Social Studies Teacher

Teacher – Secondary

The secondary teacher is responsible for ensuring that every scholar is academically and socially ready for college or career and to equip all scholars with knowledge, skills, and motivation that empowers them to direct their lives and become confident, critical thinkers who will contribute to a changing global community. This is accomplished by providing a variety of learning experiences in partnership with the community to meet each student's needs as defined by his or her educational plan. This position reports directly to the assigned building/program principal.

Compensation is determined by a structured salary schedule. The starting salary is based on the candidate's degree level and verified years of licensed or certificated experience.

Our mission is to ensure that all scholars are educated, self-directed and productive members of society.

The secondary teacher is responsible for:

• Providing scholars with effective instruction in the various academic areas; use the Danielson Rubric; differentiate instruction to meet the needs of all scholars; incorporate the Tripod 7 Cs (challenge, control, consolidate, confer, captivate, clarify and care) into daily practice.
• Teaching the required curriculum and administering common assessments; effectively maintaining and monitoring on-going scholar progress.
• Providing scholars with effective instruction/modeling/interventions in the various behavioral areas.
• Developing detailed, accurate and concise lesson plans for each subject area; planning and providing appropriate educational supplemental activities to meet both group and individual needs of all children within the classroom, including scholars with special needs.
• Utilizing "best" classroom management practices to create a learning environment that is conducive to learning, curtails disruptive behaviors and enhances scholars' self-esteem.
• Collaborating with special education staff to provide scholars with individualized education programs (IEPs) appropriate accommodations and supplementary aids.
• Participating in the planning, implementation, and evaluation of the effectiveness of strategies for individual and group behavior management and academic goals.
• Participating in and contributing to professional development, implementing strategies learned with fidelity.

Additional responsibilities include:

• Making and maintaining regular, positive contact with parents via phone calls, email and/or home visits including communicating scholar progress.
• Establishing and maintaining effective written and oral communication and rapport with scholars, parents, and colleagues.
• Participating in parent meetings, including IEP's and Parent/Teacher Conferences.
• Contributing to the development of a positive attitude between the school and the wider community through cooperative relations, publications, competitions, etc.
• Contributing to community service and global citizenship goals.
• Displaying physical, social, mental, and emotional soundness in order to execute the duties of job.
• Serving as a role model for all scholars and within school community.
• Interacting with co-workers, administration, scholars, parents, and the community in positive, supportive, and cooperative ways.
• Encouraging the team spirit and contributing as a team member in the decision-making processes of the school as facilitated by the building administrator.
• Attending staff meetings and serving on committees as required.
• Contributing to extra-curricular activities such as clubs and academic competitions and school programs.
• Maintaining and promoting school district goals and objectives.
• Complying with state, federal and District policies, procedures, rules, and the union contract.
• Consistently demonstrating dependable attendance and punctuality.
• Other duties as assigned.

The physical demands, work environment factors, and mental functions described below are representative of those that must be met by an employee to successfully perform the essential functions of this job. Reasonable accommodations may be made to enable individuals with disabilities to perform the essential functions.

The secondary teacher is required to stand, walk, sit, use hands to finger, handle, or feel, reach with hands and arms, climb or balance, stoop, kneel, crouch, or crawl, talk, hear (in a quiet or noisy environment). The employee must occasionally lift and/or move up to 40 pounds. Specific vision abilities required by this job include close vision, distance vision and ability to adjust/focus.

The noise level in the work environment is usually moderate. Work is performed indoors although there will be required outdoor activities. The employee is directly responsible for the safety, well-being, and work output of scholars.

While performing the duties of this job, the employee is required to compare, analyze, communicate both orally and in writing, copy, coordinate, instruct, compute, synthesize, evaluate, use interpersonal skills, compile, and negotiate.

The Grand Rapids Public Schools will not discriminate against any person based on race, sex, sexual orientation, gender, gender identity and expression, height, weight, color, religion, national origin, age, marital status, pregnancy, disability, veteran, or military status.

Assistance with the application process may be requested through the Human Resources Department at View phone number on click.appcast.io or View email address on click.appcast.io.

To perform this job successfully, an individual must be able to perform the essential job functions satisfactorily. Reasonable accommodations may be made to enable individuals with disabilities to perform the primary job functions herein described. Since every duty associated with this position may not be described herein, employees may be required to perform duties not specifically spelled out in the job description, but which may be reasonably considered to be incidental in the performing of their duties just as though they were written out in this job description.