Teacher

Responsibilities

The following outlines the general tasks a teacher will be required to perform and be evaluated upon:

Leadership

• Consistently exhibit the fruit of the Spirit, spiritual maturity, and Christian character before students, parents, and the school community.
• Exhibit humility and grace in leading the class and model repentance.
• Actively and joyfully participate in Matins, staff meetings, and school assemblies.
• Seek biblical solutions to problems with empathy and grace; humbly listen to, consider, and respect the positions of others (students, parents, administration, and colleagues).
• Understand the purpose and culture of The Academy while striving to uphold, build up, and contribute to its mission and vision.

Professionalism

• Demonstrate a biblical approach to work in all areas, including punctuality, attitude, speech, appearance, and attention to duties.
• Refrain from engaging in casual social contact with any parent or teacher of the opposite sex.
• Grow in understanding and application of classical and Christian principles of education.
• Pursue and nurture personal spiritual growth.
• Maintain an open and trusting relationship with administration and peers while addressing concerns in a manner consistent with the Academy Relational Covenant (believing the best about others; talk to and not about each other; stand shoulder to shoulder).
• Adapt with flexibility, open-mindedness, calmness, and optimism to necessary changes (e.g., curriculum, facility needs, class structure, scheduling).
• Interact with administration, colleagues, parents, and students with patience, tolerance, empathy, and humor to maintain positive relationships.
• Attend mandatory in-service/staff meetings; participate in teacher mentoring opportunities and other mandatory attendance events.
• Understand that you may occasionally be asked to combine classes (elementary) or step in as a substitute (all grades) in the event of last-minute, unexpected staffing needs.

Pedagogical

Classroom Management

• Set up simple, manageable class routines to accomplish basic tasks, such as homework collection, materials storage, and distribution.
• Enforce classroom and school discipline policies to provide an orderly atmosphere of mutual respect.
• Be prepared to apply consistently both the letter and spirit of the school rules, training children to joyfully obey them.
• Ensure that students understand what is expected of them and display an acceptable degree of self-discipline.

Planning and Communication

• Create weekly grammar school lesson plans that are clearly written and turned in on time each week.
• Make good and wise use of approved curriculum guides and blueprints while skillfully moving students toward mastering learning objectives.
• Prepare necessary materials for a substitute teacher.
• Ensure weekly and quarterly plans reflect creativity and a good use of class time.
• Maintain communication with “specials” teachers (art, music, language, etc.) and express to students that these subjects are equal in importance to other subjects.
• Communicate well and often with parents, providing friendly and constructive updates/feedback that expresses empathy and respect in written and verbal communication.
• Encourage parental involvement and feedback, communicating that the partnership between teachers and parents in teaching children is highly valued.
• Emphasize getting to know families well and letting them know what is happening in the class; parents should feel welcome to visit and assist in the classroom.

Learning Environment

• Maintain a neat, organized, clean, and stimulating classroom environment for students, decorated in accordance with aesthetic guidelines and used in its entirety to engage students with material.

Lesson Presentation

• Be thoroughly informed and knowledgeable about the subjects assigned to teach, reflecting interest in each subject and using mimetic instruction consistently and appropriately.
• In Grammar School, subjects generally include: Bible, mathematics, phonics, literature, spelling, grammar, handwriting, writing, science, and history. In Upper School, teachers generally focus on their areas of specialty.
• Articulate a Biblical worldview and apply biblical truth to relevant situations, communicating the relevance of God to all areas of knowledge; teach subjects in a manner consistent with the biblical narrative of redemption.
• Use classical teaching methods appropriate to students’ age.
• Encourage students to see how all subjects are interrelated as parts of God’s integrated universe, using clear language and age-appropriate vocabulary.
• Memorize all Bible verses, chronologies, jingles, songs, chants, catechism answers, etc., required of the students (this may be done over a reasonable amount of time).
• Use clear language, appropriate vocabulary, and correct grammar and spelling in all lesson presentations.
• Employ a variety of teaching methods consistent with the relevant stage of the Trivium, including but not limited to: comprehension checks; rephrasing of concepts by students; inductive questioning; recitations, chants, songs, acronyms, summaries, reviews; illustrations, applications, and demonstrations.
• Utilize the objectives, materials, priorities, and methods prescribed in the curriculum guide, encouraging students to see how all subjects are interrelated.
• Observe common teaching and reinforcement practices to promote student success.
• Regularly check for comprehension; do not assume students understand new ideas/terms.
• Ask students to rephrase materials in their own words.
• Begin with a review of familiar material before introducing new concepts.

Student Learning

• Enable students to grow by providing classroom opportunities for prayer, worship, fellowship, and teaching of God’s Word.
• Take reasonable measures to stimulate and maintain students’ interest in the material while recognizing and reasonably compensating for the needs of individual students.
• Confirm that students are making reasonable progress toward curriculum objectives.
• Measure students’ progress using a variety of formal and informal means, including quizzes, tests, proficiency exams, games, drills, and contests.

Qualifications

Education & Experience

• Bachelor’s degree or higher.
• Classroom teaching experience strongly recommended.
• Knowledge of Classical Christian education strongly recommended.

Physical Requirements

• Able to sit, talk, hear, and maintain awareness of visitors to the classroom.
• Able to lift up to 30 lbs.
• Able to stand for extended periods of time as needed.
• Able to work at a desk and computer for extended periods of time as needed.
• Able to turn, bend, reach, and occasionally use a ladder if needed.