Middle School
Social Studies and Language Arts Teacher
- CAMPUS: Johannesburg Campus
- SUPERVISOR: MS Principal
- START DATE: 01 August 2025
- POSTING DATE: 03 October 2024
- CLOSING DATE: 30 November 2024
Inspire Learning to Build Our Better World. At the American International School of Johannesburg (AISJ), we are committed to providing an exceptional education that empowers global citizens to fulfil their future purpose. Our vision is to inspire learning to build a better world. We seek a dedicated and passionate professional who aligns with our commitment to excellence and believes in the transformative power of education. Every team member is crucial in creating a supportive and nurturing learning environment. At AISJ, we value every employee as a learner and expect them to embody and support the AISJ Portrait of Learner (Resilience, Mindful, Thinker, Globally Connected, Curious, Contributor) through their work. We are dedicated to justice, equity, diversity, and inclusion within our school community.
Position overview
AISJ is dedicated to providing a student-centred, collaborative, and transdisciplinary approach to learning. Such an approach will best prepare and empower students to become responsible lifelong learners and competent, compassionate individuals.
The Middle School Social Studies and Language Arts teacher will serve as a core member of the Middle School team, fulfilling the school’s vision, mission, and core values. This position requires an acute understanding of the developmental needs of middle school learners and a desire to work with and advocate for this age group.
The Middle School Social Studies and Language Arts teacher will team-teach in a developing Middle School setting. He or she will have responsibility for integrating and teaching classes the two subject areas depending on their experience and background.
The philosophy of the Middle School Social Studies Department is to develop deeply engaged, connected learners who are curious, independent, and open-minded. Emphasizing critical thinking, research, and communication skills, the Social Studies curriculum is fully concept-based. As such, Social Studies explores questions that are ancient yet perennial, transcending time, place, and culture. In this way, students learn how the study of history is relevant to them and the world we live in.
Social Studies is also highly personalized, as explores larger concepts and questions rather than specific topics. Social Studies is anchored to the C3 Framework to emphasize the importance of reading and writing in the Social Studies curriculum and a focus on skill and competency development.
While AISJ is committed to developing a workshop approach for Middle School Language Arts based on the concept of “balanced literacy”. AISJ is dedicated to providing a student-centred, collaborative and cross- curricular approach in support of literacy in all subject areas. Such an approach, we believe, will best prepare and empower them to become responsible, lifelong learners and competent, compassionate, effective communicators.
Qualifications:
- Current teaching certification appropriate to age level and subject specializations
- A minimum of an undergraduate degree in Education or the area of expertise required
- Previous teaching experience, and strong knowledge in the area of specializations at the required levels of study
- An understanding middle school philosophy and an ability to communicate well with middle school students
- Experience with differentiated instruction and integrated learning
- Experience with and/or understanding of:
- Curriculum and assessment development, particularly standards-based assessment and planning using Understanding by Design.
Preferred skills and experience:
- A positive attitude and strong interpersonal skills
- A willingness and ability to reflect and critically examine teaching practices, set goals, and commit to continuous improvement
- Expertise in building active, collaborative classroom programs, which encourage problem solving, critical thinking skills, and develop a sense of classroom community and trust
- Strong organizational and time management abilities
- A team player with the ability to take initiative
- An ability to multi-task
- Using hands on activities and assessments to help students make connections to the world around them
- Technology integration
- Personalized Learning
- Concept-based curriculum
- Independent research
Performance Responsibilities:
- The Middle School Social Studies teacher will teach five periods of an eight-period rotating block schedule. The assignment of this subject is dependent upon the strengths of the successful candidate and will be made by the principal.
- A 35-minute Advisory period, called “Imbizo,” happens three times per week and is also included in the teacher’s responsibilities. Weekly team meetings will occur (or more frequently if required).
- AISJ values continuous improvement and provides weekly professional growth and collaboration time from 1:45 pm to 4:00 pm on Wednesdays.
- In addition to the subject responsibilities, teachers at AISJ are welcomed into a collegial and collaborative working environment. In support of this teachers are expected to:
- Communicate and liaise on a regular basis with fellow department/grade members with regard to planning, assessment, parent and community contact, subject organization and classroom issues such including discipline, expectations and routines
- Communicate and liaise with other school colleagues in an effort to promote and establish integrative links and/or awareness
- Take an active role in behavioral management and pastoral care of class and advisory groups
- Attend and constructively contribute in staff and department/grade meetings
- Lead co-curricular after school activities
- Assist in supervision of student breaks
- Coordinate class activities as deemed necessary
- Contribute to and support school improvement plans and initiatives
- Maintain up-to-date records of assessment, attendance, planning, reports, conferences, and communication with parents
- Establish regular links with your parent community to ensure that parents are kept well informed about student progress
- Assist, as required, in the development of curricular materials
- Act as a resource/contact/support for new staff members (i.e. curriculum, schedules, procedures)
- Chaperone annual Classroom Without Walls class trip
- Participate in and assist with school events as required
Work Hours: Monday through Friday – 188 (one hundred and eighty-eight) days per school year
APPLICATION PROCESS
To apply, please complete the electronic form [Click here]. Information captured will be securely stored and used for a reference check on the candidate’s compatibility. AISJ reserves the right to appoint the strongest candidate before the closing date if required.
SAFEGUARDING & CHILD PROTECTION
AISJ maintains robust child protection policies to ensure a safe, secure, and caring environment for our students. All employees must undergo criminal background checks, attend annual training, and sign a safeguarding agreement.
PRIVACY
By submitting your CV, you consent to AISJ processing your personal information in accordance with our Privacy Policy, accessible at AISJ Privacy Policy, and under the Protection of Personal Information Act of 2013.