About Mastery:
Founded in 2001, Mastery Schools is a public charter network of 23 K-12 schools in Philadelphia and Camden, serving more than 14,000 students.
At Mastery, we’re on a mission to provide all students with the academic and personal skills they need to succeed after graduation and pursue their dreams. Student achievement is not just a goal for our organization; it's the reason we exist, and every member of our team is dedicated to securing student success. We are also committed to pursuing equity, actively disrupting systemic racism, and addressing the disparities that limit our students' choices.
Our culture is built on respect, service, and the belief that the success of our students, their families, and the communities we serve will help us achieve our mission. We foster a positive, open, and inclusive environment where honesty, humor, and continuous improvement are celebrated.
Join us in creating a model urban school district that serves all students with excellence. Together, we can make a lasting impact.
The Opportunity:
The Mastery Teaching Residency, is the perfect opportunity for those who are looking for an innovative pathway into the teaching profession. We are seeking inspired and dynamic educators to join our team and provide a top quality education for all of our students. Mastery Schools is known as the destination of choice for high performing education professionals and offers dynamic education systems in which emerging educators can learn and grow as they serve students and families.
The Residency offers aspiring educators, including recent college graduates and career changers, a unique opportunity to receive high-quality teacher training while gradually taking on more teaching responsibility. During this multi-year program, you spend your first year in a full-time support teaching position receiving mentorship and professional development from your school leaders, Graduate School Faculty Partners, and our central office-based coaches to help you become an effective teacher.
The Elementary (K-5) Experience: Residents working in our Elementary Schools will get the opportunity to empower students with the foundational blocks for their academic success by implementing Mastery’s rigorous literacy and math curricula and supporting students through small-group instruction, in both push-in and pull-out settings. Through an accelerated on-ramp and frequent collaboration with skilled Special and General Education teachers, Residents will not only strengthen their students’ skills but also hone their own teaching craft!
The Middle/Secondary (6-12) Experience: Residents working in our Middle and Secondary Schools will get the opportunity to work closely with a strong mentor teacher in their content area whose classroom will serve as their home base during their first year for their gradual on-ramp experience. Through a gradual on-ramp designed around the pillars of frequent coaching, practice opportunities, and feedback, Residents’ opportunities for growth will be limitless!
As a Resident Teacher, your passion and experience is valued as you work closely with your fellow educators to create a joyful, learning community that is driven by Mastery’s mission and vision. As a Mastery team member, you will be trusted to make decisions and held accountable for critical results. You will engage in a positive and professional workplace embedded in a warm, joyful, student-centered, and welcoming school culture. After a successful first year in the Residency, participants will be prepared to transition into a full-time lead teaching position at Mastery.
Benefits of the Residency:
- Full-time salary and benefits (as a support teacher in the first year; if promoted, as a lead teacher in the second year)
- An opportunity to engage with expert teachers and best practices through extensive weekly training, real-time practice sessions, and actionable feedback in proven, highly-effective teaching techniques
- A Pennsylvania Teaching Certificate (depending on placement state and successful completion of Praxis and Basic Skills tests) at the end of Year 1
- A Master of Arts in Teaching (MAT) at the end of Year 2 from Relay Graduate School of Education or American University
- New educator support from Mastery, Relay, and/or Urban Teachers (e.g. heavily subsidized tuition)
Education, Experience, and Skills:
- Bachelor’s degree required with a record of personal, professional, and/or academic achievement; Minimum undergraduate GPA of 3.0 (Please reach out if your undergraduate GPA is below a 3.0)
- If currently in school, expected Bachelor’s degree by June 2025
- Official copy of transcript is required for application to Relay Graduate School of Education or American University
- Commitment to and experience (preferable) working with underserved communities
- A strong sense of professional responsibility; genuine interest, belief, and care for students’ personal and academic success
- The ability to motivate, support, and challenge students in a student-centered, standards-driven classroom community
- Commitment to professional growth, self-reflection, receptiveness to feedback, and a desire to continuously improve and effectively address challenges
Duties and Responsibilities:
- Provide small and whole group instruction to students for academic support
- Attend practice sessions and an evening academic content class weekly
- Successfully complete PA teacher certification requirements and Relay or City Teaching Alliance academic coursework
- Commit to serve Mastery’s school communities for at least three years after the Residency
- Work with lead teachers to:
- Implement curriculum and utilize classroom routines and procedures with consistency
- Analyze student assessment data to measure progress and inform instruction
- Build relationships and maintain regular communication with families
- Collaborate to discuss student work, share best practices, and ensure student mastery of standards
- Other responsibilities as requested
Salary and Bonus Information:
- This role is eligible for a $1,000 signing bonus!
- Residents are eligible for up to $5,000 for Year 1 tuition reimbursement!
- New-to-Mastery Resident Teachers can expect a starting annual salary of $49,000.
Mastery's Benefits Package:
We offer a full benefits program and opportunities for professional growth. Some of our most popular benefits include our 403(b) retirement plan for PA employees (with a 5% match from Mastery for full-time employees), enrollment in the State of New Jersey Pension Plan for NJ employees, a robust Employee Assistance Program, mental health and counseling programs, an annual Professional Development Fund, and discounts and perks at a myriad of retailers, travel organizations, insurance providers, and so much more, as well as access to the HealthAdvocate Helpdesk to help you navigate various benefits-related topics. Please go here to see all of our Benefits offerings!
Annual Calendar:
As you plan to make Mastery your new work home, please feel free to review our
calendar here. We like to think our calendar is a benefit of working here too!
Why You Should Apply:
Studies have shown that women and people of color are less likely to apply for jobs unless they believe they can perform every job description task. We are most interested in finding the best candidate for the job, and that candidate may come from a less traditional background. Mastery may consider an equivalent combination of knowledge, skills, education, and experience to meet minimum qualifications. If you are interested in applying, we encourage you to think broadly about your background and skill set for the role.