To promote and advance the district mission, "Challenging all Students to Grow and Excel." To promote high student achievement. Duties may include, but not be limited to: Meets and instructs assigned classes in the locations and at the times designated. Develops and maintains a classroom environment conducive to effective learning. Requires students to maintain standards of classroom behavior. Understands, upholds, and enforces school rules, administrative regulations, Board Policy, and federal, state, and local law. Demonstrates responsibility for student progress. Works with prior grade or class teachers to identify specific needs of each assigned student and identifies appropriate instructional strategies to meet those needs. Demonstrates knowledge and understanding of age-appropriate student developmental and psychological needs. Demonstrates knowledge of the cognitive and affective needs of students of poverty, diversity, and special needs. Develops challenging, age-appropriate, and engaging instruction that encourages higher-order thinking. Prepares for classes assigned and shows written evidence of preparation of lesson plans, which include linking classroom objectives to Indiana Academic Standards or Common Core Standards. Uses end-of-year and quarterly/semester assessments to identify students with performance gaps. Employs appropriate research-based best-practice and district standard practice techniques consistent with the needs of individual students or student groups. Utilizes a variety of formative (short-cycle) and summative student performance assessment strategies to systematically monitor student progress. Provides timely performance feedback to students. Collaborates with other members of the staff in reviewing and analyzing performance data and planning instructional goals and strategies to meet the learning needs of all students. Demonstrates competence in the application of differentiated instruction, mastery learning, and in designing meaningful student learning activities. Is available to students and parents for education-related purposes outside the regular workday when requested to do so under reasonable terms. Communicates effectively, appropriately, and in a timely manner with parents, students, staff members, and administrators. Works cooperatively and collaboratively with faculty, staff, and administrators. Assists other teachers in learning best practices through modeling and teamwork. Attends and participates in faculty, grade level, department, and other school district meetings. Maintains accurate, complete, and correct electronic records as required by law, district policy, and administrative regulation. Assists in the selection of books, equipment, and other instructional materials. Accepts and shares team/committee leadership responsibilities and supports team recommendations and decisions. Adheres to the standards, dispositions, knowledge, and performances developed by the Indiana Professional Standards Board pertaining to the areas of certification. Demonstrates continuous professional growth through a program of collaboration, independent study, and/or advanced coursework at institutions of higher learning. Participates in and supports student achievement improvement initiatives. Contributes to the School Improvement and Accountability Plan. Completes required reports or electronic information/data entry in a timely manner (e.g., assessments, report cards, grades, attendance, progress reports, etc.). Takes all necessary and reasonable precautions to protect students, equipment, materials, and facilities. Maintains punctuality by arriving at school each day by the appointed time. Demonstrates professionalism in conduct, speech, and dress. Completes other tasks as assigned by the superintendent or principal. Teachers with Instructional Assistants In conjunction with the Instructional Assistant, the teacher(s) with whom the Instructional Assistant works will develop a schedule describing the type of educationally-related activities in which the Instructional Assistant will engage and the duration of the activities. By the end of the first week of school, the schedule will be presented to the principal for approval.