First Grade Teacher

Instructional position responsible for the educational leadership of students in a group or class in the school. The educational leader is expected to understand and demonstrate the use of the school’s curriculum, student instruction and assessment to maximize educational achievement for all students; work collaboratively to ensure a working and learning climate for all students that is safe, secure, and respectful. Implementing strategies to reach all students through creative lessons is required.

Essential Duties and Responsibilities (Not all inclusive):

Classroom Environment, Instruction, and Planning

• Assists in the planning, implementing, and evaluating of the school’s instructional programbased on student needs within state guidelines.
• Ensures the effective use of instructional time in order to maximize instruction andmaintain an effective learning environment.
• Understands central concepts, tools of inquiry, and structure of the discipline(s) taught andmakes the subject matter relevant to students.
• Develops a climate and culture of openness, fairness, mutual respect, support, and inquiry.
• Engages every student in grade level appropriate learning experiences that promote performance.
• Demonstrates respect for students, colleagues, administrators, and parents.
• Models and reinforces self-discipline and responsibility.
• Works effectively with school colleagues, parents, and the community to support students’learning and well-being.
• Provides professional leadership to establish a culture conducive to learning and student diversity, involves students in the development of a mission and goals that support theschool’s goals and guide classroom decisions, and uses data for continual improvement.
• Develops and implements a strategic planning system including course, unit, and lesson plans.
• Provides opportunities for students to demonstrate appropriate progress toward graduation expectations: knowledgeable, lifelong learner; responsible individual;effective communicator; problem solver; collaborative team worker, and self-directed learner.
• Uses formal and informal assessment strategies to determine whether students haveachieved high standards and modifies instructional strategies as needed to maximize achievement.
• Understands how students learn and provides learning opportunities that support intellectual,social, and personal development of diverse learners.
• Establishes and maintains a safe and secure classroom environment.
• Manages student misconduct promptly and resolves conflict and crises effectively.
• Promotes independent and collaborative work ethic.
• Develops and manages human resources within the classroom by maintaining a professional development plan and engaging in professional development activities,recognizing students and parents for contributions to goal achievement.
• Uses teaching and learning strategies that reflect each student’s culture, learning styles, specialneeds, and socioeconomic background.
• Seeks resources necessary to achieve classroom and school goals, such as course materials that match the reading level of students.
• Uses classroom processes that support effective teaching and learning to promote high student achievement, designing lessons to promote all students engaged in learning all thetime through such strategies as active learning, hands-on application, and teacher-student and student-student conversations about the learning.
• Participates in the in-service and trainings provided to teachers and staff.
• Takes ownership of the Leader in Me curriculum and embraces it, in order to effectively beable to share an understanding with the students.
• Implement Leader in Me through direct instruction of the habits.
• Assist with school initiatives through participation in Leader in Me action teams.
• Model effective practice through goal-setting and celebrating when goals are met. (WIGS –Wildy, Important Goals)
• Uses appropriate technology in teaching and learning processes.
• Demonstrates positive classroom results and trends.
• Assumes responsibility for own professional growth.
• Performs and actively supervises assigned duty before, during, and after school.

Record Keeping

• Prepares lessons for classes assigned and has written evidence of preparation and planningavailable.
• Provides students and parents with timely data for improvement in student achievement.
• Maintains accurate, complete, and correct records as required by law and administrativeexpectations. This includes but is not limited to weekly lesson plans, weekly grading and gradebook maintenance, daily attendance, and any other required by Administration.
• Actively participates in regularly scheduled staff meetings.
• Actively prepares information required for all honor roll assemblies.
• Maintains communication with parents via the school’s approved communication platform,maintains school-approved webpage, via school emails or student agendas.

Minimum Qualifications:

Positive evaluations and recommendations from previous position(s) Excellent communication skills

Well-rounded in curriculum and instruction

Knowledge of STEM education is preferred Demonstrate a strong growth-mindset

Knowledge or intention of implementing The Leader in Me with fidelity

Bachelor’s degree from a fully accredited college or university. Possession of, or eligibility for, a Florida teaching certificate for the level and subject area to be taught.

Preferred Florida certifications are in Elementary Education for teachers in Grade K-5 and Subject Specific for teachers in Grades 6-8 and 9-12.