Classroom Teacher / Social Studies Social Studies Teacher Certificate: History/Social Studies, 7-12 (026)

Job Description:

Common Ground is Seeking a Full-Time High School Social Studies Teacher (1.0 FTE)

About Common Ground High School

Common Ground High School is the nation's longest-running environmental charter high school, founded in 1997. Our 230 students form an inclusive, powerful community of learners and leaders. These students benefit from a unique learning environment: an urban farm and 20-acre site, home to state of the art school facilities, adjacent to West Rock Ridge State Park, and located in the City of New Haven. We strive to create a learning environment grounded in foundational building blocks: rigor, responsive relationships, relevance that's rooted in the local community and environment, and real roles & rights. Common Ground's graduation rate consistently surpasses the state average, and between 97 and 100% of our students are accepted to college each year.

Common Ground High School is part of a community nonprofit organization that also operates an urban farm and community environmental education center. As a whole, Common Ground is a center for learning and leadership, inviting people across ages and identities to connect to their urban environment, build community, grow into their full potential, and contribute to a just and sustainable world. We work toward this mission through active, authentic learning rooted in justice and our environment: a farm, in a forest, in a city.

About the Position

We are seeking an experience, data-driven, and compassionate educator to join our team as a certified Full-time Social Studies teacher for the 2026-2027 school year. This position is a 1.0 FT. Candidates are required to have an 026 History and Social Studies endorsement.

This teacher will have the opportunity to:

• Teach Common Ground's Integrated Social Studies classes
• Work with the Core Curriculum team to support students through a culturally relevant integrated curriculum with a focus on social justice.
• Act as a strong team member for Common Ground's small, dedicated, creative faculty; teaching an elective or supporting instruction in another Common Ground course for one period a day, and acting as teacher or co-teacher for a guidance group (advisory).

This is a full-time, salaried position for the 2026-2027 School Year. The Social Studies Teacher position will be collaborating with three experienced teachers, and an instructional coach. The Social Studies teacher will have the opportunity to work both independently in their own classroom and as part of a strong interdisciplinary team in creating an innovative classroom experience.

We are looking for candidates who demonstrate some or all of the following:

• Experience working directly with racially and economically diverse high school aged young people.
• Connecticut teacher certification endorsement 026 and/or the ability to be eligible for certification.
• Experience and skills teaching, providing one on one support, and building productive relationships with high school age young people.
• The ability to collaborate, communicate, and work effectively within a team that includes multiple teachers and community partners.
• A passion for and experience with work at the intersection of environmental, social, and food justice.
• Creativity, sense of humor, and commitment to collaboration and relationship building
• Excellent communication skills.

We are also excited to consider candidates who have the following additional interest/experience:

• Background in the themes at the center of the Common Ground core: how we meet our basic needs for food and build just food systems, how we survive and thrive as individuals and communities, how we fulfill our potential and create the world we want.
• Background in food systems and justice, sustainable agriculture, environmental education, youth development and community building.
• Background in experiential, place-based, and/or project-based learning.
• Experience working with Google applications, online course management platforms, and other online learning tools.

How to Apply:

Interested candidates should send a cover letter and resume through our ADP online portal.

We will be reviewing applications as received, until the position is filled.