Academic Teacher

Summary

The Academic Teacher will provide social, moral, and academic opportunities for learning. The teacher will maintain a close working relationship with the educational staff and communicate with and work cooperatively with childcare and social work staff to ensure optimal direct supervision of all students.

This position requires no less than a Bachelor’s Degree in education from an accredited college or university. A current special education license to teach at the middle and secondary education levels with endorsements for and experience with working with learning disabled, emotionally and intellectually disabled and other “at‑risk” students is preferred. The teacher must be able to demonstrate the professional ability to deal effectively with a wide range of student dysfunctional behaviors and academic deficiencies, with students ages 12-17.

Essential duties include the following. Other duties may be assigned as needed.

• Develops good professional relationships with all students to help them with school concerns, adjustment problems, making effective life decisions, setting sound, realistic goals.
• Develop lesson plans for each course taught being respectful of the instructional needs of all students enrolled in each course and of the curricular/Standards of Learning objectives.
• Supplies students with course assignments and educational activities that are appropriate for their individual level of achievement as well as the course’s curricular/Standards of Learning objectives.
• Maintains accurate student performance data, grades, etc. for all courses taught.
• Assess and reviews student records to understand the instructional levels of all students enrolled in every course taught.
• Commitment to follow all IEP/504 Plan accommodations and work collaboratively with the leadership team to ensure IEP goals are measured and data is collected every interim and nine‑week reporting period.
• Communicates with appropriate Hope Tree staff on students' behavioral and academic performances as required or requested.
• Arranges and supervises field trips for courses taught, as well as chaperones other reward or field trips as requested.
• Chairs or participates on educational committees as requested.
• Attends training or workshops to enhance abilities and as required for re‑certification. The teacher will seek to obtain at minimum 36 professional development hours per year.
• Strives to keep the teacher's office, his/her classroom(s), library, and lab(s) organized, clean, and conducive to learning.
• Uses innovative procedures as well as original and creative thinking that enables students to engage in the learning process and accomplish desired educational goals.
• Employs problem solving solutions in given classroom settings and is willing to gather necessary data to make required curricular and/or student management decisions.
• Establishes and utilizes appropriate planning strategies and priorities in carrying out his/her job responsibilities throughout each school day and the school year.
• Accepts consequences for actions. Prompt in meeting deadlines and following through on student educational plans, communications with Hope Tree residential staff and social workers, school systems, and other community agencies when necessary.
• Ability to work with supervisors, subordinates, and fellow educators to accomplish desired results, utilizing tact, cooperation, teamwork, and communication skills; keeping appropriate people informed; compliant and supportive of established policies and procedures; understanding and supportive of the Hope Tree mission.
• Responsible for managing the classroom setting, which includes the supervision of teachers’ assistants and the consultation, suggestions, etc. given to them to optimize their educational performance.
• Commitment to living Hope Tree’s core values (Ministry, People, Stewardship, Excellence, and Accountability) and ensuring all Academy staff do the same.
• Commitment to implement Trust Based Relational Intervention (TBRI) strategies throughout the school day with students to ensure we have given students every opportunity to make good decisions.
• Establishes and utilizes appropriate priorities in carrying out his/her job.
• The teacher must demonstrate the ability to represent Hope Tree Family Services to the community at large in a positive manner.