POSITION ANNOUNCEMENT
Classroom Teacher, Grades K-5
Full-Time | School Year 2026–27 | Exempt
Reports to: Principal; Dean of Academics & Instruction
About IPLA
Infinite Potential Learning Academy (IPLA) is a private, nonprofit school serving students from pre-K through fifth grade in St. Petersburg, Florida. At IPLA, each child is recognized as an individual with unique strengths, interests, and boundless potential.
We believe every scholar deserves strong instruction, consistent structure, and culturally-affirming care every day. We are seeking educators who are prepared, flexible, and committed to student progress, effective teaching, and their own professional growth.
Position Summary
The classroom teacher is the heart of the IPLA experience. This individual delivers high-quality, evidence-based instruction; builds a safe, joyful, structured classroom community; submits clear lesson plans; uses data to move scholars forward; and communicates proactively with families. IPLA teachers partner with the Dean of Academics & Instruction and Dean of Students to ensure every scholar receives the support and challenge they need.
Key Responsibilities
Instruction & Curriculum Delivery
- Implement IPLA’s adopted curriculum and aligned evidence-based programs with fidelity, enthusiasm, and responsiveness to student needs.
- Plan, submit, and deliver rigorous, engaging daily lessons aligned to grade-level standards and IPLA’s instructional vision across literacy, mathematics, science, and social studies.
- Differentiate instruction using MTSS, including support for students with IEPs, service plans, BSPs, and students who need enrichment or acceleration.
- Use formative data, including exit tickets, running records, student work, and informal checks for understanding, to adjust instruction in real time.
- Participate in school-adopted assessments, including Renaissance/STAR, DIBELS, NWEA MAP, or similar tools, and use results to inform planning and small groups.
Classroom Culture & Community
- Create and maintain a structured, warm, clean, safe, and inclusive classroom where every scholar feels known, valued, and academically challenged.
- Establish and consistently implement classroom routines, procedures, transitions, and expectations aligned with IPLA’s school-wide culture systems, including PBIS when applicable.
- Use restorative practices, trauma-informed approaches, and consistent consequences to respond to scholars with compassion and accountability.
- Foster a love of learning by making content meaningful, relevant, hands-on, and connected to students’ lives and identities.
Student Support & Collaboration
- Implement accommodations, modifications, and support plans as specified, in collaboration with the Dean of Students, families, specialists, and support staff.
- Participate in SST, MTSS, IEP, service plan, and student support meetings, sharing classroom observations and progress data.
- Partner with the Dean of Academics & Instruction during coaching cycles, lesson plan reviews, co-planning sessions, and demonstration lessons.
- Communicate proactively with families regarding student progress, behavior, attendance, and well-being, celebrating wins and addressing concerns early.
Professional Learning & Growth
- Participate actively in PLCs and team meetings, bringing student work, data, lesson plans, and intervention notes to collaborative planning.
- Engage fully in professional development, observations, feedback cycles, and school-wide learning opportunities with a growth mindset.
- Reflect on instructional practice and make purposeful adjustments in response to student data, lesson plan feedback, peer feedback, and coaching.
- Contribute to a school culture where preparation, accountability, curiosity, and continuous improvement are expected of every adult.
School Community
- Serve as a visible, welcoming presence in the school community at arrival, convocation, lunch, dismissal, transitions, and school events.
- Collaborate respectfully with colleagues, support staff, school leadership, families, and community partners to advance IPLA’s mission.
- Maintain accurate attendance, grades/progress notes, assessment data, family communication, and lesson plans; fulfill supervision duties as assigned.
IPLA Fit & First-Year Priorities: Strong candidates can build routines, submit lesson plans on time, use data for small groups, communicate with families early, and work flexibly in a hands-on small-school environment. Experience with Eureka Math Squared, Amplify CKLA, UFLI Foundations, Renaissance/STAR, DIBELS, NWEA MAP, or similar programs is preferred.
Qualifications
Required
- Elementary Education, Early Childhood Education, or a closely related field required; Florida certification or eligibility preferred.
- One or more years of successful classroom teaching, lead teaching, or strong student teaching experience; two or more years preferred.
- Demonstrated commitment to high expectations and the belief that every child can grow with the right instruction, structure, and support.
- Strong knowledge of foundational literacy, mathematics instruction, classroom management, and small-group instruction.
- Ability to build warm, structured, organized classroom communities that support diverse learners and clear routines.
- Excellent communication, organization, and follow-through skills, including timely lesson planning and documentation.
Preferred
- Experience implementing structured literacy approaches, including UFLI Foundations or similar programs.
- Familiarity with Amplify CKLA or similar knowledge-building literacy programs.
- Experience with Eureka Math Squared or similar standards-aligned math programs.
- Proficiency administering or interpreting DIBELS, Renaissance/STAR, NWEA MAP Growth, or similar data.
- Experience working with students with IEPs, service plans, 504 plans, BSPs, or other support needs.
- Training in PBIS, restorative practices, trauma-informed teaching, MTSS, or family engagement.
Core Competencies
- Scholar-centered mindset: Every instructional decision starts and ends with what is best for scholars.
- Organized and prepared: Plans ahead, keeps accurate records, submits required documentation on time, and runs the classroom with clear systems.
- High expectations for all: Believes every child, regardless of background or starting point, is capable of meaningful growth.
- Collaborative spirit: Works well with a small team and understands that scholar success requires whole-school effort.
- Data-informed practice: Uses evidence to understand where students are, what they need, and how instruction must adjust.
- Culturally-affirming pedagogy: Honors the identities, experiences, and communities of IPLA scholars in daily teaching.
- Openness to feedback: Welcomes coaching, acts on it, and sees professional growth as part of the work.
Compensation & Benefits
IPLA offers a hourly range from $22-$26 commensurate with experience and qualifications. Benefits may include:
- Dedicated planning time and access to professional development, including training in IPLA’s core programs
- Regular instructional coaching, lesson plan feedback, and support for developing teachers
- A collaborative, mission-driven school culture with hands-on leadership support and a team invested in long-term growth
How to Apply
Interested candidates should submit the following to IPLA’s Human Resources team at [email protected]:
- Cover letter describing your instructional philosophy, classroom culture approach, small-school mindset, and curriculum experience
- Current résumé or curriculum vitae
- Three professional references (at least one must be a current or former supervisor who has observed your teaching)
- Any student achievement data, lesson plans, classroom systems, or artifacts that reflect your impact as a teacher
IPLA is an equal opportunity employer. We are committed to building a diverse faculty that reflects the community we serve, and we strongly encourage candidates of color and those who share the lived experiences of our scholars to apply.
Pay: $22.00 - $26.00 per hour
Work Location: In person
