GRCMS Spanish Immersion Teacher (5th-8th grade) & Program Coordinator

POSITION TITLE: GRCMS Spanish Immersion Teacher (5th–8th grade) & Program Coordinator

BUILDING: Grand Rapids Christian Middle School

CONTRACT: 1.0 FTE

REPORTS TO: Building Principal

COORDINATES WITH: K–4 & 9–12 SI Coordinator(s), Spanish Immersion teachers, Administrative team, Grade level teachers, Learning Commons/Tech staff

The middle school Spanish Immersion Teacher and Coordinator is responsible for communicating and executing the vision of Spanish Immersion in each building. Because GRCS believes in distributed leadership to move the SI program forward, the SI Coordinator is a member of the district wide SI PLT that works collectively to ensure vertical alignment in vision of program, curriculum, program development, and student and parent communication.

The teacher also teaches Advanced Spanish courses to students in grades 5-8, as well as teaches Bible in Spanish to 6th grade SI students.

• Each SI coordinator serves on the district wide PLT to ensure vertical alignment in vision of program, curriculum, program development, and student and parent communication. The SI Coordinator will work collectively with other coordinators to learn deeply about best practices, to assess our current reality, to identify potential barriers to change, to provide clarity that builds staff consensus and ownership, and to identify/prioritize steps to reallocate resources so our SI program thrives.

• Delivering an appropriate yet challenging Spanish language curriculum to the SI students to help them to continue to grow in their Spanish proficiency levels on the ACTFL proficiency scale to meet or exceed grade level expectations and to prepare them for high school courses.

• The SI Coordinator takes the lead in writing/revising/aligning curriculum in her/his building in coordination with the district.

• Initiatives/assignments can include, but aren’t limited to, SI Chapel, field trips, service opportunities, student exchange programs, celebrations, etc.

• The SI Coordinator commits to professional growth by visiting model schools/programs, attending and presenting at conferences, creating an online presence, creating/strengthening community partnerships, facilitating learning labs, and becoming a member of professional organizations.

• The SI Coordinator advocates for SI students and works closely with the building principal to oversee program details such as budget, policies, and educational support.

• A valid state teaching certificate with an endorsement in Spanish and Bilingual Education
• Professional-level proficiency in Spanish and English, including strong oral and written communication skills in both languages
• Specialized experience in language immersion pedagogy

• Disciple of Christ
• Culturally Competent Professional
• Thoughtful Neighbor
• Justice Seeker
• Creative Solution Finder
• Lifelong Explorer
• Communicator and Collaborator