High School English Teacher

Job Description:

Established in 1999 and located in the historic Frankford Arsenal, Franklin Towne Charter High School has grown into one of Philadelphia’s premier public schools. A National Blue Ribbon School of Excellence, 2025 Philadelphia Inquirer Philly Favorites Gold Medal Winner for both High School and Charter School, 2025 Governor's Civic Engagement Award Recipient, and 2025 Philly Service Award Recipient, Franklin Towne continues to set the standard for student achievement and community impact. Recognized as the “Most Spirited High School in America” by Varsity Brands, we proudly serve more than 1,300 students citywide, achieving distinction for Highest Reading/Language Arts Proficiency (Top 20%), Highest Graduation Rate (Top 10%), and Most Diverse Schools (Top 20%), while empowering students to excel in growth, college preparation, leadership, and service. Due to an increase in expanded electives, we are seeking certified candidates in Chemistry to join our team.

Education Qualifications:

• Bachelor's degree from an accredited college or university

Certificates / Licenses:

• Valid Commonwealth of Pennsylvania Instructional Certification English 7-12

Our Mission:

Franklin Towne Charter High School allows students to pursue pathways of learning which are respective to their personal interests, from the humanities to STEM, in an effort to infuse joy into learning; all while fostering warmth and positivity in a family-like atmosphere for our students. We were named a National Blue Ribbon School by the US Department of Education and 1 of the Top 100 Places to Work in Philadelphia by Philadelphia Magazine and Philly.com. Franklin Towne is committed to creating a safe, supported, progressive school environment where collaboration and cooperation are a priority.

Location & Safety:

Franklin Towne Charter High School is located in the Bridesburg-Tacony section of Northeast Philadelphia. Unlike most Philadelphia schools that are located within a neighborhood, Franklin Towne Charter H.S. is uniquely cut off from potential hazards of neighborhood violence due to Interstate 95 to the west and the Delaware River to the east. In addition, Franklin Towne is safely located within a gated community known as the Arsenal Business Center. Like the decommissioned Philadelphia Navy Yard in South Philly that has undergone a substantial rejuvenation, the Arsenal Business Center is following suit with its own revival.

Getting to Franklin Towne by Car:

• From Center City: Franklin Towne is conveniently located off Interstate 95 and is easily accessible via I-95 Aramingo Ave. (exit 26)
• From Northeast Philadelphia/Bucks County: Franklin Towne is conveniently located off Interstate 95 and is easily accessible via I-95 Bridge St. (Exit 27).
• From New Jersey: Franklin Towne is conveniently located between the Tacony-Palmyra Bridge to the North and the Betsy Ross Bridge to the South.
• From the West: Franklin Towne is easily accessible via Cottman Avenue (Route 73) or the Roosevelt Boulevard. via Harbison Avenue

Getting to Franklin Towne by Train:

• SEPTA’s Regional Rail Trenton Line at Bridesburg Station is just a short 6-minute walk to the Bridge Street entrance to the Arsenal complex.

Getting to Franklin Towne by Bus:

• From the South & West Bus Route 73via Bridge Street entrance to the Arsenal complex
• From the North Bust Route 84via Tacony Street entrance to the Arsenal complex

Additional Information about FTCHS:

https://www.niche.com/k12/franklin-towne-charter-high-school-philadelphia-pa/

FTCHS Website:

https://hs.franklintowne.org/home

Amenities, Benefits, and Perks

Campus Amenities:

• Two gated security checkpoints to Arsenal complex.
• Ample parking for staff adjacent to the school and monitored by Arsenal security personnel.
• Culinary Collective located within the Arsenal Complex

Building Amenities:

• All school buildings equipped with modern heating, ventilation, and air conditioning.
• Convenient staff-only bathrooms located on each floor.
• All school buildings and bathrooms are fully cleaned on a daily basis.
• Teacher lounges located on all floors are equipped with a full refrigerator and freezer, sink, microwave ovens, toaster ovens, coffee machines, as well as vending machines.
• All teacher lounges are also equipped with copy machines that are universally connected to your computer.
• School has gone through extensive auditing of outside security firm to vet our school safety infrastructure.
• Friendly security guards on all floors that monitor hallways and bathrooms and available to teachers.

Classroom Amenities:

• 95% of teachers will have their own classroom and do not share classrooms.
• All classrooms have access to windows, natural light, and individual thermostats.
• All classrooms equipped with the latest ViewSonic smartboard technology as well as dry erase white-boards.
• All classrooms equipped with recently upgraded desktop computers and an Apple iPad.
• All rooms have been equipped with safety features to strengthen the integrity of classroom doors.

Student Technology:

• All students have their own personal Chromebook that is required for them to bring to every classroom whether teacher is planning on using them or not.
• Teachers have access to GoGuardian software that allows teachers to limit off-task online activity.
• All students wear a school I.D. that is compatible with each classroom’s attendance technology software.

Staff Perks:

• Business casual staff dress code
• Frequent dress down days throughout the school year
• Many staff-only social events after school hours.
• One back-to-school-night in the fall (no parent-teacher conferences)
• Fair allotment of paid sick and personal days.
• Access to a full state of the art gym and indoor track.
• Discounted staff lunches provided by The Nutrition Group.
• All teachers are given 1,800 copies per month to use as they see fit.
• Pay schedule: 26 bi-weekly paychecks over 52 weeks.

Professional Development:

• New teachers will have 3-4 days of professional development the week of August 24th.
• New teachers to FTCHS will have access to a hands-on program throughout the school year to acclimate you to the climate and culture of Franklin Towne specifically through mentoring and coaching.
• All teachers will have a staff orientation week beginning Monday, August 31st prior to the start of the school year which will include a varied approach to professional development.
• Full P.D. days are dedicated throughout the school year as well as Friday afternoons.

School Calendar and Contractual Hours:

• The school-year instruction begins on Tuesday, September 8th
• The school year will end on Wednesday June 10th.
• Days off are aligned with federal holidays and include both winter and spring breaks that are at least a full week off – teachers are not expected to grade work over extended breaks.
• Contractual hours: 7:30am – 3:30pm

Prep-Time & Lesson Planning:

• Most contracts are written for three blocks of instruction, with one block that is typically designated as a prep period but a portion can be designated for a coverage assignment.
• Teachers also have a designated lunch period and may leave campus to access a local fast food eatery or take advantage of the neighborhood supermarket quick service meals.
• Teachers have access to instructional aides for additional support.
• Submission of detailed lesson plans are not required since Franklin Towne H.S. has adopted the UBD framework to most curriculum and use an assessment calendar. *Teachers new to FTCHS typically submit a modified lesson plan.
• Teachers will also have time dedicated after the instructional day ends to meet with students that are issued appointments for tutoring, retesting, catching up students that have missed school.

Code of Conduct Highlights:

• Students are not allowed to bring their cell phones into their classrooms – zero tolerance.
• Detentions are served on the day they are issued including detentions for failure to submit homework.
• Interactions with parents or parents questioning discipline outcomes in the classroom is traditionally handled by the Dean of Students – not individual teachers.

Job Responsibilities:

Certified Teachers are responsible for the following duties:

Domain 1: Planning & Preparation

• a) Demonstrating Knowledge of Content and Pedagogy
• b) Demonstrating Knowledge of Students
• c) Setting Instructional Outcomes
• d) Demonstrating Knowledge of Resources
• e) Designing Coherent Instruction
• f) Designing Student Assessments

Domain 2: Classroom Environment

• a) Creating an Environment of Respect and Rapport
• b) Establishing a Culture for Learning
• c) Managing Classroom Procedures
• d) Managing Student Behavior
• e) Organizing Physical Space

Domain 3: Instruction

• a) Communicating with Students
• b) Using Questioning and Discussion Techniques
• c) Engaging Students in Learning
• d) Using Assessment in Instruction
• e) Demonstrating Flexibility and Responsiveness

Domain 4: Professional Responsibilities

• a) Reflecting on Teaching
• b) Maintaining Accurate Records
• c) Communicating with Families
• d) Participating in the Professional Community
• e) Growing and Developing Professionally
• f) Showing Professionalism

Job Type: Full-time

Pay: $60,000.00 - $70,000.00 per year

Benefits:

• 401(k)
• Dental insurance
• Employee assistance program
• Employee discount
• Health insurance
• Paid time off
• Parental leave
• Professional development assistance
• Retirement plan
• Tuition reimbursement
• Vision insurance

Work Location: In person