West MS Teacher (8th Gr ELA/SS)-26/27

Middle School Teacher

The Middle School teacher is responsible for planning and delivering a high-quality educational program to meet children's academic and social-emotional needs. The Teacher prepares and provides developmentally appropriate educational instruction, assessments, and evaluation for students. Furthermore, the Teacher coordinates and schedules classroom or individual instruction catered to meet the specific goals for the child in a safe and caring environment.

Essential Duties and Responsibilities

1. Instructional Planning

• Adapt teaching methods and instructional materials to meet students' varying needs and interests.
• Plan and conduct activities for a balanced program of instruction, demonstration, and work time that provides students with opportunities to observe, question, and investigate.
• Confer with other staff members to plan and schedule lessons promoting learning, following approved curricula.
• Plan lessons according to the district pacing guide. Use resources, tools, and other instructional materials to guide each lesson according to district pacing guide.

1. Student Instruction

• Prepare students for later grades by encouraging them to explore learning opportunities and to persevere with challenging tasks.
• Establish clear objectives for all lessons, units, and projects, and communicate these objectives to students.
• Guide and counsel students with adjustment or academic problems, or special academic interests.
• Use computers, audio-visual aids, and other equipment and materials to supplement presentations.
• Heighten student engagement in order to create an environment where students are able to focus on the content and grow as a learner.

1. Classroom Management

• Create an effective, safe, and caring learning environment.
• Ensure students follow all classroom and school rules and know the procedures for fire drills, shelter-in-place, and lock downs.
• Establish and enforce rules for behavior and procedures for maintaining order among students.
• Use the principles of PBIS to set expectations and consequences across grade levels.

1. Assessment

• Observe and evaluate students' performance, behavior, social development, and physical health.
• Differentiate instruction based on findings from formative assessments.
• Maintain accurate, complete, and correct student records as required by laws, district policies, and administrative regulations.
• Administer standardized ability and achievement tests and interpret results to determine student strengths and areas of need.
• Prepare, administer, and grade tests and assignments to evaluate students' progress.

1. Communication

• Confer, meet or correspond with parents or guardians, other teachers, counselors, and administrators to resolve students' behavioral and academic problems, discuss student's progress and to determine priorities and resource needs.
• Send regular newsletters, calendars, or flyers so families are aware of events and important dates.
• Schedule conferences as needed throughout the year for students who are struggling.

1. Professional Development

• Attend professional meetings, educational conferences, and teacher training workshops to maintain and improve professional competencies
• Collaborate with other teachers and administrators in the development, evaluation, and revision of middle school programs.
• Establish professional growth plan in collaboration with principal or his/her designee, and meet biannually to share updates on progress.
• Participate in all grade-level professional learning meetings and activities.

1. Other

• Ensure safety of students, taking all necessary and reasonable precautions to protect students, equipment, materials, and facilities.
• Demonstrates sound judgement, emotional stability, a positive attitude and works and communicates well with others.
• Attend meetings (IEP, staff, content area, grade level, etc.) as required.
• Promote the school community by participating and attending activities such as grade level dances, field trips, and extracurriculars.
• Monitor hallways, bus pick up and drop off, and/or parent pick up and drop off as needed.

Competencies

Success in this position requires the following knowledge, skills and abilities:

Knowledge

• Knowledge of principles and methods for curriculum and training design, teaching and instruction for individuals and groups, and the measurement of training effects.
• Knowledge of human behavior and performance; individual differences in ability, personality, and interests; learning and motivation; psychological research methods; and the assessment and treatment of behavioral and affective disorders.

Skills

• Skilled in selecting and using training/instructional methods and procedures appropriate for the situation when learning or teaching new things.
• Skilled in giving full attention to what other people are saying, taking time to understand the points being made, asking questions as appropriate, and not interrupting at inappropriate times.
• Skilled in managing one's own time and the time of others.

Abilities

• Ability to communicate information and ideas in speaking so others will understand.
• Ability to create a safe and respectful classroom while maintaining high interest levels in the classroom.
• Ability to tell when something is wrong or is likely to go wrong.
• Ability to adapt and response to changing situations and environments, as well as the needs of each individual student.

Minimum Qualifications

• Bachelor's Degree in Education.
• Valid Ohio teaching certification.
• Proper certification in designated subject area.
• 4-9 dual licensure preferred.

Physical Demands and Working Conditions

• Regularly required to speak and hear.
• Required to have dexterity of hands and fingers.
• Specific vision abilities required include close vision and ability to adjust focus.
• Required to sit or stand for extended periods of time.
• Occasionally required to bend at the waist, kneel or crouch.
• Occasionally asked to push, pull, lift, or carry under 25 pounds.
• Occasional interaction among unruly children.
• The physical demands described here are a representative of those that must be met by an employee to successfully perform the essential functions of this job. Reasonable accommodations will be made to enable individuals with disabilities to perform the essential functions.

Terms of Employment

This job description summary does not imply that these are the only duties to be performed. This job description is subject to change in response to funding variables, emerging technologies, improved operating procedures, productivity factors, and unforeseen events.

The Teays Valley Local School District is an equal opportunity employer offering employment without regard to race, color, religion, sex, national origin, age, or disability.