Physical Education Teacher

Job Posting Organization:
The Newcomer Youth Summer Academy (NYSA) is a program designed to assist newly arrived refugee youth in adapting to the New York City public school system. The program spans six weeks and serves up to 130 students aged 5 to 21 from over 20 different countries. The NYSA aims to provide a comprehensive educational experience that includes academic classes, creative arts, and physical education, all while fostering a sense of community and supporting the social-emotional development of its students. The organization is committed to creating an inclusive environment that respects and celebrates diversity, and it operates within the framework of the International Rescue Committee (IRC), which has a long-standing mission to help people affected by conflict and disaster. The IRC has been in operation for over 80 years and works in more than 40 countries, employing thousands of staff members dedicated to humanitarian efforts.

Job Overview:
The Physical Education Teacher at NYSA will play a crucial role in developing and leading physical education classes tailored for elementary school students. The focus will be on team sports and game play, which are essential for promoting physical fitness and teamwork among students. The teacher will be responsible for creating a curriculum that is culturally and developmentally responsive, ensuring that it meets the diverse needs of the students. This position requires active participation in instructional planning sessions and program meetings, as well as collaboration with other educators and staff to monitor and support student progress. The teacher will also engage in instructional coaching cycles and may provide supervision for students during early and after-care sessions, depending on demand. The overarching goal is to create a supportive and engaging learning environment that aligns with the Academy's philosophy and promotes student success.

Duties and Responsibilities:
The Physical Education Teacher will have a variety of responsibilities, including but not limited to: participating in mandatory school programming, instructional planning sessions, and all program meetings; planning and implementing a culturally and developmentally-responsive curriculum; submitting daily lesson plans weekly in advance; utilizing multilingual instructional approaches for English Language Learners; collaborating with Classroom Culture Lead Teachers and staff to review student progress; leading classroom climate in accordance with Academy philosophy; collaborating with teachers, administrators, and families to create strategies that support student success; engaging in instructional coaching cycles; providing early and/or after-care supervision as needed; reviewing student progress and making instructional adjustments; substituting for colleagues' classes when necessary; completing All Staff Surveys for feedback; and complying with all IRC policies and protocols. Additional duties may be assigned as needed.

Required Qualifications:
Candidates must have experience with teaching, leading, or coaching group sports programming. A Bachelor’s degree or higher in physical education or a related field is strongly desired. Experience teaching English Language Learners or multilingual learners is also highly desired. The ideal candidate should possess the ability to work well with individuals from diverse cultural backgrounds and have experience working with refugee and/or immigrant populations. Strong relationship-building and classroom management skills are essential, along with excellent interpersonal and communication skills. The candidate should be highly organized, dependable, responsive, and collaborative, demonstrating a strong team player mentality while being self-directed and organized. Cultural humility and the ability to engage with diverse communities are critical attributes for this role.

Educational Background:
A Bachelor’s degree in physical education or a related field is strongly desired for this position. This educational background is essential to ensure that the teacher has the necessary knowledge and skills to effectively deliver physical education instruction and engage students in meaningful learning experiences.

Experience:
The position requires candidates to have prior experience in teaching, leading, or coaching group sports programming. Experience working with English Language Learners or multilingual learners is strongly preferred, as is experience with refugee and/or immigrant populations. The ability to build strong relationships and manage a classroom effectively is crucial, indicating that candidates should have a solid background in educational settings, particularly those that serve diverse student populations.

Languages:
Fluency in written and spoken English is required for this position. Additionally, proficiency in a second language relevant to the student population is highly desirable. Languages such as Arabic, Dari, Farsi, French, Fulani, Haitian Creole, Russian, Spanish, and Ukrainian are particularly valuable, as they can enhance communication and support for students from various backgrounds.

Additional Notes:
The NYSA program takes place in a centrally located school in New York City, and all applicants must be willing to relocate to the New York City area for the duration of the Academy. This position is represented by the OPEIU union and is subject to the terms and conditions of a collective bargaining agreement. Compensation for this role is set at a pay range of $27.5 per hour, with the understanding that pay ranges apply to US-based candidates and may vary based on factors such as labor market conditions, job type, internal equity, and budget considerations. All hiring is contingent on passing background checks and submitting an annual physical form. If the school is located at a New York City Public School site, additional fingerprinting may be required. The IRC is committed to equal opportunity employment and adheres to professional standards that promote integrity, service, equality, and accountability.