Job Description

Location: Canton, Mississippi (Tuition-Free STEM-Focused Charter School)

Start Date: July 7, 2026 (earlier start possible)

About SR1 CPSA – Who We Are

SR1 College Preparatory & STEM Academy (SR1 CPSA) is Mississippi’s first tuition-free charter school focused on STEM education. We are a high-quality, mission-driven school in our third year of operation, now expanding to serve grades K–2. Our vision is to provide exceptional, student-centered learning for every child – regardless of background – through rigorous academics and hands-on experiences. Our goal is to become a National Blue Ribbon School where students from all backgrounds can thrive on a clear path to college.

At SR1 CPSA, “learning by doing” is in our DNA. Our classrooms buzz with curiosity, collaboration, and creativity. Students engage in daily problem-solving and project-based learning with hands-on activities in every subject. We integrate STEM with a strong literacy foundation to spark innovation and critical thinking from an early age. We prioritize quality over quantity – small class sizes (75 students per grade, across 3 classes) and a carefully selected team of outstanding educators. If you are passionate about educational excellence and equity, SR1 CPSA offers a warm, inclusive environment where you can make a real difference.

The Role – Elementary Classroom Teacher (K–2)

We are seeking a passionate Elementary Classroom Teacher (K–2) to join our team for the 2026–27 school year (with potential to start earlier in a support role). This teacher will help shape our growing elementary program. You will lead a single-grade classroom (K–2, based on experience) and deliver a dynamic, college-preparatory curriculum that integrates STEM and project-based learning. This is more than a teaching job – it’s a chance to help build a Blue Ribbon-caliber school culture from the ground up.

In this role, you’ll work closely with a dedicated team to create a nurturing, high-expectations classroom where every child feels safe to explore, question, and excel. You will have ample resources and support (including an assistant teacher) to bring innovative lessons to life. If you’re excited about pioneering new approaches, collaborating with colleagues, and refining your practice to achieve extraordinary student growth, this role is for you. We seek educators who view teaching not just as a profession, but as a mission to empower first-generation, multilingual, and rural students to become future engineers, scientists, writers – whatever they aspire to be. We provide the foundation. They build the future.

Starting Early (Optional): For the right candidate, there’s an opportunity to begin in late spring or summer 2026. Early starters can acclimate by assisting in lower grades or developing curriculum and STEM projects ahead of the school year – gaining training in our model to hit the ground running by August 2026.

Key Responsibilities

• Deliver Engaging STEM Instruction: Plan and teach rigorous, STEM-integrated lessons in core subjects aligned with state standards. Use hands-on experiments, technology, and real-world applications to excite young learners.
• Implement Project-Based Learning: Design and facilitate project-based units where students problem-solve, collaborate, create, and explore. Develop students’ critical thinking, creativity, and teamwork through inquiry-driven projects.
• Personalize Learning: Differentiate instruction to meet diverse needs, and use data to drive support or extension. Ensure each student is challenged and achieves significant academic growth. Celebrate curiosity and encourage academic risk-taking.
• Cultivate College-Prep Culture: Set and uphold high standards for behavior and academics in a college-preparatory environment. Reinforce the link between today’s learning and future college success. Integrate literacy across the curriculum and build strong foundations so students are on a college-ready track.
• Support First-Gen & Rural Students: Embrace educational equity and understand the challenges facing first-generation and rural students. Use culturally responsive teaching and mentorship to help students overcome barriers. Be a role model who believes in each child’s potential.
• Collaborate & Grow: Work with colleagues to share best practices and design interdisciplinary learning experiences. Participate in professional development, coaching, and curriculum planning. Be open to feedback and continuously refine your craft.
• Engage Community & Family: Maintain positive communication with parents/guardians (many are new to charter and college-prep education). Engage families through updates, conferences, and events, building a welcoming community that reflects our values of respect, curiosity, and the Vanguard spirit.

Qualifications – What We’re Looking For

• Mississippi Certification: Valid Mississippi Elementary Education (or K–6) teaching license, or near completion of certification. Alternate route or out-of-state candidates must obtain Mississippi licensure by July 2026.
• STEM & Inquiry Passion: Enthusiasm and experience in STEM education. You believe in the power of science and technology to shape the future and integrate STEM themes into everyday learning. (Experience in a STEM-focused school or hands-on science/tech projects is a plus.)
• Project-Based Learning Mindset: Commitment to student-centered, project-based learning. You may have led PBL units, science fairs, coding clubs, or robotics, or you’re eager to learn (we will train and support you in inquiry-based learning).
• College-Prep Focus: High expectations for all students and an understanding of how to prepare elementary students for future college-prep rigor. You agree that early exposure to a challenging curriculum (with appropriate supports) sets students on the path to college success.
• Dedication to Equity: A heart for first-generation and rural students. You recognize the transformative power of education in underserved communities and use empathetic, trauma-informed, and community-oriented practices so every child feels seen, valued, and capable of excellence.
• Innovative & Growth-Oriented: Adaptable, creative, and collaborative. In a startup environment, you think outside the box, troubleshoot challenges, and contribute ideas to continuously improve our school. You thrive on feedback and are driven to grow professionally.
• Mission Alignment: A deep commitment to SR1 CPSA’s mission to “empower and inspire our students to become change makers for the global good,” and to educating the whole child. You are excited to help build a Blue Ribbon-quality school of excellence and see this not just as a job, but as a calling.

Why Join SR1 CPSA?

• Impact & Purpose: Join an educational movement that is raising the bar in Mississippi. You will help drive our quest for National Blue Ribbon status and set a new standard for what a rural STEM charter school can achieve. Every day, your work will ignite student passions and change lives.
• Innovative Environment: Teach on a beautiful campus with indoor and outdoor learning spaces (gardens, tech labs) designed for hands-on STEM exploration. You’ll have unique resources to enhance learning, and we encourage teacher creativity – if you have project or club ideas, we want to hear them!
• Small School, Big Vision: Be part of a close-knit, family-like team at a startup school with small class sizes. Build strong relationships with colleagues and students. Leadership is hands-on and invested in your success. As we grow, roles like grade chair or curriculum lead will open up for high-performing teachers.
• Professional Growth: Benefit from ongoing professional development in STEM, PBL, and best practices. Receive coaching and mentorship from experienced educators (our Provost and instructional coaches) who are committed to helping you refine your craft. We believe in growing our educators as much as our students.
• Mission-Driven Culture: Work in a warm, inclusive culture defined by our Vanguard values (innovation, service, excellence). Faculty often describe working at SR1 CPSA as “joining a mission.” We support each other, celebrate wins, and solve challenges together. If you want a team united by purpose, you’ll feel at home here.

Assistant Teacher Opportunities

We are also hiring Assistant Teachers (grades K–2) to support our classrooms. As an Assistant Teacher, you will provide small-group instruction, one-on-one tutoring, and help implement lessons under a lead teacher’s guidance. This role is perfect for early-career educators or those finishing certification who want to grow into a lead teacher position. You’ll receive mentorship, hands-on experience with our STEM curriculum, and a pathway to advance into a lead role. We invest in our assistant teachers’ development as rising educators. If you are energetic, caring, and eager to learn, we encourage you to apply!

Join the SR1 CPSA Team

If you’re excited to inspire young minds in a high-quality, innovative, mission-driven school, we want to hear from you! We are building a National Blue Ribbon-caliber school and shaping the next generation of leaders and problem-solvers – this is your chance to be part of something truly special in Mississippi education.

Apply today to become an Elementary Teacher at SR1 CPSA and help us create the future — one child, one classroom, one community at a time.

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