Philosophy

Phoenix Charter Academy's mission is to challenge teenagers in our area with an academically rigorous and individually tailored curriculum. Talented students who have not succeeded in other schools will have the support, resources and training needed at PCA to succeed academically in high school and college, and become economically secure in their future. Phoenix Charter Academy is named after a mythological figure of strength, healing and renewal.

Phoenix schools challenge disconnected students with rigorous academics and relentless support so that they recast themselves as resilient, self-sufficient adults in order to succeed in high school, college, and beyond.

Commitments: Staff and especially administrative leaders at PCA are expected to go above and beyond “school hours” to ensure student achievement and carry out a belief that all students can achieve. All leaders model the core values and mission of PCA in every piece of their work and at all times. In order to be successful, all leaders must be innovative, relentless, humble and communicative with all members of the PCA community.

Instructional Leadership and Teacher Development Responsibilities:

• Act as instructional leadership voice
• Teach one class per quarter
• Observe 5 classes per week, give informal feedback to each teacher and direct supervisors in terms of scholarly habits (Directed specifically, but not limited to, habits as related to categories of classes); participate in all formal observations and teacher evaluation
• Directly supervise all department chairs/members of ILT
• Observe Department Chairs teaching bi-weekly
• Enable the growth and development of “student-centered” and innovative teaching practices; work to ensure skills of each student are tracked and adequately measured
• Model lessons and guest teach when necessary
• Oversee Advanced Placement
• Facilitate and manage ILT meetings (weekly)
• With HoS and appropriate network staff, plan PD calendar and Teacher Institute Calendar
• Continue to make PCA more data-driven, especially as it relates to teacher feedback and student growth and make sure ILT actively seeks out and analyzes data in the following areas:
  • Data Cycles
  • MCAS (Fellowship and Teachers)
  • SST data
  • Correlative data (SST and Academics)
  • Oversee data-cycle process; manage and participate in one-on-one action-planning meetings; facilitate PD sessions dealing with interim assessments; make interim assessment calendar
  • Find innovative and new ways to celebrate student academic success; ensure Phoenix Award and other honors are public; be a voice of celebration across the campus

 Student Support and Other Responsibilities:

• At discretion of Head of School, serve as “fill-in” for major disciplinary decisions and meetings, always with Dean of Students and in service to PCA Handbook as well as mission
• Model handbook and professionalism at all times as relates to student-teacher/student-fellow relationships; when necessary, serve as student support team member
• Look for areas of weak communication between teachers and SST, report these areas to principal and work with SST to fix them
• When necessary, attend SST or IEP meetings as instructional leader of PCA
• Serve as representative for Head of School at meetings and workshops throughout the year, especially as relates to DESE mandates
• Work with DoS to determine disciplinary action when necessary
• Become deeply knowledgeable of following areas:
  • CPR review process
  • Best practices of both high-accountability  charter schools as well as alternative schools
  • Restorative justice in schools
  • “Soft Skills” Development
• Meet weekly with Head of School (at least 2 hours) for supervision

We seek a diverse workforce. Phoenix Charter Academy is an Equal Opportunity Employer. As an Equal Opportunity Employer, Phoenix Charter Academy is committed to providing equal opportunity to staff and applicants in all areas of employment without regard to race, color, religion, sex, sexual orientation, national origin, age, disability, or veteran status, or any other area protected by federal, state or local law. Phoenix Charter Academy is committed to making any reasonable accommodation necessary to support an individual's employment.