Middle School CTE​/Career Exploration Teacher

Middle School CTE/Career Exploration Teacher

Job Title: Middle School Career and Technical Education (CTE) / Career Exploration Teacher
Reports To: Building Principal and/or Director of Career and Technical Education
Contract Length: 190 Days (or district contract length)
FLSA Status: Exempt
Position Summary

The Middle School CTE/Career Exploration Teacher provides students in grades 6-8 with engaging opportunities to explore careers, develop employability skills, and build awareness of Career and Technical Education pathways. The teacher designs and delivers hands-on, project-based learning experiences that connect academic content to real-world careers and workforce demands while helping students develop a personal plan for future educational and career success.
Essential Duties and Responsibilities
Instruction and Student Learning

• Develop and deliver standards-aligned career exploration curriculum for middle school students.
• Introduce students to a wide variety of career clusters, occupations, and postsecondary opportunities.
• Utilize project-based learning, career simulations, hands-on activities, and technology integration to engage students.
• Teach employability skills including communication, teamwork, problem-solving, leadership, professionalism, and digital citizenship.
• Assist students in identifying personal interests, strengths, aptitudes, and career goals.
• Support students in developing Individual Career and Academic Plans (ICAPs) or other state-required career planning documents.
• Integrate career awareness activities across academic disciplines when appropriate.

Program Development

• Promote awareness of district CTE pathways and programs of study.
• Coordinate career-focused events such as career fairs, guest speakers, industry tours, and job-shadowing opportunities.
• Build partnerships with local businesses, industries, community organizations, and postsecondary institutions.
• Maintain current knowledge of workforce trends, high-demand occupations, and regional labor market needs.
• Collaborate with high school CTE instructors to create alignment between middle school exploration and secondary pathways.

Student Support

• Encourage students to explore a variety of career interests without limiting future opportunities.
• Support students in setting educational and career goals.
• Foster positive student engagement, responsibility, and workplace readiness behaviors.
• Maintain accurate student records and documentation related to career exploration activities.

Professional Responsibilities

• Participate in professional learning related to career education, workforce development, and instructional best practices.
• Collaborate with counselors, administrators, teachers, and community partners to support student success.
• Comply with district policies, state regulations, and CTE program requirements.
• Perform other duties as assigned by the principal or district administration.

Qualifications
Required

• Valid Arkansas teaching license (or ability to obtain appropriate licensure).
• Bachelor's degree from an accredited institution.
• Demonstrated ability to work effectively with middle school students.
• Strong communication, organizational, and technology skills.

Preferred

• Experience in Career and Technical Education, workforce development, counseling, or career readiness programs.
• Knowledge of Career Clusters, Programs of Study, and state CTE requirements.
• Experience developing business and community partnerships.
• Familiarity with project-based learning and career assessment tools.

Knowledge, Skills, and Abilities

• Knowledge of career development concepts and workforce readiness skills.
• Ability to create engaging, hands-on learning experiences.
• Ability to establish positive relationships with students, staff, families, and community partners.
• Ability to analyze student interests and assist with educational and career planning.
• Strong presentation and facilitation skills.
• Proficiency with instructional technology and career exploration platforms.

Physical Requirements

• Ability to perform duties associated with classroom instruction.
• Ability to supervise students in classroom, community, and career exploration settings.
• Ability to travel locally for career-related activities and partnerships when required.

Evaluation

Performance will be evaluated in accordance with district policy and the district's teacher evaluation system.