Middle School Science Teacher/Advisor (2026-27)

MIDDLE SCHOOL SCIENCE TEACHER/ADVISOR

JOB DESCRIPTION

Who We Are:

The Dayton Early College Academy (DECA) is an award-winning, high performing network of charter schools located in Dayton, Ohio. Serving grades K-12, DECA’s three campuses are singularly focused on helping children from the city of Dayton gain the skills they need to be successful in college and beyond. 

We prepare future college graduates today to become the leaders of our community tomorrow.

1. Put students first;
2. Demand success;
3. Invest deeply in relationships;
4. Do what’s right;
5. Prove education changes lives;
6. Find joy.

Our Students and Results :

We serve students in grades K-12 in the Dayton Public School area; academic proficiency is not considered during the admissions process. Admission is first come, first served. 

• 94% of our students are African-American and 72% are economically disadvantaged;
• Over 80% of our students will be first in their family to go to college;
• DECA is committed to providing a rigorous and engaging academic curriculum;
• Our campuses foster an awareness of social justice issues; 
• Strong community partnerships are at the core of our success;
• DECA alumni graduate from college at a rate nearly 5 times the national average for first generation college students and on par with their suburban counterparts.

Successful Applicants:

• Are developing and practicing cultural competence in their teaching, teamwork, and leadership;
• Build relationships with students, families, colleagues, and community;
• Provide, seek, and act on feedback;
• Live our Core Values.

Job Summary: Science Teachers/Advisors at DECA serve as advocates and guides for students' learning based upon individual student needs and gifts.  Teachers/advisors know their students well, help them plan and follow through on their learning goals, and work tirelessly to create optimal learning experiences for students in their advisory groups. Teachers/advisors report to the Campus Principal.

Qualifications:

• Valid teaching license/certificate for the assigned grade, and/or subject(s);
• Effective interpersonal skills with children and adults;
• A broad range of interests and experience, with a passion for learning;
• Solid, basic knowledge in core content areas;
• Prior relevant experience preferred;
• Sound classroom management skills;
• Ability to improvise and problem solve;
• Experience with technology‐integration in the teaching and learning process;
• Effective in an interdisciplinary, teamed environment;
• Demonstrated ability to take initiative, provide leadership, define problems, collect data, establish facts, and draw valid conclusions;
• Entrepreneurial spirit;
• An affinity for supporting students as individual learners;
• Dedication to the mission of assuring student learning and achievement.

Duties/Essential Functions:

• Serve as positive role model for students;
• Demonstrate a positive, supportive, enthusiastic, and encouraging attitude with all students;
• Implement, by instruction and action, DECA’s mission and core values ;
• Advocate for, and on behalf of, students and families;
• Celebrate student accomplishments;
• Develop meaningful, appropriate relationships with each student and his/her parent/guardian;
• Be available to students and parents for education‐related purposes, including, within reason, outside of the traditional prescribed times and day, when necessary;
• Facilitate student learning plans with each family or guardian;
• Forecast educational needs of each student;
• Know, understand, and implement DECA’s goals and how they align to content area standards as defined by Ohio Department of Education;
• Plan a program of instruction that is both challenging and that meets the individual needs, interests, and abilities of each child;
• Employ a variety of educational techniques in pursuit of educational goals, and establish clear objectives for each student, and provide supplemental and educational activities that support student growth;
• Facilitate student learning outside the school building via a variety of field experiences;
• Assist in identifying, establishing, and monitoring learning opportunities for students;
• Ensure that each student employs materials prescribed by school staff (personal learning plans, planners, journals, etc. as applicable);
• Hold students accountable for their academic progress;
• Report each student’s progress, both educationally and socially, through regularly scheduled reports, phone calls to parents, and weekly student meetings;
• Attend faculty meetings and other staff development and planning sessions as determined by the principal and school staff;
• Maintain accurate, complete, and factual records on each student as required by school law;
• Assess and facilitate the strengths and needs of the whole learner: physically, socially and emotionally, and intellectually/academically;
• Design plans and strategies for individual student’s learning;
• Continue assessment of student progress and alter plans and strategies toward student learning success;
• Mediate student conflicts to the best of your ability;
• Work with the school team on academic and social/behavioral intervention strategies for student;

• Periodically transport students complying with traffic ordinances and school transportation policy; 

• Perform other duties as assigned by the principal; and
• Strive to continually improve professional competence.

Terms of Employment:

• 195 days
• Salary to be determined based on experience and education level.
• All staff members are issued one-year contracts.

Working Environment:

Workplace locations include:

• School, activity center, outdoor play areas;
• Retreat/field sites; and
• Other environments as deemed necessary/appropriate.

Physical demands:

• While performing the duties of his/her job, the employee is regularly required to stand, walk, sit, talk, and/or hear.
• The employee is occasionally required to reach with hands and arms, stoop, kneel, crouch, or crawl.
• The employee must occasionally lift and/or move up to 50 pounds.
• Specific vision abilities required for this position include close vision, distance vision, and depth perception.

Additional Working Conditions:

• The noise level in this work environment is quiet to loud depending on the activity and location.
• Working conditions for this job include (1) possible exposure to blood, bodily fluids, and tissue; and (2) occasional operation of a motor vehicle to transport students.
• The work environment characteristics described here are representative of those employee encounters while performing the essential functions of this job. Reasonable accommodations may be made to enable individuals to perform the essential functions.

The information in this job description is in compliance with the Americans with Disabilities Act (A.D.A) and is not an exhaustive list of the duties performed for the position. Additional duties performed by individuals currently holding the position and additional duties may be assigned.

This position is exempt from the Fair Labor Standards Act.

ANY PERSON WHO KNOWINGLY MAKES A FALSE STATEMENT IS GUILTY OF FALSIFICATION UNDER SECTION 2921.13 OF THE REVISED CODE, WHICH IS A MISDEMEANOR OF THE FIRST DEGREE