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Construction Program Teacher - POSITION ANNOUNCEMENT School Description: The Life Learning Academy (LLA) is an SFUSD charter high school for disconnected and under-resourced youth. Our mission is to create a nonviolent community for students who have not been successful in traditional school settings. LLA welcomes students into an ‘extended family’ which motivates everyone to give and receive support, develop responsibility and judgment, and build the academic, vocational and social skills necessary to be successful. For 25 years, Life Learning Academy has successfully supported high-need students from the San Francisco Bay Area to thrive. Factors contributing to the uniqueness of LLA’s program include: (1) the degree to which the students are involved in school management; (2) the ability to re-engage youth who were previously disconnected from school and community; and, (3) innovative project-based curricula and career development programs such as a community-based internship and employment program; student-operated culinary academy and organic mini-farm; digital arts training program; a partnership with the Northern California Carpenters Union, providing LLA graduates with priority enrollment into the NCCU pre-apprenticeship program. Many LLA students live in overcrowded, cramped, and inadequate spaces, frequently moving between the homes of different family members and friends in search of a safe place to stay. Without intervention, disconnected and unstably housed youth are at very high risk for homelessness, substance abuse, incarceration, and violence. Opened in August 2019, we have an on-campus (no fee) dormitory for up to 24 students. The impact on our residents’ attendance, academic performance, and engagement is nothing short of remarkable. Additionally, LLA is a very small school which maintains a 1:6 teacher to student ratio with 6-8 students per class. We utilize a block schedule model for extended instructional periods, and maintain immediate, on-call student intervention and counseling support. Students are eligible for credit recovery options if appropriate, concurrent enrollment with local community colleges in their junior & senior years, and ongoing transition services including education and employment counseling post graduation. Teachers teach 3 classes per term carrying a student load of no more than 24 students. We plan for a full return to in-person instruction in the fall semester of 2021. LLA’s achievements in helping disconnected youth re-engage with school, graduate, and continue on to productive post-secondary education and employment have been recognized consistently by external observers and reviewers. Select awards and recognition that LLA has received over the years include: Finalist, Innovation in American Government Award, Harvard University’s Ash Institute; Unsung Hero Award for project-based math and art curriculum; California Charter School Association Hart Vision Charter School of the Year, California; AT&T/Giants Community All Stars in addressing community violence; and Model Program, California Corrections Standards Authority. For more information on Life Learning Academy, please visit www.llasf.org. Position Profile: Status: Part Time Location: San Francisco, California Reports to: Chief Academic Officer Position Summary: We are seeking an enthusiastic teacher with construction experience and a clear passion for teaching young people. LLA has a partnership with the Northern California Carpenters’ Union. We prepare students to enter the Carpenters Union Pre-Apprenticeship program by teaching them workplace safety and basic carpentry skills. Students learn the math needed for success in the carpentry trade and become familiar with the safe and efficient use of basic hand and power tools used in carpentry. LLA graduates who have completed our three course program have priority enrollment in the NCCU Pre-apprenticeship program. Desired qualifications:All employees must possess an unshakable faith in students' abilities to learn and to develop healthy, productive, independent lives; and each staff member must demonstrate the talent, energy and commitment necessary to transform those individual abilities into a collective reality. Other Requirements: Bachelor's degree CA Teaching Credential (Provisional Internship Permits accepted) Current knowledge and experience with basic carpentry practices and competency with basic hand and power tools. Some experience in classroom instruction at the high school level Knowledge and commitment to supporting the needs of disconnected and system-involved youth and at least two years experience working directly with this population. Excellent communication skills, professional demeanor, sound judgment, and strong organizational skills. Competency with Google Docs, Google Classroom, and Zoom Willingness to work collaboratively, but with the capacity to work independently. Criminal Justice Clearance required. Desired skills, experience and dispositions for LLA teachers: Encourages a culture of mutual respect and equitable practice Demonstrates content knowledge and skill with tools and building with wood. Commitment to understanding student academic needs and catering instruction to meet those specific needs Supports students’ social, emotional, and behavioral learning needs Implements Project-Based Learning techniques and strategies Facilitates and designs effective group work & independent learning opportunities Provides timely feedback and collaborates with faculty to offer specialized support Showcases student work within the local and wider school community Scaffolds instructional activities that facilitate engaging and appropriate learning opportunities Compensation and Benefits: Competitive, based on experience and market standards. LLA will provide financial support for credentialing / internship programs. How to Apply: Send a cover letter outlining your interest and qualifications, and a resume to kbaker@llasf.org