K8 Teacher (English)

Job Title: K-8 Teacher (English)

Program: K-8

Reports to: Co-Principals 

FLSA Status: Exempt

Position Summary

The K-8 Teacher at Yew Chung International School Silicon Valley plays a vital role in providing a comprehensive education grounded in the Yew Chung Education Philosophy and Objectives. Working within a dynamic learning environment and utilizing co-teaching methods, the K-8 Teacher facilitates standards-based & inquiry-based curriculum tailored to meet the needs of diverse learners. Emphasizing student safety, collaboration, and individualized support, this role ensures effective teaching and learning experiences across elementary and secondary levels. The K-8 Teacher embodies a commitment to fostering a bilingual and multicultural learning environment while nurturing the holistic development of each student.

Essential Duties and Responsibilities

Instructional Management:

• Work collaboratively with other members of staff to determine instructional goals, objectives, and methods according to school requirements.
• Develop and facilitate learning lessons according to guidelines established by school leadership and administrative guidelines that incorporate accommodations for differences in student learning styles.
• Use appropriate learning instructional and learning strategies, inquiry based activities, materials, and equipment that reflect understanding of the learning styles and needs of students assigned.
• Conduct ongoing assessment of student achievement through formative and summative tools.
• Use effective communication skills to present information accurately and clearly.
• Use technology to strengthen the teaching/learning process.
• Help students analyze and improve study methods and habits.
• Support and participate in meeting the objectives of the school and department improvement plans.

Student Management:

• Create a classroom environment conducive to learning and appropriate for the physical, social and emotional development of students.
• Report student progress according to Yew Chung Education Foundation and school guidelines in a timely manner.
• Take necessary and reasonable precautions to protect students, equipment, materials and facilities.
• Resolve parent/student issues and concerns in a timely manner.
• Be a positive role model for students.
• Manage student behavior in accordance with the Student Handbook and Teacher Handbook.

Management of Administrative, Fiscal and/or Facilities Functions:

• Develop and submit lesson plans, as required.
• Work collaboratively with school and administrative staff to serve the needs of all student groups according to the guidelines established in policy.
• Assist in monitoring students and creating a safe campus environment by reporting to duty assignments as assigned by the school leadership.
• Attend campus events and extracurricular activities, as assigned.
• Assist in selection of books, equipment and other instructional materials.
• Compile, maintain, and submit reports, records and other documents, as required.
• Plan and supervise assignments of volunteers in the classroom, when applicable.
• Provide cover for teachers who are indisposed or when substitutes are unavailable.
• Participate in school and department meetings, which relate to curriculum, instruction, administration, or the well-being of the school.
• Follow Foundation, school, and department policies and procedures.

Organization Improvement:

• Support the mission and vision of the Foundation and school.
• Analyze critical needs in assigned areas and work collaboratively to implement and improve programs.

Other Responsibilities:

• Provide first aid and complete all required reporting and documentation on accidents and injuries.
• Maintain regular, on-going, open communication with parents. 
• Keep abreast of current practice and theories in education through on-going professional development.
• Perform other job-related duties as assigned.

Skills, Abilities and Knowledge Requirements

• Advanced fluency in English (reading, writing, and speaking) with a strong set of communication and interpersonal skills.
• A strong commitment to teamwork and to developing and maintaining a cooperative and collaborative working relationship with a co-teacher.
• Good communication, problem solving, and priority setting skills as well as maintaining an overall positive and professional attitude /disposition.
• Ability to create a welcoming and engaging classroom atmosphere in which children feel safe, comfortable and supported to explore and experience new skills.
• Proven ability to establish a positive and healthy relationship with parents and families.
• A warm and friendly personality; patient and respectful; sensitive to the feelings and needs of others; able to adapt and be flexible.
• Strong computer and technology skills. Comfortable with using a range of computer and tablet programs and applications such as:  word processing, databases, presentations, videos, interactive whiteboards, productivity applications, web-based solutions, etc.

Education and Experience Requirements

• Bachelor's degree (Master’s degree preferred) from accredited college or university. 
• Valid Teacher Credential or ability to acquire a valid teaching credential. 
• Required endorsements or required training for subject and level assigned.

Physical and Mental Requirements

The physical demands described here are representative of those that must be met by an employee to successfully perform the essential functions of this job. While performing the duties of this job, the employee is required to:  

• spend the majority of the day standing in the classroom. While standing, the teacher will frequently hold light objects they are working and demonstrating, etc.  He or she must walk through the classroom and be able to maneuver in tight spaces between desks, etc. 
• kneel, squat, stoop, and bend at the waist on an occasional to frequent basis on a given day. 
• reach at, below, or above shoulder height with the dominant upper extremity and may require trunk or neck rotation to look back at the class.
• supervise playground duty, involving walking on even and uneven surfaces and assisting elementary-aged students on play structures.
• move classroom furniture to change the layout of the classroom to positively influence the learning environment. 
• occasionally lift and carry materials weighing up to 25 pounds 
• grasp and manipulate pens, markers, scissors, staplers, etc. with precision of fine motor skills.
• maintain high emotional energy and display enthusiasm for the subject matter and individual student effort.
• develop effective coping strategies for dealing with the fatigue and stress of ongoing involvement in teaching, supervising, and monitoring of students.

Reasonable accommodations may be made to enable qualified individuals with disabilities to perform the essential functions.

Certificates, Licenses, Clearances, Testing and/or Bonding Required

• This organization requires a successful candidate to provide it with employment eligibility and verification of a legal right to work in the United States in compliance with the Immigration Reform and Control Act.

• Must complete all background requirements prior to employment: live scan, acknowledgement of child abuse reporting responsibility, criminal record statement and receive satisfactory clearance from all licensing and investigative authorities. 
• Must pass health screening and TB skin test or chest x-ray.
• Valid certificate in CPR and pediatric first aid is preferred.

Yew Chung International School is committed to Equal Employment Opportunity and to attracting, retaining, developing and promoting the most qualified employees without regard to their race, color, national origin, creed, age, gender or disability or any other characteristic prohibited by state or local law.  We are dedicated to providing a work environment where employees are treated with respect and dignity.