First Grade Teacher

Job title Teacher Classification  Exempt  Reports to Principal  Organization Unit General Education Approved by Human Resources Effective date 4/11/2025
Job Purpose

Performance Academies seeks a dynamic, dedicated, and highly qualified Classroom School Teacher to join our academic team. The ideal candidate will be committed to providing an academically rigorous and supportive learning environment that fosters student engagement, critical thinking, and social-emotional growth. This individual will be expected to utilize Performance Academies' resources exclusively in the design and delivery of instruction, ensuring that curriculum delivery aligns with the academy’s mission of excellence in education.

Domain A - Organizing Content Knowledge for Student Learning

• Encourage daily attendance through engaging instruction and student/family communication.
• Deliver high-quality, standards-aligned lessons utilizing only resources, online programs and instructional materials provided by Performance Academies.
• Address achievement levels, articulate clear appropriate learning goals and align lessons with state standards.
• Implement teaching strategies that support diverse learning needs, including differentiated instruction and interventions as appropriate.
• Participate in student retention, recruitment, and enrollment efforts at the request of the Principal or Superintendent.
• Employ data and assessment to personalize instruction for student needs, helping students fill gaps and see their growth.
• Develop lesson plans from the approved curriculum using a variety of techniques and visual aids, creative projects, and technology to engage students in their learning.
• Provide a balanced and comprehensive approach to core subjects, including Language Arts, Mathematics, Science, and Social Studies, with an emphasis on inquiry-based and experiential learning.
• Utilize curriculum maps and pacing guides in lesson planning.
• Use formative and summative assessment data to monitor student progress and adjust instructional strategies.

• Acts as a catalyst in continuous academic improvement.
• Provide a balanced and comprehensive approach to core subjects, including Language Arts, Mathematics, Science, and Social Studies, with an emphasis on inquiry-based and experiential learning. Maintains up to date and accurate documents, schedules, and student work samples and provides them to the Principal or Superintendent, as requested.
• Ensure that all appropriate field trip forms are signed, dated, turned into the office with appropriate written consent from parents/guardians for every child attending field trip.

Domain B - Creating an Environment for Student Learning

• Teach and communicate challenging learning expectations for all students.
• Faithfully implement all Marzano, Marva Collins and other instructional methods as prescribed by the school.
• Maintain a clean inviting classroom, by providing interesting, engaging instruction that is well thought out and planned.
• Implement Character Education daily and post student work.
• Use of content knowledge and research-based instructional strategies to help students meet rigorous academic standards.
• Implementation of evidence based instructional practices.
• Monitor, support, and provide feedback regarding online usage of curriculum resources.
• Informs school leaders of activities, progress, obstacles, and successes in student achievement. Establish and maintain a positive, respectful classroom environment that promotes academic success and emotional well-being for all students.
• Ensure student supervision; never leave a child unattended, never allow a child to run errands, use the restroom, go to the office, leave for intervention or speech services unattended or unsupervised by an adult.
• Implement and enforce Performance Academies' behavioral expectations, routines, such as Dragon Dollars and PBIS, and discipline policies consistently.
• Execute the school’s mission, vision, and educational goals in daily classroom practices.
• Report any and all cases of suspected child abuse or neglect immediately to Principal, Assistant Principal, and/or Superintendent, before contacting Children’s Services or local law enforcement.
• Promote the values of equity, inclusion, and integrity in interactions with students, parents, and colleagues.
• Follow all policies outlined in the staff handbook and student handbook/code of conduct.

Domain C - Teaching for Student Learning

• Monitor students and check for understanding while providing appropriate and adequate feedback and adjusting instructional activities as needed.
• Set, communicate, and post clear expectations and goals for students.
• Communicate to students lesson objectives and instructional procedures.
• Ensure the content of each lesson is comprehensible for students.
• Encourage students to extend their thinking by using multiple levels of depth of knowledge.
• Show evidence of using classroom instructional time effectively.
• Reach minimum established levels of academic achievement, including, but not necessarily limited to: at least one year of academic growth based on value added assessments such as pre and post-testing with the NWEA MAP and acceptable passage rates on the state mandated test of at least 60% or higher in all subjects taught if teaching a state mandated testing grade.

Domain D - Teacher Professionalism

• Foster an inclusive classroom environment that celebrates diversity and supports students' social and emotional development as well as promoting fairness in the classroom.
• Send home a completed incident report for any student injury within 24 hours of the incident, refrain from including other student’s names.
• Collaborate effectively with fellow teachers, instructional coaches, and support staff to design and implement interdisciplinary units, projects, TBT’s and BLT’s.
• Engage in ongoing professional development opportunities to enhance teaching effectiveness, curriculum knowledge, and pedagogical skills.
• Be an active participant in any and all IAT or IEP meetings for any students in your classroom who are being evaluated for special services; come fully prepared for those meetings with all required documentation, including samples of student work, curriculum based measures, behavioral documentation, etc.
• Actively participate in school-wide events, faculty meetings, and committees to contribute to the overall academic and cultural goals of the school. This includes In-service training before school starts and during the school year.
• Maintain regular communication with parents and guardians regarding student progress, classroom events, and school activities.
• All Staff are to participate in activities to increase enrollment for the school.
• Participate in parent-teacher conferences and school outreach activities aimed at building a supportive and inclusive school community.
• Maintain all keys, computers and school equipment at all times.
• Serve as an advocate for students, fostering positive relationships with families and encouraging their active involvement in their child’s education.
• Adhere to all Performance Academies policies, procedures, and attendance requirements.
• Other duties as assigned by Superintendent, Principal, Assistant Principal.
• Teachers must dress in professional attire appropriate for a school setting, reflecting a commitment to creating a positive and respectful atmosphere. Adheres to the staff handbook.

Qualifications

• Bachelor’s degree in Education or related field from an accredited institution.
• Valid state certification in Education or the ability to obtain certification.
• Proven success in working with K-8 grade students in a classroom setting, particularly in diverse and inclusive environments.
• Strong understanding of child development, pedagogical theory, and best practices in education.
• Proficiency with digital tools and platforms related to classroom instruction and assessment.
• Commitment to using Performance Academies’ instructional resources exclusively in curriculum delivery.

Knowledge, Skills, Abilities and Personal Characteristics 

• Effective written and oral communication skills.
• Strong ability to gather, analyze, and interpret data to make sound educational decisions.
• Work in a diverse educational setting and understand the community and student demographics.
• Ability to work well under pressure.

Working Conditions

• Dexterity to operate a computer keyboard, mouse, and to handle other computer and other technology related components actively prioritize and execute tasks to meet deadlines consistently.
• Maintain positive interaction with students, staff, and parents.

Physical Requirements

• Physical ability to lift up to 25 pounds
• Standing for extended periods of time

This is not necessarily an all-inclusive list of job-related responsibilities, duties, skills, efforts, requirements or working conditions. While this is intended to be an accurate reflection of the current job, management reserves the right to revise the job or to require that other or different tasks be performed as assigned.