Elementary 3-5 Teacher

About KairosPDX
KairosPDX is a nonprofit organization committed to delivering excellent, equitable education to underserved children, their families, and their communities. Through innovative pedagogy, strong community collaboration, and meaningful family partnerships, we work to close Portland's persistent achievement and opportunity gaps in measurable and sustainable ways. Our mission is to eliminate racial disparities in academic achievement and opportunity by cultivating confident, creative, and compassionate leaders.

We advance this mission through a comprehensive organizational approach that includes: the PK-5 KairosPDX Learning Academy, Family Connections programming, the KairosPDX Training Academy, mental health supports, and local and legislative policy work. Learn more at www.kairospdx.org.

Working at KairosPDX
KairosPDX is currently seeking candidates for a full-time, year-round Elementary 3-5 Teacher position, starting Summer 2026. We strongly encourage individuals from underrepresented backgrounds, including people of color, to apply.

KairosPDX launched its flagship program, the Learning Academy, a public charter school sponsored by Portland Public Schools, in 2014. Located on N. Gantenbein Avenue in Portland, the school utilizes a combination of direct instruction and inquiry-based learning to maximize student outcomes. Our culturally responsive approach integrates mindfulness, restorative practices, studio art, STEM, music, and fitness to support the development of the whole child throughout the day.

In 2021, KairosPDX launched the Training Academy, which prepares leaders across multiple sectors to lead equity-centered, transformational change. Grounded in a framework of belonging and the neuroscience of love, the Training Academy provides professional development in rehumanization practices for educators, administrators, early childhood professionals, organizations, and businesses.

The Early Learning Academy, launched in 2022 as a Preschool for All pilot site, is designed to affirm and celebrate Black identity in young children and their families. It is rooted in the belief that culturally specific early learning experiences empower children to actively shape their lives and contribute meaningfully to their communities. We value creativity, curiosity, and collaboration, and we prioritize listening, observing, and reflecting alongside children and families. The arts and sciences are central to our approach, serving as essential tools for expression, identity, and storytelling across generations.

Across our Learning Academies, four core tenets guide our work: (1) inquiry-based instruction, (2) cultural affirmation, (3) anti-racist education, and (4) creativity and play. These principles inform how we engage with data, reflection, feedback, and continuous improvement.

'Kairos' means a special moment in time, and we believe we are creating that moment for children and families every day. KairosPDX is grounded in the core values of Respect, Responsibility, Excellence, Honesty, and Service. We are committed to continuous growth and collaboration in the service of our students and community.

At KairosPDX, staff are expected to be deeply invested in our mission and to actively contribute to building strong systems, cultivating school culture, and communicating our work with families and the broader community. Our team works collaboratively to support the whole child-academically, socially, emotionally, and culturally using research-based practices, established curriculum, and students' interests to inform instruction.

Overall Staff Responsibilities:

Share responsibility with a team of colleagues and parents to honor the mission:

• To eliminate the prolific racial achievement and opportunity gaps by cultivating confident, creative and compassionate leaders;

• Practice the values of KairosPDX in professional conduct and daily interactions:

  • respect, responsibility, honesty, excellence and service to community

• Incorporate the beliefs of KairosPDX in all approaches and instruction

  • Every child is uniquely capable, innately curious and inherently creative,

  • Character and agency are essential to achievement and are developed through relationship and service to others,

  • A multi- cultural context delivers a strong sense of self and is a requirement for participation in our global society,

  • Children must be supported in the context of their families;

• Support multicultural practice, instructional and inquiry based approaches that are:

• Actively anti-racist - confronting bias in all of its forms,

• Education for social justice - acknowledging history and studying the present to make informed decisions regarding a more equitable future,

• Pervasive - Examining practices in all levels of school culture and organization,

• Personal -Beginning with the necessary consideration of self as a cultural being,

• Critical Pedagogy - Pursuing multiple perspectives, anticipating contradictions and challenging assumptions,

• Empowering - Providing children the ego strength to challenge racist societal views,

• Helping children think deeply about themselves and others.

Core Position Responsibilities:

• Work with a team of colleagues to further the academic mission of the school;

• Discipline students in a fair and consistent manner, using clear routines and expectations as well as school approved behavior support techniques;

• Interpret, plan and work toward the goals of the learning community;

• Plan and prepare the environment for the academic and non-academic needs of children;

• Assess for progress in the academic, social, emotional and cultural domains of student development;

• Align curriculum, instructional strategies, and student assessment to the Common Core;

• Co-plan instruction with grade team towards maximizing learning for all students in the grade

• Document and maintain educational records for each child in the classroom in a way that communicates student progress over time;

• Utilize disaggregated data to inform differentiated instruction and plan for strategies to eliminate student disparities;

• Responsible for planning for and developing the growth and achievement for academic, social, emotional as well as cultural identity outcomes;

• Work with a team of colleagues and families to provide a nurturing and positive climate that encourages student responsibility, leadership and intrinsic motivation;

• Communicate regularly with families concerning the school's program and their child's progress (including quarterly family conferences, and annual home culture visit);

• Participate in supervising students during recess and other non-class times and

• Assist in planning and supervising field trips (both local trips and overnights).

Additional Responsibilities:

• Attend several KairosPDX staff and family events

• Participate in professional development to facilitate growth of each student, staff member and the organization overall

• Participate in continuous improvement practices including observations, reflections and collaborations

• Perform other related duties as needed and assigned.

Salary and Benefits:

• Salary Range: Dependent on experience, ranging from $57,228 - $111,359

• Benefits include: Up to nine weeks of building closure breaks, paid sick/personal leave days, paid holidays, participation in Public Employees Retirement System (PERS), employer contribution for health insurance, professional development opportunity.