining structure, accountability, and high expectations.
- Use calm, consistent, and developmentally appropriate classroom-management strategies to maintain a safe and productive learning environment.
- Support whole-group, small-group, and individual instruction based on classroom and school needs.
- Assist with intervention blocks, assessments, testing coverage, arrival, dismissal, transitions, and other instructional priorities as assigned.
- Collaborate with classroom teachers, grade-level teams, instructional leaders, and support staff to understand classroom expectations and meet scholar needs.
- Document the content taught, scholar participation, academic progress, behavioral concerns, unfinished work, and other relevant information for the returning teacher and school leadership.
- Seek clarification or assistance from the appropriate instructional leader when lesson materials, expectations, or scholar needs are unclear.
- Participate in instructional coaching, professional development, collaborative planning, staff meetings, and other school-based responsibilities as a full member of the teaching staff.
- Maintain professionalism, organization, flexibility, and readiness to respond to changing instructional and operational needs throughout the school day.
- Perform other instructional and school-based duties reasonably related to the position as assigned.
Skills
- Ability to independently lead instruction in a structured, high-expectations school environment
- Ability to quickly review and internalize an established structured curriculum
- Ability to distinguish a learning objective from an instructional activity or tool
- Ability to accurately deliver provided lesson materials with limited preparation time
- Strong foundational knowledge of elementary and middle-grades ELA and mathematics
- Strong classroom-management skills and the ability to establish consistency across different classrooms
- Ability to check for scholar understanding and make appropriate instructional adjustments
- Ability to teach and support whole-group, small-group, and individual instruction
- Strong written and verbal communication skills
- Strong organizational and time-management skills
- Ability to collaborate effectively with classroom teachers, instructional leaders, and support staff
Core Competencies
- Curriculum Internalization and Lesson Execution
- Instructional Continuity
- Classroom Management
- Scholar Engagement
- Formative Assessment and Instructional Responsiveness
- Flexibility and Adaptability
- Critical Thinking and Professional Judgment
- Initiative and Independent Problem-Solving
- Relationship Building
- Educational Equity and Cultural Responsiveness
- Collaboration and Communication
- Coachability and Reflective Practice
- Professionalism and Reliability
- High Expectations and Accountability
Qualifications and Requirements
- Bachelor’s degree from an accredited college or university required
- Previous experience independently leading classroom instruction strongly preferred
- Experience working with elementary or middle-school scholars preferred
- Experience delivering an established or structured curriculum preferred
- Experience working in an urban school environment or with scholars from historically underserved communities preferred
- Demonstrated ability to review lesson materials, identify learning objectives, and prepare instruction with limited notice
- Demonstrated ability to establish and maintain an effective classroom-management system
- Ability and willingness to teach across kindergarten through seventh grade based on school needs
- Ability to remain organized, dependable, and responsive in a fast-paced school environment
- Commitment to educational equity, scholar achievement, and Catalyst Academy’s mission
- Successful completion of all required background checks, clearances, and employment requirements
Certification Requirements
Pennsylvania teaching certification is preferred but not required, subject to applicable staffing, certification, and permit requirements.
Candidates must hold or be eligible to obtain any certification, substitute permit, emergency permit, or other authorization required for their assignment.
All required Pennsylvania clearances must be obtained and maintained as a condition of employment.
Why Choose Catalyst?
At Catalyst, educators have the opportunity to make a meaningful impact while serving scholars from historically underserved communities. Our team is committed to educational equity, strong relationships, rigorous instruction, and an unwavering belief in every child’s potential.
Grade-Level Support Teachers are full members of the instructional team and participate in coaching, professional development, classroom observations, feedback meetings, collaborative planning, and school-wide learning opportunities. The position provides experience across multiple classrooms and grade levels while strengthening instructional practice and classroom leadership. For educators interested in developing toward a lead classroom role, this position can provide valuable preparation; however, future advancement depends on qualifications, demonstrated performance, school needs, and position availability.
Equal Employment Opportunity Statement
Catalyst Academy Charter School is an equal opportunity employer and does not discriminate on the basis of race, color, religion or creed, sex, gender identity or expression, age, national origin or ancestry, disability, marital status, sexual orientation, genetic information, military or veteran status, or any other characteristic protected by applicable law.
Catalyst Academy is committed to providing an inclusive and welcoming environment for all employees, scholars, families, community partners, volunteers, subcontractors, and vendors.
Job Type: Full-time
Pay: From $47,000.00 per year
Benefits:
- 401(k)
- Dental insurance
- Flexible schedule
- Health insurance
- Paid time off
- Vision insurance
Application Question(s):
- Catalyst Academy serves scholars and families from historically underserved communities. What interests you about working in this type of school environment, and how would you support scholar success through your role?
- This position requires the Grade-Level Support Teacher to assume responsibility for K–7 classrooms as needed, sometimes with limited notice. Are you comfortable quickly internalizing an established structured curriculum, following the provided lesson sequence, and delivering instruction when the regular classroom teacher is absent?
- Describe your experience reviewing and delivering an established curriculum or lesson prepared by another teacher. In your response, explain how you identified the learning objective, prepared to teach the content, maintained classroom expectations, checked student understanding, and ensured that meaningful instruction continued.
Education:
Work Location: In person
