TITLE:        Certificated Preschool Laboratory School Teacher                                       

QUALIFICATIONS:

·               Illinois State Teaching Certificate,  Type 04

·               Ability to function effectively as a member of the school’s staff and in collaboration with Millikin University.

·               Working knowledge of the Common Core State Standards for the assigned grade level and/or subject area and possess the requisite ability to evaluate the alignment of those standards to instruction and the district’s curriculum.

·               Working knowledge of and ability to effectively use and integrate technology in the classroom setting.

·               Working knowledge of a broad range of literacy techniques and strategies for every aspect of communication and must be able to develop each student’s ability to read, write, speak, and listen.

·               Demonstrated success in modeling effective reading, writing, speaking, and listening skills during direct and indirect instructional activities.

·               Demonstrated success utilizing current teaching techniques, effective strategies for differentiating instruction, and evidence-based classroom management strategies and techniques.

·               Effective data-based problem-solving and team collaboration skills used to drive and inform changes in classroom instruction.

·               Demonstrated success in collaborating effectively with teachers and students.

·               Demonstrated a high level of professionalism with the ability to maintain confidentiality and personal flexibility in all areas.

·               Such other requirements as the Board of Education may establish.

PREFERRED QUALIFICATIONS:

·               Letter of approval to teach Special Education or equivalent

·               Master’s Degree

REPORTS TO:  

Laboratory School Principal

SUPERVISES and MENTORS:

Laboratory School Students

Millikin Students

Student Teachers

Community Volunteers

Assists in Evaluation of Teaching Assistants

MAINTAINS COMMUNICATION AND COLLABORATION WITH:

Parents – Communicates with parents on a regular basis and when requested by parents or administrators

Millikin University School of Education Faculty and Staff – Communicates and collaborates with university faculty and staff about curriculum, research-based instructional practices and support, research projects, community events, and other endeavors, with the goal of improving student achievement.

JOB GOALS:

·         The teacher should embrace children’s interests that will inform a child-centered curriculum, and be able to meet children where they are developmentally, individually and culturally to prepare preschool children for kindergarten.

·         Candidates will have a theoretical understanding of child-centered approaches and will apply these approaches consistently including, but not limited to:

•   Project-Based Learning
•   Emilia, Montessori or Waldorf
•   Co-Teaching

·         Candidates will evidence a strong understanding of authentic, formative, and summative assessments and differentiated instruction strategies.

PERFORMANCE RESPONSIBILITIES:

(The following are the essential fundamentals to include but not limited to the following job duties.)

·         Teaching in compliance with curricular requirements of the State of Illinois and of the Board of Education of District #61.

·         Access current best practices in the field and contribute actively to research, new developments, and literature in education with a focus on intelligence, neuropsychology, and cognitive diversity.

·         Compliance with Board Policies, Administrative Regulations, and Board-Employee Agreements at the school level.

·         Participation on an appointive, elective, or volunteer basis in the curriculum development process at the building and district levels, as is required to periodically review all curricular areas to keep them up-to-date.

·         Participation from time-to-time, in the development of District Policies and Administrative Regulations, on an appointive, elective, or volunteer basis.

·         Collaborate and form partnerships with Millikin University faculty and staff in the development of innovative new curricula and participation in research studies that inform the development of new curricula.

·         Participation from time-to-time, in the development and nurturing of extended learning programs that support the philosophical and curricular needs of the Lab School.

The major instructional function of the Laboratory School Preschool Teacher includes the following components, all of which will be performed collaboratively with Lab School stakeholders including Millikin University staff and students, Decatur Public School colleagues, parents, and community members:

Instructional Delivery

This includes an understanding of and the ability to use constructivist-oriented principles of learning, using instructional techniques specifically Project-Based Learning and Reggio Emilia practices while making sound judgments in the areas of appropriate pacing, questioning, grouping, and when to use direct and indirect instruction.

Human Skills

This includes the ability to stimulate student curiosity and bring enthusiasm to the learning process by creating a rich and developmentally appropriate learning environment that meets the cognitive, socio-cultural, emotional, and physical needs of students; demonstrating concern and care for the worth and dignity of each individual student; and celebrating students cognitive and cultural diversity.

Planning Skills

This includes the ability to collaborate with staff to develop daily and unit lesson plans that are thoughtful, goal-oriented, aligned with District and State curricula, and integrated with technology which are informed by children’s interests and differentiated based on students’ unique learning profiles.  

Evaluation of Students and Programs

This includes the ability to construct and utilize summative and formative authentic assessments for preschool, maintain and utilize assessment data to refine curricula and inform instructional practices, and interpret data for parents, administrators, and peers.

Managing the Classroom

This includes manipulating the learning environment in a way that promotes the acquisition of self-discipline and regulation which is essential for success in a democratic society, maintaining accurate and thorough records of student behavioral performance, and modeling compliance with school rules and regulations.

TERMS OF EMPLOYMENT:

            Salary is based on Schedules A and B of the current collective bargaining agreement.

EVALUATION:  

Each employee shall be evaluated in accordance with Illinois School Code and adopted District evaluation instrument. 

PHYSICAL DEMANDS

Handle work which deals mostly with people, objects, equipment in a general setting; depth perception and field of vision are important. Employee regularly is required to bend, stoop, twist, turn, reach, lift (up to 50 pounds), carry, pull, push, climb, and kneel; walking and standing approximately 50-75% of each shift. Employee must recognize differences in sound, such as voices/noises that are loud and playful instead of angry and combative; ability to differentiate tones and volumes in conversation.

MENTAL DEMANDS

The Teacher must ensure that children are supervised at all times, and that children are involved in safe and appropriate activities. There may be a number of situations happening at once, and the Teacher must be prepared to handle accidents and emergencies at any time.

WORK ENVIRONMENT

The work environment characteristics described here are representative of those an employee encounters while performing the essential functions of this job. Reasonable accommodations may be made to enable individuals with disabilities to perform the essential functions.

The Teacher will be working in a busy and occasionally noisy environment. There may be a number of activities and situations happening at once, and the Teacher will have to supervise all students at all times.

Decatur Public Schools is an equal employment opportunity employer with an affirmative action plan.