English/Language Arts Teacher

Position Criteria:

• Valid Iowa teaching license with a 5-12 English/Language Arts endorsement required

Performance Responsibilities

Personal Performance Criteria

• Demonstrates positive interpersonal relationships and works cooperatively with students, parents and staff
• Contributes to creating a positive work environment
• Demonstrates integrity and respects confidentiality
• Takes advantage of professional growth opportunities related to his/her specific job
• Demonstrates ability to grasp and adjust to new and changing situations
• Demonstrates initiative and ability to work without close supervision
• Demonstrates an understanding and acceptance of diverse racial, ethnic, cultural, gender, special needs and religious groups
• Respects differing points of view
• Uses discretion in handling confidential information and situations
• Actively supports expectations of student behavior outside of the classroom during the school day
• Demonstrates a positive attitude and manages stress in a constructive manner

Professional Performance Criteria – Instructional Process

• Teaching to local curriculum standards
• Curriculum is presented from whole to part with an emphasis on what students should know and be able to do
• Communicates learning goals to students and parents
• Incorporates, on a regular basis, activities for students which require applications of learning
• Creates a classroom environment that promotes learning
• Establishes fair and appropriate classroom rules
• Corrects inappropriate behavior in an appropriate and timely manner
• Reinforces positive behaviors and is consistent in expectations concerning student behaviors
• Establishes and maintains rapport with students
• Demonstrates appropriate instructional preparation
• Uses knowledge of students to design educational experiences
• Has materials prepared prior to the beginning of class
• Lessons align with the district standards and assessments
• Designs lessons that are appropriate to age level and student interest
• Lesson design is logical and provides for a clearly understood flow of learning
• Designs educational experiences that utilize district provided technologies
• Uses instructional time effectively
• Both group and individual instruction are used on a regular basis with limited use of large group lecture
• Employs a variety of instructional techniques and strategies including multi-sensory approaches, appropriate questioning and modelling, role playing, self-teaching and activity-based learning
• Utilizes a variety of instructional resources outside of the textbook
• Classroom technology is an integrated part of the teaching and learning process
• Modifies lesson plans and instructional techniques as required by student learning needs
• Instructional techniques provide all students the opportunity to learn
• Instruction is free of cultural, religious, ethnic or gender bias
• Responds in a positive and constructive manner to student questions
• Provides students with opportunities for success
• Models and promotes honesty, respect for people and property, responsibility for personal and group actions, personal integrity and the value of hard work
• Uses assessment strategies to design effective instruction and intervention within a multi-tiered system of supports
• Assessments directly relate to core curricular concepts and are in integral part of teaching and learning
• Assessment of student progress includes both traditional and alternative assessment measures
• Assessment is interwoven with learning and occurs on an ongoing basis. Assessment is not solely an end product

Professional Responsibilities

• Demonstrates a commitment to professional growth
• Keeps current with appropriate teaching content and instructional techniques and strategies (e.g. participation in professional organizations, workshops, conferences, including the development of technology skills)
• Applies knowledge gained through professional growth to the classroom
• Contributes and participates in a positive manner to building and district professional growth opportunities
• Works collaboratively to select and implement building and district goals
• Remains informed on building and district policies and works cooperatively toward their implementation
• Participates, when appropriate, in curriculum development and building/district assignments
• Meets responsibilities beyond the school day related to school functions
• Maintains a professional appearance appropriate to job responsibilities
• Assumes leadership roles (committee participation, department chairs, curriculum review, etc.)

Terms of Employment: 194-day contract

District Statement

Johnston Community School District is an equal-opportunity affirmative-action employer. It is the policy of the District not to illegally discriminate on the basis of race, national origin, religion, creed, sex, disability, sexual orientation, gender identity, color, age, marital status in its employment and personnel practices. Johnston Community School District will provide reasonable accommodations to qualified individuals with disabilities.

There is a grievance procedure for processing complaints of discrimination. If you have questions or a grievance related to this policy, please contact the Director of Human Resources, 6510 NW 62nd Ave, Johnston, IA 50131, 515-278-0470.