Teacher, Science

Job Overview

The Teacher plans, designs, implements and assesses an appropriate instructional program in a middle school environment that guides and encourages a diverse group of students at all levels to develop and fulfill their academic potential. The Teacher designs learning experience, monitors student progress and presents the information to parents, develops assessments, creates and reinforces classroom expectations, works with school administration to prepare students for a variety of assessments, and manages students outside the classroom, such as in school hallways, field trips, etc.

At the middle school level, the Teacher may be assigned to teach students from sixth through eighth grade. The middle school students are transitioning into adolescence and need an environment that is challenging, equitable, empowering, and developmentally responsive. The Teacher helps students build on the fundamentals taught at the elementary level and prepares students for the variety of curriculum pathways available in high school.

The Teacher motivates students in the content and competencies of the specific subject area, creating learning experiences that are authentic, engaging, rigorous and relevant.

• Establish a safe and supportive environment that is conducive to learning and enables each student to demonstrate agency, ownership, and reflection.
• Design and implement authentic and engaging learning experiences using the Virginia Standards of Learning, LCPS curriculum, and effective strategies to maximize student achievement using a variety of instructional materials.
• Design authentic and engaging learning experiences using a variety of resources and technology to promote the development of critical thinking, collaboration, and problem solving.
• Personalize instruction based upon the needs of students and manage time to maximize student learning opportunities.
• Assess student growth as related to educational goals, objectives, and outcomes.
• Adhere to LCPS Assessment and Grading policy and guidelines.
• Analyze assessment data to inform instructional practices.
• Continuously communicate with students and parents/guardians to keep them informed of the students’ progress in meeting instructional objectives.
• Manage the behavior of learners in an instructional setting to ensure that the environment is conducive to learning; assist and participate in managing student behavior in other parts of the school, center, school grounds, or work site.
• Plan instructional activities with other professional staff, both school- and non-school-based, to maximize learning opportunities.
• Support colleagues, students, parents, and community stakeholders to promote student learning and mastery of content and competencies.
• Direct the work of teacher assistants, student teachers, and volunteers to provide an effective learning environment.
• Participate actively in the school’s professional learning community, as appropriate, to deepen the understanding of curriculum, content, and competencies and to create assessments that measure lesson/unit mastery.

• Bachelor’s degree from an accredited university or college
• Hold or be eligible for a Virginia teaching license in middle school with an endorsement in the appropriate subject area
• Demonstrated knowledge of subject content, curriculum, methodology of effective teaching
• Ability to apply knowledge of current research and theory to instructional programs
• Skilled in the use of multi‑media and computer technology to enhance learning
• Ability to establish and maintain effective collaborative relationships with students, peers, administrators, and parents
• Demonstrated skill in oral and written communication; excellent human relations skills

While performing the duties of this job, the employee regularly talks, expresses, or exchanges ideas by means of the spoken word. Those activities involve conveying detailed or important spoken instructions to other workers accurately, loudly, or quickly. The employee must possess normal cognitive abilities including the ability to learn, recall, and apply certain practices and policies. The position requires frequent sitting and/or remaining in a stationary position for long periods of time.

The employee may need to exert up to 25 pounds of force occasionally and, occasionally, to lift, carry, push, pull, or otherwise move objects.