Why Work Here
Careers at Martin Luther King, Jr. Elementary
We Supply the Classroom. You Change the Future.
At nighttime, a warm glow shines from the tall windows of Martin Luther King, Jr. Elementary School. It's a beacon of hope for all who enter its doors, befitting the king for whom it is named. The warm environment is no accident; it's intentional as the school seeks to build relationships with families and staff alike. MLK, Jr. Elementary has a strong, proud sense of history in West Tuscaloosa, having educated generations of students. However, it's the future that school staff is looking toward as we commit to establishing and maintaining a positive school culture that allows our students to become scholars using the MLK Way.
That's key because our school motto is YOU MATTER: Each and every member of our team makes a difference. “No matter how big or small, making a difference makes a difference.”
Here's why you should choose Martin Luther King, Jr. Elementary!
School Culture
The foundation of the school is centered on the MLK Way — where the three pillars are intelligence, character, and perseverance. Actually, it's a lesson for us all. That task is made easier with the team-building environment at the school where teachers know they are valued and appreciated. We are willing to go above and beyond for everyone to succeed.
Think of our school like an extended family where we work hard to build connections with one another. The school also boasts veteran teachers who have made their home here by spending the majority of their careers at Martin Luther King, Jr. Elementary. That means, these vets can assist new teachers in getting started. We hope you'll choose to make this your home, too!
Location
Proximity is power for MLK! We are a neighborhood school where many parents either walk or drive their children to school daily. It's no surprise to see parents connecting with teachers in the carpool line, meaning that you don't have to just rely on a flier in the backpack.
Just a short drive from downtown Tuscaloosa and I-20/59, we're not too far from our community partners who support the school's Reading Before Third grade initiative. Three nearby institutions of higher learning (The University of Alabama, Stillman College, and Shelton State Community College - C.A. Fredd Campus) offer additional assistance to our top-notch staff.
School Leadership
While the administrative team has set high expectations for all in every aspect of the learning environment, it's done through an emphasis on the school-to-home relationship. Principal Dr. LaTanya Williams-Collins has a diverse background of educational experiences to support new teachers as she has been a classroom teacher, instructional coach, assistant principal, and principal. Leaders at this school have their running shoes on daily as they conduct daily walkarounds to complete wellness checks on the teachers and students. It's part of the focus on Social Emotional Learning (SEL) within the entire school.
Finding support as a new teacher (or student) is simple as administrators have an open-door policy for each and every individual within the school building.