Summer Academy High School Teacher

Student U is a community organization that uses the power of education to build a just and equitable Durham.

We empower and equip first-generation college students in Durham Public Schools, their families, and educators to become the leaders that will transform our city. Together, we're creating a Durham where all students succeed.

As a result of structural racism, poverty and other systemic injustices, we acknowledge that first generation college-bound students face significant personal and institutional obstacles to educational success. We want to change the odds for children in our community.

The Work

Our Summer Academy staff are excited to facilitate learning and create an environment for students to succeed. We are hiring staff to work in our 5 week summer academy program, providing thoughtful and intentional academic enrichment and structured new experiences for our students.

Thank you for your interest in becoming a Student U High School Teacher!

Our high school Summer Academy is a five week academic enrichment program designed to support our rising 9th and 10th grade students' academic and social transition to and through high school. Student U teachers work full-time in the summer, personalizing and teaching pre-made curriculum while working collaboratively with other teachers to engage and inspire students.

Teaching at Student U is a full-time commitment during the summer. Student U teachers are expected to be fully present at Summer Academy which operates Monday – Friday, approximately 7 hours daily, plus an additional 1.5 hours for a weekly staff meeting outside of normal work hours. Teachers are also compensated for their prep work in the spring and summer.

• Great performance during the summer can lead to additional part-time opportunities during the school year.

AVAILABLE TEACHING POSITIONS IN THE SUMMER ACADEMY :

Core Subjects- All core subjects have a curriculum that has already been created by experienced teachers within the Durham Community. Core subject teachers will be responsible for creating the teaching tools that will accompany each lesson (powerpoints and handouts for each day), teaching the curriculum developed for their course, and evaluating the students using the pre and post tests created for the course. Applicants can view the course descriptions and sample lesson plan here.

ELA Teachers : The ELA curriculum promotes writing and critical thinking skills while also engaging and educating students through the use of current events, community involvement, and self discovery.ELA curriculum offerings : Argument & Advocacy (The Other Wes Moore)Personal NarrativesSpanish for Native Speakers

Math Teachers : Students participating in our high school Summer Academy are rising 9th and rising 10th graders. SA math teachers will teach Math I, Math II, or Math III. The goal is to cultivate a love for mathematics, support students in sharpening their understanding of basic math skills, and assist in exploration of the application of mathematics in the classroom and the real world. Math curriculum offerings : Math I : Representing & Interpreting FunctionsMath II : Transformations & QuadraticsMath III : Trigonometry & Different types of functions

Global Connect : Student U is a community organization that uses the power of education to build a just and equitable Durham. ~96% of our student population consists of People of Color. The HS Summer Academy Global Connect teachers will focus on Ethnic Studies, specifically studying Black and Latinx history, communities, and identities. The 10th grade option will focus on joining as a community of people to impact change in our surrounding areas.GC curriculum offeringsBlack Studies - Rosenwald Schools (9th grade students) Latinx Community, Power, and Identity (9th grade students)Communities of Change (10th grade students)

Science : Our high school science offering is a project-based learning Engineering course. In this course, students will research, design, build, test, and optimize three projects involving civil, mechanical, and electrical engineering.

Electives - Each elective teacher will teach a self-developed course to our rising 9th and 10th grade students. Elective teachers will be responsible for developing their curriculum in the spring, creating the teaching tools / resources that will accompany each lesson, teaching, and evaluating the students using pre and post tests.

Creative and Performing Arts teachers : Student U believes in exposing our students to the Arts. We are looking for teachers who can teach visual arts or performing arts. Examples of these classes may include photography, painting, crafting, design, music, theater or dance. Wellness Teachers : Student U believes in supporting the growth of our students both academically and socially / emotionally. The health and wellness of our students is extremely important and necessary for our students everyday. A student wellness elective should focus on helping students build healthy habits for their minds and bodies. This class may include elements of physical education, yoga, mindfulness, movement, or social-emotional wellness activities. The ideal candidate is passionate about promoting overall well-being and can design lessons that encourage balance, self-awareness, and physical activity. Life Skills : The Life Skills elective helps students build essential tools for success in school and beyond. This class may include activities and lessons on communication, teamwork, goal setting, problem-solving, self-management, and practical everyday skills. Students will explore how to make responsible decisions, handle challenges, and develop confidence in navigating real-world situations. The goal is to empower students with skills that promote independence, resilience, and positive relationships.

In addition to teaching a core or elective class :

All teachers will host a Homeroom for a group of students at the beginning of each day All teachers will teach a self developed 2.5 week teacher club (T&Th)All teachers will also co lead a book club two days a week (M&W)

JOB RESPONSIBILITIES : Attend all pre-summer trainings Attend Teacher OrientationCommit to teaching one course throughout the duration of Summer Academy.Work with the Mentor Teacher Team to personalize their course curriculumMeet families and students during Family Day to build community connectionsAttend weekly faculty meetings (Tuesdays 90 minutes)Plan and implement a teacher club based on your own interests Actively participate in a teacher led book club, engaging in discussions and sharing insights to enrich student / staff collective reading experienceComplete morning, lunch, and afternoon duties to ensure a welcoming and safe environment for all studentsPrepare and organize materials, activities, and resources needed for daily instructionManage classroom behavior, using Student U's behavior system and ensure consistent supervision of studentsCollaborate with summer program staff and administrators to support overall program successSupport transitions, arrival / dismissal, or enrichment periods as neededCreate and uphold Student U culture Bring energy and enthusiasm to the classroom and homeroom activities each dayCollaborate regularly as a team of teachers to support your studentsServe as a Student U Ambassador during time of employment Uphold Student U's mission, vision, and values in all interactions with staff and students

The Commitment : REQUIRED PROGRAM DATES

April 24th, 2026 Staff Launch & Training, 5 : 30 PM - 7 : 30 PM (in person)

April 25th, 2026 Staff Launch & Training, 10 AM - 12 : 30 PM (in person)

May 27th, 2026 Summer Teacher Check In (virtual)

June 15th - 26th, 2026 Teacher Orientation (in person)

Week 1 : 8 AM - 3 PM

Week 2 : 7 : 30 AM - 3 PM

June 19th, 2026 Student U is Closed (observing Juneteenth Holiday)

June 20th, 2026 Family Day, 9 AM - 1 PM

June 29th - July 31st, 2026 Summer Academy (in person), ~ 7.5 hrs daily, + 1.5 hr weekly staff meeting on Tuesdays.

July 3rd, 2026 Student U Closed (Observing Independence Day)

July 13th, 2026 Teacher Workday 9 AM - 2 PM (in person)

August 3rd - August 5th, 2026 Evaluation Week, 8am - 3pm (in person)

Our Ideal Candidates

We are committed to hiring and developing a staff that honors and reflects the diversity of our community.

Our High School Summer Academy Staff typically consists of :

Members of the community who are experts in their craft, have a passion for working with our next generation of leaders, and want to see people grow through the process of explorationCollege students in Schools of Education and / or Masters of Education candidates who have worked in programs such as Student U, have taught their own classes in the past and are interested in gaining more experience before becoming career teachersLicensed high school teachers interested in piloting new ways to teach curriculum or develop classroom ideas to implement in their classroom during the year-round teaching jobPhD students in schools of education and / or content specific programs who have previous teaching experience

All Summer Academy Staff :

believe all students can achieve greatness.are committed to helping our students grow both academically and socially / emotionally into what we know they are capable of.are committed to learning, growing and reflecting together to ensure our students are gaining academic skills.are committed to uncovering the brilliance of our students.are committed to the city of Durham.view the time spent with students 6th-10th grade during Summer Academy as an important part of their growth professionally.use Student U as an opportunity to develop skills they will later use in their own classrooms or in their area of expertise.

To learn more about the beliefs that guide our work, please explore our mission and values, found on our website here .

Compensation :

$18 hourly rate for non-licensed teachers. $22 hourly rate for licensed teachers and certified instructors who have experience working with young people.

Anti-Discrimination Policy & Commitment to Equity & Child Safeguarding Policy

Student U is committed to fostering an inclusive culture within our organization where people from various backgrounds can participate fully and equitably, as we want to engage all those who can contribute to our mission.Student U has a commitment to ensuring the safety of our students. All staff will participate in a mental health training for young people, safety training, and Restorative Practices training during orientation.

Preferred Deadline : Preference given to applications submitted by Friday, December 5th, 2025

First Round of Interviews : Wednesday, January 14th, 2026- Friday, January 23rd, 2026

Final Deadline : Friday, February 6th, 2026

Second Round of Interviews : Thursday, February 12th, 2026 - Friday, February 20th, 2026

Ideal Start Date : April 2026

Applications will be reviewed on a rolling basis until all positions are filled.

Do you have questions about the job or your qualifications to teach with us? Questions about the application? Please contact Casey Barr-Rios at casey.barr-rios@studentdurham.org and she will direct you to the necessary person to best support you.

A complete application consists of a resume, two references, and a cover letter answering the following questions :

The majority of our students attend Durham Public Schools or surrounding schools. All of our Student U students are either first generation college students or qualify for free or reduced lunch. 96% of the students we serve are also People of Color. With these facts in mind, while also acknowledging the systemic barriers our students often face, do you believe that all Student U students can succeed in high school and college? If yes, what skills do you believe students need in order to be college ready and how will you structure your classroom to ensure students gain these skills? If not, please explain. Rank these elements of an effective classroom in order from least to most important and explain your ranking : relevance, rigor, and relationship.Please respond to the following prompt in the space below. Teachers at Student U are asked to model our core values (studentudurham.org - core values) at all times including interactions with students, parents, and colleagues. Pick 1 value that resonates with you the most and speak to how that will guide your work as a teacher at Student U.

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