Teacher - Elementary

Catholic School Teacher

The essential ministerial role of the Catholic school teacher is to bear witness to the Gospel message and to lead students in reflecting on a Christian approach to life, while building the faith community. A teacher should provide students with opportunities to develop their gifts as peacemakers and stewards for the service of the world community. This role is accomplished through instructional techniques and interactive processes that enable students to use their creative talents to become Catholic adults in the 21st century who are problem solvers and makers of just decisions.

Qualifications include: witness of Gospel values, enthusiasm for teaching children, mature judgment and professional decorum, flexibility, sense of humor, and independent thinking, tolerance, sensitivity, and understanding toward children and adults, good physical and mental health, professionalism in attire, communication, and demeanor, well-developed verbal and written communication skills.

Additional requirements include: minimum of a Bachelor's Degree, appropriate Illinois State certification or certifiability, maintain documentation and complete recertification on time, complete diocesan requirements for religious instruction within three years of employment; maintain 18 hours of religious certification formation every three years, demonstrate initiative, accountability, and positive communication with colleagues and administration, maintain discretion with confidential or official information, stay current in educational research and catechetical resources, required to complete the PLTW Gateway/Launch instructional training and implement the appropriate grade-level curriculum.

Essential duties and responsibilities include: share and support the mission, philosophy, goals, and objectives of the school, teach Catholic values and stories of faith through the daily curriculum, develop formal and informal prayer experiences, cooperatively plan liturgies and prayer services with the religion coordinator, maintain open communication with the principal, exhibit a positive and professional attitude, fulfill co-curricular assignments designated by the principal, prepare for and attend parent conferences, report suspected child abuse/neglect as required by law, maintain appropriate boundaries for student wellbeing, acknowledge and comply with the Diocesan Sexual Misconduct Norms and Pastoral Code of Conduct, participate in the "Protecting God's Children" training, prepare for instruction and assist students before/after school, attend faculty meetings and required school gatherings, attend diocesan institutes, workshops, and meetings, organize, teach, and supervise classes to maximize learning, foster faith, academics, and citizenship in the school environment, maintain weekly lesson plans and instructional objectives, use assessments effectively; document and communicate student progress, communicate regularly with students and parents, supervise and ensure student safety and well-being, follow the school's curricular scope and sequence, adapt instruction to meet the needs of diverse learners, provide intervention strategies for students with learning needs, never leave students unsupervised, monitor student use of the lavatories and transitions to special classes, supervise arrival, dismissal, Masses, liturgies, recess, lunch, and emergency drills, ensure adherence to dress code and behavioral expectations, keep desks, shelves, cabinets, and equipment in good order, maintain cleanliness of boards, desks, and ledges, create attractive and up-to-date bulletin boards, including religious themes, maintain inventory of classroom materials, report any needed maintenance or repairs, be positive and professional in interactions, keep the principal informed of developing concerns, approach all situations with prudence and charity, attend general meetings of the parent organization, obtain principal approval for activities outside the daily schedule, support faculty-led school projects and events, attend major school events occurring outside regular school hours.