Job Description
PreK 4 Teacher Two Rivers Public Charter School - 3.5 Washington, DC Job Details Full-time $66,173 - $106,668 a year 15 hours ago Qualifications Parent-teacher conferences (communication methods) Full Job Description PreK 4 Teacher Background Two Rivers Public Charter School serves a diverse group of learners across three locations in Wards 5 and 6. Staff at Two Rivers create an exciting educational environment in which students and staff become a community of learners on a journey of discovery. Two Rivers uses the EL Education model, emphasizing interactive, hands-on, project-based learning. The school focuses on the whole child, recognizing the importance of character education and the social-emotional needs of children while helping them achieve academic excellence. The Two Rivers staff shares a strong belief that all children can learn and be high achievers. The curriculum at Two Rivers is rigorous, and standards-based, and provides opportunities for students to excel in all areas. An integrated arts program and a content-based Spanish program augment the school's demanding academic program. These elements come together through learning modules that allow students to incorporate and apply their classroom learning through real-world experiences. The mission of Two Rivers is to nurture a diverse group of students to become lifelong, active participants in their own education, develop a sense of self and community and become responsible and compassionate members of society. The Early Childhood Education (ECE) Classroom Teacher is responsible for teaching all core academic disciplines including language arts, social studies, science, and mathematics. This job description is meant to provide structure to the responsibilities and accountability of this position. There may be additional responsibilities that a teacher undertakes or that are assigned as the needs of students and the school arise. Classroom Teachers report to the Principal. This is a 10.5-month position which is exempt and therefore not eligible for overtime pay under the provisions of the Fair Labor Standards Act.
Responsibilities:
Planning and Preparation Implement the principles and components of Expeditionary Learning and the Responsive Classroom model. Teachers in their first year at Two Rivers commit to learning these models by attending new staff orientation in the summer and a new teacher professional development series held throughout the year. Teach grade-level content and skills anchored by authentic and well-designed lessons, meaningful fieldwork, and service opportunities. Plan challenging and engaging lessons and experiences designed to help students achieve content and curriculum standards for their grade level (outlined in TR Curriculum Frameworks). Ensure that lessons have multiple entry points and support structures so that children with different abilities and learning styles are successful. Work with inclusion staff to plan for and meet the needs of students with Individual Education Plans (IEPs) and Multilingual Learners. Differentiate instruction and provide accommodations and supports as needed. Actively seek to improve knowledge and skills to better address the needs of special education students and Multilingual Learners. Consistently utilize the additional adults in the room (ie, assistant teacher, special education teacher, volunteers) to support individuals and groups within the instructional model and to maximize student engagement. Implement a structured literacy program that includes the use of TR-provided high-quality curricular materials and structured, explicit, and systematic literacy instruction covering the five areas of literacy as outlined by the National Reading Panel:
Phonemic Awareness, Phonics, Fluency, Vocabulary, and Comprehension. Work to help plan, develop, and refine a grade-level curriculum that addresses both local and national standards and motivates student learning. Implement a balanced mathematics program that includes daily instruction and practice in arithmetic. Implement the provided Math curriculum. Incorporate diversity, equity, and inclusion instruction and multicultural content into the curriculum throughout the year. Implement Second Step as a curricular tool for social-emotional learning. Develop and revise clear criteria and standards for quality work. Regularly examine student work to ensure that it meets EL Education's three dimensions of student achievement: High-Quality Work, Mastery of Knowledge and Skills, and Character. Create student document panels, displaying student work and documenting the process leading to mastery. Involve students in developing and creating displays. Plan and execute Celebrations of Learning at least two times per year, providing students with an opportunity to share their work with an audience of parents, other students, and community members. Learning Environment Create and maintain a physically and emotionally safe environment for students. Communicate respectfully to all community members at all times. Model, practice, and discuss respectful, unbiased, and effective communication with students, colleagues, and families. Teach and establish classroom routines and introduce students to the routine of a school day including but not limited to transitions, choice time, meal times, and personal hygiene. Implement established nap time routines and procedures and supervise children during nap time to ensure safety and comfort. Involve students in creating classroom rules. Establish and consistently apply logical consequences. Collaborate with all adults in the classroom (e.g., assistant teacher, special educators, dedicated aides) and co-plan to support individuals and groups to maximize student support, engagement, and learning outcomes. Uphold and support the school-wide discipline policies. Document infractions according to the discipline policies and seek help and support from colleagues and administrators when discipline concerns arise. Engage students in age-appropriate discussions of diversity. Use student observations, questions, actions, and reactions as teachable moments to explore diversity. Learning Experiences In keeping with Two Rivers' Core Value, "Learn Better Together", utilize play-based lessons as the main format for instruction, including whole group, small group, and centers time. Implement Two Rivers ECE assessments. Support family administration of the universal Child Find program. Conduct ongoing assessments of student work using multiple assessment tools including anecdotal records, performance assessments with rubrics, and individualized assessments as appropriate. Use assessment data to plan for instruction and to set short and long-range goals. Regularly analyze student data to improve instruction, ensure equity, and make program recommendations and improvements. Principled Teaching Participate in weekly professional development (scheduled for Wednesdays from 2:00 p.m. - 5:00 p.m.) and contribute to sessions by sharing ideas, student data, and artifacts, offering feedback, and facilitating sessions or discussions, as needed. Participate in weekly common planning times with the grade level team and other grade level planning meetings. Participate in peer observation using protocols established and agreed upon by staff. Participate in August Orientation, based on the agreed-upon schedule. Seek out additional opportunities for professional development that will lead to achieving personal and school-wide professional development goals. Meet with families as requested to share information about student progress. Contact families immediately when concerns arise about student performance, work completion, or behavior. Involve family volunteers in the classroom in ways that meet the needs of the class and utilize the strengths, talents, and interests of the volunteers. Keep families informed about classroom activities and units of study through ongoing communication and regular updates. Hold family conferences based on the schedule determined by the principal. Support families in understanding the instructional approach at Two Rivers through regular communication. Assist with planning and facilitating at least one family event per year. Other Professional Responsibilities Maintain accurate and timely records of student attendance, academic performance (all courses), and behavior incidents. Four times per year, use student records and assessments to create progress reports and report cards, including writing comments for students' grades as required. Update student grades bi-weekly using assessment data to share with school teams, students and families. Two Rivers expects all full-time employees to work a 40-hour work week, in accordance with the hours outlined in their offer letters. School-based employees, including teachers, assistant teachers, counselors, and related service providers must be present at least 15 minutes prior to the arrival of students and must be present at least 15 minutes after the dismissal of students. Be on time for classes, duties, planning sessions, team meetings, and professional development activities. Observe proper decorum, including adherence to dress codes and proper courtesies and respect in all dealings with students, parents, guardians, visitors, and fellow employees. Attend and participate in school events. Check voicemail and email daily and respond promptly to requests from parents, administrators, and colleagues. Assist with the monitoring of arrival, dismissal, recess, and lunch according to the agreed-upon schedule. Other duties as assigned by the supervisor. Qualifications Candidates must meet one of the following criteria: Degree in Early Childhood Education, Elementary Education, or equivalent degree; Bachelor's Degree and five years of satisfactory lead teacher experience; Bachelor's Degree and passing score on (1) Early Childhood Education PRAXIS and (2) Principles of Learning & Teaching:
Early Childhood PRAXIS; Bachelor's degree and active OSSE certification or active certification from another state
