October 7, 2020
Although it seems like the school year has just begun, school districts around the country have already kicked off their recruiting efforts to hire for next academic year. As someone recruiting and selecting educators, I’m often asked: What are principals looking for? Who is the ideal candidate? The truth is, it’s simple and complicated at the same time.
The qualities that make up a just right candidate are often like the unique pieces to a beautiful mosaic. They are a mix of attitudes, beliefs, competencies and characteristics that often intersect. Some principals struggle to define in exact words their ideal hire. Seriously, don’t be surprised if you ask a principal somewhere what they are looking for and they reply, I just know a good teacher when I see one. However, when we are hiring educators who do the very important work of empowering students to succeed socially and academically, we need more precision than that. Knowing it when you see it is not a strategy; we aren’t selecting wedding dresses. We need to be intentional with hiring.
When I began hiring at Meeting Street Schools, I made it a point to sit with leaders to identify their profile of a great hire, and you better believe they knew the exact type of educators they wanted teaching and leading kids everyday. The educators we hire are important because as Jennifer Gonzalez from The Cult of Pedagogy so beautifully pinpoints, “To stand before children—share physical space with them day after day—is a rare privilege. In every minute we spend together, they will learn something. Whatever it is we put before them, they will learn from it.” Knowing what you are looking for in a hire is important in any industry, but in education it can be life changing. A teacher can impact the life trajectory of dozens and sometimes hundreds of kids over the course of only one academic year.
Keep reading below to learn more about what we look for in educators at Meeting Street Schools.
MSS was founded on the belief that all students can learn and deserve the opportunity to receive high-quality education, regardless of their socio-economic background. It is our belief that a student’s zip code should not determine their access to education. At MSS, we believe in a holistic approach to education and work to provide any and all resources that facilitate student success in the classroom and beyond. We tear down barriers and build bridges so our students have a pathway to their greatest social and academic potential. In the classroom our status quo disruptors have high expectations for all kids. Their brand as an educator is excellence and nothing less!
Our teachers lead with bold humility. Growth mindset gurus know there is always something to learn, especially in our struggles and failures. The productive struggle is our springboard to success. We believe in taking Dr. Dweck’s scientific work from university research labs to the learning labs that are our classrooms and coaching conversations. These are the spaces where the magic of growth happens. Teacher mindsets are the first step to getting anything done in the classroom. Therefore we look for and continue to develop our teachers in this way. Teachers with a growth mindset understand they don’t know everything, and they understand that they will encounter challenges. They have an awareness of human fallibility. They are teachable. When things don’t go as planned, they bounce back.
We are looking for passionate educators and leaders who are clear in their thinking about what is possible for students and who have an unyielding work ethic, hunger to learn and sense of optimism. Teaching is hard work. As a veteran educator, let me tell you, don’t believe the hype about summers off and extended holiday vacations. Educators don’t get days off. There are no bye weeks in the classroom, and your favorite NFL player has nothing on your neighborhood educator. Educators that are academic athletes are reflecting on and planning for how to get better for their students around the clock. They are planning lessons in their head in the shower, in the produce department at their local grocery store, and even in their sleep.
At MSS being a nerd and total geek about teaching and learning has positive connotations. More importantly, it produces positive outcomes for kids. We believe in the brilliance of Paulo Freire’s critical pedagogy, that explores the relationship between teacher, student and society. Simply put teachers must be actively engaged in learning if students are to do the same. Ideally we build a society, and at the very least a school community, that revolves around learning. At MSS we are excited about learning, and we look for that in the people we hire. Being a cool nerd is something we expect to be modeled everyday for students. It is a necessity. If our students are expected to be focused on growing their brains bigger, as educators, we have to do the same. Cool nerds are: education blog subscribing, feedback seeking, colleague observing, question asking, workshop attending, multiple-book reading, certification endorsement building, continuing education exploring nerds!
Join a community of incredible, passionate people working to change the lives of our students. Our compensation and benefits are a cut above the rest: the most competitive total compensation in the region.
Start Your Career!Meeting Street Schools (MSS) is an innovative non-profit where schools, families, and the community collaborate to create environments where all children can achieve their full potential. With a network of schools across South Carolina, including MSA-Charleston (Charleston, SC), MSA-Spartanburg (Spartanburg, SC), MS-Brentwood (North Charleston, SC), MS-Burns (North Charleston, SC), we are committed to providing students with the rigorous education they deserve.
Founded on the principle that every child deserves an excellent education regardless of their socio-economic background, Meeting Street Schools has been a beacon of hope and a testament to what's possible in education. Our schools are driven by a strong focus on student achievement, evidence-based instruction, and relentless support of our students and their families.
While united by our shared mission, each MSS campus, is unique in its character, tapping into the local spirit of the communities they serve. Explore each of our schools and discover how they're creating a brighter future for students in South Carolina.
Nestled in the heart of Charleston, South Carolina, MSA Charleston is more than just a school—it’s a hub for innovative learning and community engagement. As part of the Meeting Street Schools network, MSA Charleston embodies a commitment to excellence through its rigorous academic programs, inclusive culture, and focus on developing the whole child. With a curriculum that emphasizes both academic and personal growth, MSA Charleston prepares students to be curious learners and active citizens of their community.
Meeting Street Academy – Spartanburg is as a pillar of educational innovation in the Spartanburg community. The school’s dedicated educators and supportive learning environment ensure that each child receives a high-quality, personalized education with exceptional faculty and teachers. The Academy is distinguished by its emphasis on community partnership, fostering relationships that extend beyond the classroom to build a strong foundation for lifelong learning and success.
Meeting Street – Brentwood is a place where education meets opportunity. Serving the Brentwood area, this neighborhood Public School of Innovation is a testament to the transformative power of education. With a student-centered approach that celebrates diversity and encourages excellence, Meeting Street – Brentwood is dedicated to equipping students with the skills they need to thrive in the 21st century. Meeting Street – Brentwood also serves as a hub for the Brentwood community to access educational and wellness services. The school’s commitment to innovation, coupled with a warm, welcoming environment, makes it a standout in the Meeting Street Schools network.
Located in a community rich with history and culture, Meeting Street – Burns is renowned for its dynamic educational approach that intertwines traditional learning with modern teaching techniques. The school’s focus on experiential learning ensures that students at Meeting Street – Burns are not only recipients of knowledge but also active participants in their educational journey. The school exists to spark an educational revolution for the students and families in the Dorchester-Waylyn Neighborhood in North Charleston. With a commitment to creating a supportive and challenging academic environment, Meeting Street – Burns is forging a new path in public education.
“MSA is a family. Once you’re in, you’re in. They said they would follow our kids from K-3 to college and they actually lived up to what they said they would do. Not only did MSA challenge my daughter academically but it also exposed her to new things that she probably wouldn’t have been exposed to at our previous neighborhood school. Our journey at MSA was exciting and rewarding. They actually walk the walk.”
“We come into work everyday truly believing that our students are capable of achieving anything that is put in front of them. Here at MSS, students are provided the opportunity to achieve success through the facilitation of well-educated teachers, resources, and a responsive classroom school environment.”
Meeting Street Schools does not discriminate on the basis of race, color, gender, or national or ethnic in the administration of its educational policies, admissions policies, scholarships or loan programs, and athletic or other school-administered programs.
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