Spanish Teaching Position – Middle and Upper School

Position Begins: August 2021
Status: Full-time, Exempt
Department: Instructional Faculty, World Languages Department

Mounds Park Academy is a PreK-12 independent school in Saint Paul, MN that serves approximately 500 students from throughout the Twin Cities area. For 38 years, Mounds Park Academy has engaged students in a rigorous college preparatory experience that is demanding, but not draining, and goes far beyond memorization. Students are challenged to apply their understanding to stir the human spirit, stand for justice, and shake the world. This is what we call rigor with purpose and it grounds our students in the radical idea that their identity in the world is not measured by a test score, but rather by the depth and decency of their impact on the world.

Since its founding, MPA has been committed to embracing diversity, seeking equity, and continually striving to be truly inclusive. As a community, MPA has focused on fostering a safe and inclusive space for all, aspiring to be cognizant of gender-identity and equality, religious understanding, socio-economic diversity, and racial justice. Equity, goodness, and inclusion are embedded in MPA’s mission statement and woven into the very fabric of every aspect of our community’s day. 

Mounds Park Academy seeks a full time Spanish teacher to begin in the 2021-2022 school year. This position will teach Spanish in both Middle School and Upper School (grades 5-12).  Spanish teachers at MPA are responsible for providing a classroom instructional program that supports the individual needs of all students in accordance with the school’s mission and values and in-line with the curricular scope and sequence. More, our world language teachers are well-versed in the most progressive and innovative pedagogies that challenge our students not just to know, but to apply knowledge and understanding in creative and critical ways. Our ideal candidate is innovative and creative, has experience in teaching and working with Middle and Upper School students, and has one or more degrees with an emphasis in teaching Spanish, or closely related fields. 

It is expected that a successful candidate would:

• Teach Spanish language classes in the Middle and Upper school (specific sections and levels to be determined from beginning to advanced)
• Have experience in dynamic and research-based language instruction appropriate for Middle School students as well as confidence in developing and teaching all aspects of language – reading, writing, and communicating
• Design and implement innovative and engaging curriculum and learning experiences reflective of the most recent MPA World Language/Spanish Department Curriculum Review
• Collaborate with department colleagues and faculty across disciplines, with a keen focus on developing exceptional Spanish learners
• Possess a commitment to community engagement and service learning that encourages students to be exceptional students and capable citizens
• Supervise, encourage, counsel, and evaluate students as advisor, mentor, and teacher
• Create a welcoming, inclusive, and effective classroom environment and attend to students’ social, emotional, and academic well-being
• Utilize and incorporate available academic technologies for instruction, assessment, and communication with students and families clearly and consistently (i.e., Schoology Learning Management System)
• Communicate and work in partnership with students and parents during scheduled conferences and as necessary throughout the academic year
• Participate in World Language Department meetings, Division meetings, and staff development activities as a faculty member of MPA
• Show a willingness to contribute to the life of the school outside of the classroom, including, but not limited to, attendance at after-school events, committee membership, and extracurricular activities
• Serve as a Middle School advisor to support the whole-child approach of MPA
• Perform additional duties as needed (serve on school-wide committees, advise a student club, design curriculum, etc.)