Teacher Middle School Instructors (Social Studies, Science, Language Arts, Math)
Job Description
ASPEN ACADEMY
Teacher Job Description
Aspen Academy prepares students to enter, succeed in, and graduate from outstanding high schools. Aspen Academy is committed to providing an intentionally diverse student body an outstanding liberal arts education with a focus on advanced performance within the framework of an individualized education, leadership, character development, and service learning.
Employees hold primary responsibility for the implementation and development of Aspen Academy’s curriculum and success of its students. Employees play an integral role as leaders in the school community.
Overview
- Demonstrate a relentless drive to improve the minds and lives of students in and out of school
- To model the school’s core values with colleagues, students, parents, and larger community
- To reinforce the school’s core values, guiding philosophy, rules, and school spirit consistently throughout the school environment and support and hold accountable colleagues in doing the same.
Classroom Teaching
- To teach assigned classes
- Exhibit mastery and enthusiasm for the assigned academic subjects and classes;
- To plan and implement an appropriately focused and balanced curriculum for each student which adhere to the school’s curriculum and standards.
- To prepare and develop activities, materials and lessons to meet the learning objectives (skills and content) of the curriculum and standards.
- To develop and maintain a well-managed classroom where 100% of the students are engaged, consistently challenged, and supported. Classroom policies should be consistent with school policies.
- To integrate technology into daily classroom teaching and student learning.
- To decorate classrooms appropriately and to keep it clean, neat and presentable.
- Engage families in their children’s education and to communicate regularly and effectively with students and families.
- Full use of school prescribed instructional methodologies including Individualized Education based on multiple intelligences assessments, student interest assessments and ability levels in each subject, Socratic Instruction, Inquiry Based Instruction, Contextual Instruction, Differentiated Instruction, and Flexible Grouping.
Curriculum and Assessment
- To assist in the on-going development of the school’s curriculum and core performance standards.
- Annually: Submit a Unit Pacing Plan to your Director
- Monthly (approximately): Submit Unit Study Plans and Self-Assessment Rubric to Director for each unit taught and post the unit to LMS. Update class portfolio and submit to Director monthly.
- Weekly: Update all LMS aspects: Homework, Class Announcements, Pictures, Gradebook, etc. by every Monday at noon.
- Implement a variety of assessments that measure progress towards academic standards.
- Use assessment data to refine curriculum and instructional practices to help meet the school’s performance standards and expectations
- To provide a written Personal Instruction Profile in the fall, narrative report cards two times a year for each child in ECE-8th grade and two mid-term grade reports for each child in 2nd -8th.
- To teach and guide students to develop and maintain a student portfolio monthly. Students will present their completed portfolios to their parents in January and June of each year.
- To inform the your director of significant academic, behavioral, or personal difficulties that arises with students.
- To appropriately prepare students for testing and implement the school’s internal and external assessment program.
School Life
- To reinforce the school’s core values and policies inside and outside the classroom.
- To fulfill assigned monitoring duties (i.e., recess, lunch duty, etc.)
- To lead and/or participate in assemblies, student events, and school events.
- To plan, prepare and lead a before or after school enrichment activity for Aspen Academy Students (club, athletic activity, etc.)
- To sponsor or co-sponsor a parent education seminar in an area of your expertise.
- To serve on a Professional Learning Community as they opportunity arises.
- To promote and maintain a supportive and positive relationship with all students and families you serve.
Professional Development
- To devote the necessary time and energy required to master the craft of teaching.
- To demonstrate initiative and evidence personal initiative with regard to your professional development towards becoming a national model Employee.
- To be open to and enthusiastically involved in innovative approaches to teaching, feedback from colleagues and school administration.
- To actively participate in the school’s professional development programs.
Other Professional Responsibilities
- To participate actively in the school’s faculty meetings and professional learning communities.
- To be punctual to all professional obligations
- To conduct oneself and dress in a professional manner.
- To apply for professional and instructional awards and grants that would support your own professional development, your classroom’s resources or activities.
Adhere to the following Core Competencies
Core Competencies
Team Contributor
To be a successful and valuable team contributor at Aspen Academy, an individual must work effectively with colleagues and show respect for self and others. It means putting the school’s objectives ahead of personal agenda as well as valuing and encouraging differences to collectively strengthen and gain advantage from differences for the whole school. Additionally, team contributors continuously look for ways to make Aspen Academy a fun place to be for themselves and others.
Communication
Basic to all behavior and performance is good communication. Aspen Academy Faculty, Staff and Administration must communicate facts effectively and clearly, expressing oneself both orally and in writing. This includes listening carefully and attentively as well as being open to and actively soliciting information. It means communicating clearly with others to make sure that relevant parties are fully informed and passing on information at timely intervals.
Leadership
Leadership is key to individual and school success. This requires each individual to take initiative and function as a leader. All must understand that example is the most effective mode of teaching and treat change as opportunity for growth and mistakes as learning opportunities.
Organizational Acumen
To help Aspen Academy grow and become a national model school, it is imperative for all Faculty, Staff and Administration to “think” and understand Aspen Academy’s culture and business. It means demonstrating an understanding of the “big picture,” as well as understanding the academic community and Aspen Academy’s specific competitors. This also includes consistently acting in ways that support the overall success of the school.
Student and Family Focus
All Aspen Academy Faculty, Staff and Administration will build solid relationships internally and externally and demonstrate superior client service. This includes keeping in close touch with the needs and perspectives of our families and students, anticipating those needs, and delivering on the commitments that serve them and benefit Aspen Academy.
Results Focused
Aspen Academy Faculty, Staff and Administration must accept accountability for results, take initiative, and identify and overcome obstacles. Critical to this is an understanding of the importance of building effectiveness based on doing what is right for the students and school. Toward this goal, each individual must demonstrate an entrepreneurial spirit which includes seeking, gathering, and analyzing relevant data and making sound decisions. It includes seeing and acting on opportunities as well as taking needed risks and practicing continuous process improvement.
Domain Expertise
Faculty, Staff and Administration of Aspen Academy are expected to demonstrate expertise and talent in a specific role or discipline or combination of disciplines. They are encouraged to develop these skills in self and other and look for ways to innovate.
Domain Expertise for teaching at Aspen Academy is outlined by the following standards:
Standard 1: Demonstrates ability to enhance academic performance and support for implementation of the school’s student achievement goals.
- Provides evidence of student learning to students, families, and staff.
- Implements strategies supporting student, building, and school goals.
- Uses student performance data as a guide for decision-making.
- Accepts and demonstrates responsibility for creating a classroom culture that supports the learning of every student.
- Creates an environment of mutual respect, rapport, and fairness.
- Participates in and contributes to a school culture that focuses on improved student learning.
- Communicates with students, families, colleagues, and communities effectively and accurately.
Standard 2: Demonstrates competence in content knowledge appropriate to the teaching position.
- Understands and uses key concepts, underlying themes, relationships, and different perspectives related to the content area.
- Uses knowledge of student development to make learning experiences in the content area meaningful and accessible for every student.
- Relates ideas and information within and across content areas.
- Understands and uses instructional strategies that are appropriate to the content area.
Standard 3: Demonstrates competence in planning and preparing for instruction.
- Uses student achievement data, local and national standards, and the school curriculum in planning for instruction.
- Sets and communicates high expectations for social, behavioral, and academic success of all students.
- Uses student’s developmental needs, backgrounds, and interests in planning for instruction.
- Selects strategies to engage all students in learning.
- Uses available resources, including technologies, in the development and sequencing of instruction.
Standard 4: Uses strategies to deliver instruction that meets the multiple learning needs and styles of students.
- Aligns classroom instruction with local standards and school curriculum.
- Uses research-based instructional strategies that address the full range of cognitive levels.
- Demonstrates flexibility and responsiveness in adjusting instruction to meet student needs.
- Engages students in varied experiences that meet diverse needs and promote social, emotional, and academic growth.
- Connects students’ prior knowledge, life experiences, and interests in the instructional process.
- Uses available resources, including technologies, in the delivery of instruction.
Standard 5: Uses a variety of methods to monitor student learning.
- Aligns classroom assessment with instruction.
- Communicates assessment criteria and standards to all students and parents.
- Understands and uses the results of multiple assessment tools to guide planning and instruction.
- Guides students in goal setting and assessing their own learning.
- Provides substantive, timely, and constructive feedback to students and parents.
- Works with other staff and school leadership in analysis of student progress.
Standard 6: Demonstrates competence in classroom management.
- Creates a learning community that encourages positive social interaction, active engagement, and self-regulation for every student.
- Establishes, communicates, models, and maintains standards of responsible student behavior.
- Develops and implements classroom procedures and routines that support high expectations for student learning.
- Uses instructional time effectively to maximize student achievement.
- Creates a safe and purposeful learning environment.
Standard 7: Engages in professional growth.
- Demonstrates habits and skills of continuous inquiry and learning.
- Works collaboratively to improve professional practice and student learning.
- Applies research, knowledge, and skills from professional development opportunities to improve practice.
- Establishes and implements professional development plans based upon the Employee’s needs aligned to Aspen Academy’s student achievement goals.
Standard 8: Fulfills professional responsibilities established by the school.
- Adheres to board policies, school procedures, and contractual obligations.
- Demonstrates professional and ethical conduct as defined by state law and school policy.
- Contributes to efforts to achieve school goals.
- Demonstrates an understanding of and respect for all learners and staff.
- Collaborates with students, families, colleagues, and communities to enhance student learning.
Is an active leader in developing and managing programs, initiating important improvements in academic, character, leadership and community development programs, policies and procedure.
