Upper School Latin/History Teacher (Windsor, Colorado)

Do you want to grow your career in An American Classical Education, helping students to live responsible, courageous and virtuous lives? Ascent Classical Academy of Northern Colorado in Windsor, Colorado is hiring an Upper School latin and history teacher to begin in the 2023-2024 school year.

At Ascent Classical Academies, teachers create their own lessons within the framework set by our content-rich curriculum, in collaboration with colleagues and in partnership with Hillsdale College's Barney Charter School Initiative. Ascent Classical Academies are dedicated to the intellectual and moral betterment of our students and encourage teachers to take their own moral and intellectual improvement seriously as part of a supportive and excellence-driven culture.
In the craft of teaching history, we seek those who, far from merely assisting students with the memorization of dates, names, and events with little relevance to modern life, make history come to life. Ascent students will dive into a study of the human condition. They observe the great movements and accomplishments in history and learn from the successes and failures of past generations. The classical approach to history emphasizes reading historical texts directly to understand the people of the past in their own words. These texts provide the backdrop for examining actions and the outcomes of decisions. Students ponder some of the questions mankind has been wrestling with since the beginning of time: What does it mean to live a good life?  Is it right for a man to rule over another?  Do human beings have natural rights? How one answers these questions affects not only the individual, but also families, communities, and nations. History also presents students with exemplars of virtue through the men and women who chose goodness and truth over expedience or comfort. These tangible examples make Ascent Classical Academies’ core virtues relatable to our students and relevant to their daily lives.

Moreover, latin teachers have a strong background in the Latin language, having majored in classics, classical history, or a related discipline with substantial coursework in Latin. At Ascent Classical Academies, Latin is a required course in grades six through eight, and high-school students must take a full year of Latin to graduate. Often students will take Latin through their senior year.

Desired Start Date: August 1, 2023

Compensation Range and Particulars: $41,000 to $55,000 annually. While student contact and professional development days amount to approximately 190 days per year, Ascent Classical Academy teachers are dedicated to year-round development of their craft, while enjoying additional time off in the summer. Pay is spread evenly over 12 months. Depending on funding and enrollment, performance pay may also be available.

Schedule and Classification: Full-Time Exempt

Benefits Available:

• Competitive compensation package including performance pay and stipends available
• Employee-only coverage for group medical, dental, and vision plan; dependent coverage available
• Health savings account with employer contributions
• Short- and long-term disability and life insurance plans
• Retirement investment account with employer match
• Employee Assistance Plan
• Free employee benefit and healthcare guidance through HealthJoy
• Paid time off for a wide array of health reasons for employees and dependents, consistent with the Colorado Healthy Families and Workplaces Act
• Paid leave for qualifying events under the Family Medical Leave Act
• Robust teacher training including several weeks of on-site training

About Ascent Classical Academies

Ascent Classical Academies partners with a network of classical charter schools based in Colorado delivering a content-rich curriculum in the liberal arts and sciences, with underlying principles in the Western tradition of the study of history, literature, philosophy, and fine arts. Our American Classical Education includes, among other things, the study of Latin; a rich examination of American literary, moral, philosophical, political, and historical tradition; and a school culture centered upon moral virtue, respect, discipline, and studiousness among students and faculty alike. Ascent Classical Academy charter schools currently serve approximately 2,000 students in K-12 campuses located in the Denver, Fort Collins, and Grand Junction areas of Colorado, with significant expansion planned throughout Colorado, the Carolinas, and beyond.

See Ascent Classical Academy of Northern Colorado and Ascent Classical Academy of Douglas County to learn more about our existing schools.

Qualified candidates will have a strong background in the subject matter, demonstrate high moral character and embrace the virtues of a democratic society. The successful candidate will also foster professional friendships with faculty and staff, seek collaborative relationships with parents, and mentor students in the pursuit of their own flourishing.

Minimum Job Requirements:

• Bachelor's degree or higher
• For co-curricular subjects (art, music, physical education), teachers with a bachelor’s degree in the subject taught are preferred, or at a minimum 36 hours of higher education credit in the subject area of instruction. (In some cases, a passing grade in a content exam will suffice.)
• Eligibility to work in the United States
• After offer is accepted, satisfactory background check as required by state law and Colorado Department of Education
• Dedication to the value of a rigorous liberal arts education
• Loyalty to the school and ACA’s mission and vision
• Commitment to model moral character in line with the school’s core virtues and the pursuit of the Good, True, and Beautiful
• Adherence to all ACA policies, including but not limited to the Employee Handbook, Family Handbook, and all applicable school and board policies.

Ascent Classical Academy Charter Schools receive waivers from typical teacher licensing requirements. Thus, a teaching license is neither required nor preferred. Even with a bachelor’s degree in a relevant subject taught, general education grammar school teachers may be required to take state-required elementary education content exams in math, reading, social studies, and/or science within six months of beginning employment. Additionally, Ascent will assist K-3 teachers to meet the requirements of the Colorado READ Act, either through the Colorado Department of Education’s free training course or during Ascent’s pre-service training courses in explicit phonics. Successfully meeting these requirements includes a stipend payment.