Middle School ELA Teacher, Part-Time Leave Replacement
School: Launch Middle School, Crown Heights, Brooklyn Term: 2026-27 school year (September 2026 through June 2027) Schedule: 100 days assigned across the school year. Days are not evenly spaced and require a flexible schedule. Reports to: Principal Compensation: Up to $250 per day based on experience Start date: August 2026
About Launch
Launch Middle School serves students in grades 6 through 8 from across Brooklyn, reflecting the vibrant diversity of our city. Rooted in the values of Ubuntu, Crew, Equity, and Excellence, we create a learning environment where students are known, supported, and challenged to become learners, leaders, and changemakers.
Our model is built on EL Education's proven approach, implemented in over 150 schools across the country, developing students across three dimensions: Mastery of Knowledge and Skills, Character, and High Quality Work. Launch students consistently outperform NYS peers in both ELA growth and achievement. Launch Middle School earned a 96% family approval rating on the NYS DOE survey, a reflection of the trust we have built with the communities we serve.
About the role
We are looking for a middle school ELA teacher to cover a teacher's leave across the 2026-27 school year. The role is 100 days assigned across the year. This is not a drop-in substitute role. You will be in the building from September, so students know you before you take the lead. Assignments may include coverage and support outside of ELA when the school needs it.
Those 100 days are not spread evenly. The pattern we expect right now:
Period
What it looks like
September to November
A few days a week. Co-teaching, shadowing, and intermittent coverage.
December to February
Daily. You lead ELA instruction.
March to June
A few days a week, shared with the returning teacher.
This pattern will shift, and so may the assignment itself. The person in this role needs a flexible schedule, a willingness to jump in as needed, including on short notice and on days that were not originally on the calendar, and an openness to adjustments in what they are asked to cover. If you need a fixed schedule and a fixed set of responsibilities you can count on months in advance, this is not the right fit.
We are hiring for the full year, not for one stretch of it. The value of this design is that you learn the curriculum, the students, and the school before you are responsible for them, and the students get continuity instead of a handoff.
What you will do
- Plan and teach daily middle school ELA lessons using Launch's existing curriculum, pacing, and assessments
- Grade student work and return it with feedback on a consistent schedule, and keep the gradebook current
- Give students clear, actionable feedback on writing, including drafting and revision toward high quality work
- Administer and score assessments, track progress against grade-level standards, and adjust instruction based on what the data shows
- Support students in producing high quality work through expeditions, Student-Led Conferences, and Passages
- Manage classroom routines, behavior, and culture in line with Launch's restorative approach
- Communicate with families regularly about student progress, including phone calls home, conferences, and follow-up on academic and behavioral concerns
- Attend and contribute to the planning meetings, professional development, and coaching sessions that fall on your working days
- Cover duties such as arrival, dismissal, lunch, and hallway transitions
- Take on other responsibilities as assigned, including coverage and support outside of ELA when the school needs it
- Partner with the teacher on leave in the fall and spring so that instruction and expectations stay consistent
Who you are
You believe deeply that all students are capable of greatness and you are willing to do the daily, detailed work that makes that belief real. You reflect on your practice, seek feedback, and act on it. You lead with care and hold high expectations at the same time.
The ideal candidate will demonstrate our Launch Habits of Responsibility:
- Integrity and Stewardship. You always work to do what is best and right for our community and inspire confidence in others through consistent honesty and care.
- Kindness and Collaboration. You make others feel like they belong through empathy and genuine care.
- Imagination and Spirit. You hold an unwavering belief that we can accomplish our goals, even when the work is hard.
- Dedication and Practice. You use each opportunity to support our mission and reflect on your actions with a focus on continuous improvement.
- Equity in Practice. You actively examine your own practice through an equity lens, name and address barriers that prevent students from thriving, and believe that creating an equitable classroom is ongoing, intentional work, not a checkbox.
Required:
- Bachelor's degree
- A flexible schedule and a willingness to jump in as needed, including on short notice
- Clear evidence you can build relationships with middle school students and hold a high bar at the same time
- Classroom experience preferably at the middle school level, whether as a lead teacher, resident, student teacher, or associate
Preferred:
- Teaching Certification Preferred
- Experience teaching a structured, school-adopted ELA curriculum
- Familiarity with Brooklyn communities we serve
Early-career candidates are encouraged to apply. The fall months are designed to give a newer teacher real preparation before taking the lead, and you will have coaching throughout the year.
Why this role is worth your time
You get a full year in a middle school ELA classroom with a curriculum already in place, colleagues around you, and a coach. Teachers who do well in leave replacement roles at Launch are strong candidates for full-time openings in future hiring cycles.
Launch Middle School is an equal opportunity employer. We encourage applications from candidates who reflect the communities we serve.
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26-27 SY Middle School ELA Teacher