Academic Instructor

JOB SUMMARY: Under the direction of the Education Program Coordinator, the Academic Instructor will work with The Kids Village (KV) & Adolescents in Motherhood (AIM) Residential Treatment Program to support the goal of improving educational outcomes for students in foster care by planning and organizing all daily activities of the Pulte Promise Learning Center (PPLC). The Academic Instructor along with the Education Program Coordinator will assess each youth and create individual learning plans to meet the educational needs of the youth served through the Pulte Promise Learning Center.

ESSENTIAL FUNCTIONS and RESPONSIBILITIES:

1. Completes education assessments of youth.
2. Creates individual education plans for youth, including daily/weekly lesson plan goals in line with the standards set by the state of Florida for lesson planning.
3. Establishes a plan and method to deliver after school homework help through the PPLC. Coordinates with the Education Program Coordinator to create a plan for each youth that is in line with what their Hillsborough County Schools classroom teacher is working on.
4. Establishes procedures and expectations to assist students in recovering lost credits. Creates a method to evaluate and report progress.
5. Assists in tracking in-school educational services (i.e.- Extended Learning Programs) and communicates educational progress with youths teachers via phone, email, and school conferences.
6. Assists with data collection on student progress towards education goals.
7. Works in collaboration with a multi-disciplinary team including but not limited to mental health therapists, BCBA’s, RBT’s, LPN, cottage caregivers, case managers, social workers, bio parents, and residential leadership.
8. The Academic Instructor is responsible to take the initiative and advocate as needed to remove barriers to ensure the children/youth at CHN have access to all available academic assistance, services and resources on campus, in the community and within the school system that will help them achieve educational goals. Expands and maintains a high utilization of the PPC.
9. Assists with the recruitment and interviewing tutors and volunteers and cross training as needed.
10. Tracks volunteer hours, via Volunteer Log/Binder and assists in ensuring all volunteers have completed appropriate forms and documents to assist in the PPC.
11. Tracks youth’s weekly attendance of the PPC and rewards positive behaviors through the use of Positive Behavior Interventions and Supports (PBIS) in place at CHN.
12. Assists the Education Program Coordinator with updates and maintenance of the weekly Residential Learning Center Schedule and creates a monthly calendar of events to include: activities on days off from school (fall, winter, spring, and summer break), enrichment activities, and life skills.
13. May attend school meetings as needed.
14. Serves as a Supervisor on Duty weekly and assists with facilitating trainings.
15. Schedule and facilitate monthly life skills classes for all youth on campus and document classes in MyEvolve.
16. Supervises activities in the Learning Center.
17. Oversees and runs the In Home Schooling (IHS) and After School programs for youth on campus, ensuring that youth’s education plans are being followed.
18. Works collaboratively with residential staff in the learning center to ensure a positive and therapeutic learning environment.
19. Provides in ratio supervision of youth while in the Learning Center.
20. Works within the philosophy and practices of The Children's Home Network.
21. Other duties as assigned.

***THESE ESSENTIAL JOB FUNCTIONS ARE NOT TO BE CONSTRUED AS A COMPLETE STATEMENT OF ALL DUTIES PERFORMED. EMPLOYEES WILL BE REQUIRED TO PERFORM OTHER JOB RELATED MARGINAL DUTIES AS REQUIRED***

MINIMUM QUALIFICATION REQUIREMENTS:

Education & Experience:

• Bachelor’s degree in Education or related field preferred.
• Preferred 1 year of teaching or classroom experience.
• Experience with developing lesson plans.
• Current/Prior Temporary Teaching Certification or Professional Teaching Certification in the State of Florida preferred.

Licenses & Certifications:

• First Aid and CPR Certified or ability to obtain within 30 days of new hire date (classes available onsite).
  • Must possess and maintain a valid Florida driver’s license with no record of criminal driving offense of license suspension. Must be insurable under CHN’s current auto insurance policy.
  • Must be able to work flexible hours, including evenings and weekends.
  • Must successfully complete and maintain FDLE clearance, Federal background and state criminal background check and sexual predator screening.

• COMPETENCIES & PROFESSIONAL DEVELOPMENT:

  Annual Training Requirements: The following training topics are required annually: Car Seat Safety, Sexual Harassment, Blood-borne Pathogens, Workplace Accident Prevention and Reporting, Confidentiality and Privacy Practices, Diversity/Cultural Competency, Child Abuse and Neglect Mandated Reporter Statutes and Methods, Prevention of Violence in the Workplace, OSHA–related training, Crisis Prevention, and Program Goals. Maintenance of Child Welfare Certification.

  Knowledge, Skills and Abilities not limited to:

  • Knowledge of Department of Children and Families rules and regulations regarding the care of children.
  • Knowledge of child abuse or neglect reporting procedures.
  • Knowledge of residents' histories, habits, tendencies, general behaviors, etc.
  • Knowledge of crisis prevention intervention techniques and procedures, TOOLs, PBIS and CPI.
  • Knowledge of effective childcare practices.
  • Knowledge of child development and parenting skills.
  • Ability to model appropriate parenting skills.
  • Knowledge of the agency's organizational structure, standard operating procedures, and policies.
  • Knowledge of proper medication procedures including distributing, administration, and potential effects of use.
  • Knowledge of appropriate protocol for handling injuries, incidents, law enforcement and child AWOL occurrences.
  • Ability to establish effective working relationships with clients, co-workers, supervisors and other individuals.
  • Ability to communicate effectively, verbally and in writing.
  • Ability to work effectively as a team member.
  • Skill in training new employees.
  • Demonstrates proficiency in PBIS practices and supports the ongoing implementation throughout the organization.

• Essential Physical Skills:

  • Ability to perform physical restraint techniques as required utilizing the CPI method.
  • Ability to participate in physical activities with children (weighing 107 pounds on average) that may require bending, stooping, and moderate lifting.
  • Ability to run, walk, skip, hop or jump, bend and stoop.
  • Ability to perform moderate lifting.
  • Reasonable accommodation will be made for otherwise qualified individuals with a disability.

• Environmental Conditions:

  • Treatment Center Environment.
  • Possible exposure to verbal abuse and physical behavior.
  • Possible exposure to clients with communicable disease.
  • Works both indoors and outdoors on a routine basis.
  • High interaction with children.
  • Moderately high level of potential for exposure to blood borne pathogens; therefore, eligible for Hepatitis B vaccination series.