Job Description

Description

Job Title: Elementary Classroom Teacher

Organization: Exploration Elementary Charter School for Science and Technology 

Reports To: Principal

Duration: 11-Month Position 

Benefits: Competitive Salary and NYS Teachers Retirement System, Health Care option as well.

Position Summary

The Classroom Teacher is responsible for demonstrating a spirit of innovation and inquiry in their lessons and interactions with students and families, building a flexible elementary grade program and a class environment favorable to learning and personal growth, establishing effective rapport with pupils, motivating pupils to develop skills, attitudes, and knowledge needed to provide a good foundation for upper elementary grade education, and in accordance with each pupil’s ability while displaying a desire for raising student achievement.

Essential Job Responsibilities

• Displays a desire for raising student achievement, as well as incorporating the core values of the school emphasizing science and technology

• Collects ongoing performance and progress data to inform instruction and will collaborate with instructors to differentiate learning opportunities for students

• Uses the state standards to create rigorous, objective-driven, multi-disciplinary lessons aligned with curriculum maps

• Identifies in each lesson what thinking skills will be explicitly taught and practiced, what physical, social, or content skills students will be able to do, and how students will know if they can do it 

• Differentiates for individual students based on their unique learning and behavioral needs so all students are appropriately engaged and challenged 

• Ensures students are engaged through activities and technology that accommodate various learning styles, personality styles, and the need for physical movement

• Creates a classroom environment that tolerates error and change

• Responsible for formative and summative assessments used to maximize teacher decision making and student growth opportunities

• Responsible for ensuring listening and speaking skills are naturally incorporated in student presentation of projects 

• Enhances questioning skills, critical thinking, collaboration, and communication 

• Provides learning opportunities for students through multiple modalities 

• Provides many and varied opportunities for students to achieve mastery while working to promote achievement by all students

• Develops standard-aligned, measurable, ambitious big goals that will increase student opportunities for achievement; assess and track performance against these goals

• Measures student achievement of, and progress toward, the learning objectives and big goals with formative and summative assessment tools

• Provides ongoing and timely feedback to students on their progress towards meeting big goals by frequently checking for understanding and listening

• Uses data to reflect on the effectiveness of lessons and student achievement progress to improve instruction and personal practices

• Creates a focused environment of fairness and respect that encourages students to take risks and strive to reach goals 

• Communicates and enforces high expectations and standards for behavior and academic performance to create a strong culture of achievement and respect 

• Establishes, models, practices, and reinforces age-appropriate rules and logical consequences; creates and consistently uses individual behavioral management plans, as needed 

• Implements classroom procedures, systems, and routines that provide structure for students and maximize instructional time

• Communicates respectfully and thoughtfully with parent/guardians remaining sensitive to different families’ cultures, values, and needs 

• Initiates and maintains timely communication with all parents/guardians concerning student progress and provides a clear picture of the curriculum and high expectations

• Works collaboratively with parents/guardians, families, and other members of the community to involve them in academic activities and support the success of a diverse student population, and bring in volunteers and additional resources 

• Collaborates with colleagues (grade level and school-wide meetings, professional development days, the professional development institute) to continuously improve personal practice, classroom instruction, assessment, and student achievement, as well as the overall goals and mission of the school and the network 

• Actively participate in staff meetings and takes ownership over professional growth and development

• Provides universal support for students in classrooms using interventions outlined in Exploration’s Multi-Tiered System of Support framework with fidelity

• Serve on a school committee or team over the course of the year

• Attends quarterly family nights and parent-teacher conferences 

• Regularly use Google for calendaring, email communication, and accessing important documents

Additional Duties

• Performs other related tasks as assigned by the Principal.

Note: The above description is illustrative of tasks and responsibilities. It is not meant to be all-inclusive of every task or responsibility.

Requirements Knowledge, Skills, and Abilities:

• Knowledge of current teaching methods and educational pedagogy, as well as differentiating instruction based upon student learning styles.

• Knowledge of school curriculum and concepts.

• Knowledge of Culturally Responsive and Sustaining Education (CRSE).

• Knowledge and ability to engage culturally and ethnically diverse students and families.

• Knowledge of data information systems, data analysis, and the formulation of action plans.

• Knowledge of applicable federal and state laws regarding education and students.

• Ability to use computer network systems and software applications as needed.

• Ability to organize and coordinate work.

• Ability to communicate effectively with students and parents/guardians.

• Ability to engage in self-evaluation and self-reflection regarding performance and professional growth.

• Ability to establish and maintain cooperative working relationships with others contacted in the course of work. 

Qualifications Profile

• Fingerprint clearance from NYS Department of Education

• Able to work some flexible hours to accommodate parent/guardian meetings, school activities, and other mandated events/meetings.

• Uses standard office equipment such as personal computers, printers, copy and fax machines, and telephone.

Education

• Current valid New York State Teaching Certificate at the elementary level

• Bachelor’s Degree in education 

• Master’s degree in education preferred 

• Certificate in Special Education is highly preferred

Experience

• Prior experience with high need students in an urban setting prioritized

• Prior experience with project/inquiry-based instruction preferred 

• Experience working with a culturally and ethnically diverse population is strongly desired.

Additional Details

The hiring process for this position will require you to perform a fingerprinted background check through the New York State TEACH System. Any written or verbal offer is contingent on satisfactory results, as determined by NYSED and HR/Operations Manager. Exploration does not discriminate based on race, color, creed, age, marital status, sex, gender, religion, sexual orientation, gender identity, gender expression, national origin, veteran status, or disability in its hiring, educational programs, and school events/activities. Exploration promotes diversity and provides equal opportunity for qualified applicants. Exploration can and will provide reasonable accommodations for applicants with disabilities under the Rehabilitation Act, the Americans with Disabilities Act, the New York Human Rights Law, or similar applicable law.

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