Exciting opportunity for the 24-25 School Year!  At Wissahickon School District we are looking for individuals who will foster EQUITY and INCLUSION in our schools, seeking to create a learning community in which all students and staff are appreciated, inspired, and equipped to engage and excel.  I encourage you to visit our website to learn more. 

Wissahickon applies full year professional public education experience to already highly competitive contracted salaries with excellent benefits. Apply today if you want to truly BELONG at Wiss Nation. 

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POSITION TITLE: English Language Development (ELD, previously ESL) Teacher, K-5

REPORTS TO: Building Principal, Elementary

POSITION GOAL: To guide English Language Learners toward gaining knowledge and skills in order to become productive citizens by increasing English proficiency in listening, understanding, speaking, reading and writing; to plan and implement instruction and/or adaptation of the education program to enable students to benefit from education experiences.

ESSENTIAL DUTIES AND RESPONSIBILITIES:

• Screens Home Language Surveys.
• Conducts assessment of eligibility in the ESL program.
• Participates in and/or chairs meetings necessary for student assessment and/or compliance with federal and/or state law for ESL service after student is determined eligible for ESL program.
• Acts as a liaison between the student and other teachers, staff members and family.
• Creates a classroom and/or instructional environment that is attractive, safe, supportive, and conducive to learning and appropriate to the maturity, interest and abilities of students. Risk-taking is encouraged, students feel free to contribute their ideas, and teacher and student interactions are respectful and polite to promote a positive learning environment for all students.
• Creates a classroom and/or instructional environment that have materials in good condition and accessible to students, including but not limited to creating educational bulletin boards, web pages, parent/student newsletters, and other similar communication vehicles consistent with district practice.
• Teaches District approved curriculum.
• Guides the learning process toward the achievement of established District curriculum goals and establishes and communicates clear objectives to the students for all lessons, units, and projects.
• Strives by instruction and action to employ the District’s philosophy of education, instructional goals and objectives, and performance expectations.
• Prepares for classes and shows written evidence of preparation upon request of immediate supervisor.
• Develops lesson plans and instructional materials and employs a variety of instructional techniques and teaching strategies to meet different aptitudes, interests and abilities of students, including current technology and whole-group/small-group learning.
• Translates lesson plans into developmentally appropriate learning experiences to best utilize the available time for instruction.
• Designs activities to engage students in cognitively challenging work aligned to standards.
• Manages allotted learning time to maximize student achievement and accesses translators as needed.
• Uses resources that will promote high levels of learning and student engagement in the classroom environment.
• Reflects on practice and student work to determine what went well and what changes could improve instruction and uses reflection to inform future instruction.
• Assesses students' academic and social growth on a regular basis as related to desired educational goals, objectives, and outcomes, keeps appropriate records and prepares progress reports as required, and communicates with parents/guardians while also providing families with opportunities for socialization and acculturation.
• Maintains accurate, complete, and correct records as required by the District Policy, Administrative Policy, and Pennsylvania law.
• Closely monitors student learning in order to understand how students are progressing toward the learning objectives and provides age-appropriate communication with students on instructional expectation and keeps them informed of their progress in meeting those expectations.
• Seeks the support of district specialists when concern regarding student progress arises. Cooperates with other professional staff members in assessing and developing strategies to help students solve health, attitude, and learning problems. Follows the District multi-tiered system of supports and develops strategies for individual education plans.
• Develops a code of conduct for the classroom which is consistent with established Administrative Policies and develops rules of classroom behavior which are enforced in a fair and just manner.
• Provides clear behavior expectations for students and monitors student behavior throughout the class and school.
• Communicates regularly with parents/guardians during and outside normal classroom day to create partnership around student learning by means of newsletters, notes, phone calls, conferences, and other means to discuss student’s progress and the school program.
• Requests assistance of and works with resource personnel both school and non-school based as needed.
• Works in a self-contained, team, departmental, or itinerant capacity as assigned (may work off site as an extension of any of the above).
• Ensures confidentiality of information in reference to HIPPA/FERPA and IDEA regulations.
• Communicates with all school personnel regularly, both written and oral, in reference to the students IEP, with continual monitoring and reporting of progress.
• Plans, assigns and coordinates work to paraprofessionals, attendants, and parents/guardian and volunteers as needed.
• Attends district department and faculty meetings and serves on district committees as required by the CBA.
• Attends established traditional school-sponsored activities (i.e.: back-to-school night, open house, and other activities customarily attended by classroom teachers and/or faculty members) as required by the CBA.
• Actively participates in building or district educational experiences such as science fairs, mathematic competitions, programs associated with the arts and other student activities, as required.
• Participates in curriculum related and programmatic activities that are a part of the regular District program, including but not limited to field trips that have been historically part of the school curriculum and programming, as required.
• Participates in in-services and staff development activities and staff meetings as required or assigned.
• Maintains an ongoing program of professional growth that satisfies District requirements but also satisfies personal expectation as a professional
• Provides, when appropriate, information and recommendations (verbal and written) when requested for student placement, course selection, awards, scholarships and in pursuit of other academic, extra-curricular endeavors or employment.
• Establishes partnerships with the community as appropriate in support of the academic program.
• Demonstrates professionalism and adheres to the Professional Code of Conduct.
• Administers group standardized tests, including specialized ESL assessment (e.g. WIDA) in accordance with District testing program.
• Plans and coordinates the work of parents/guardians and volunteers in the classroom and on field trips, as required.
• Selects and requisitions books and instructional materials.
• Follows established policies and procedures for reporting incidents (e.g., child abuse, substance abuse, harassment, and violence).
• Other duties as assigned by the Building Principal and/or Administration.

QUALIFICATIONS:

To perform this job successfully, an individual must be able to perform each essential duty satisfactorily. The requirements listed below are representative of the knowledge, skill, and/or ability required. Reasonable accommodations may be made to enable individuals with disabilities to perform the essential functions.

The ELD Teacher shall possess the following:
1. Bachelors’ degree from an accredited college or university.
2. Valid PA Department of Education Instructional Certificate; English as A Second Language Program Specialist Pennsylvania Certificate.
3. Understanding of Pennsylvania Core Standards.
4. Strong skill set in human relations, communications, problem solving and organization.

This job description in no way states or implies that these are the only duties to be performed by the employee occupying this position. The ELD Teacher will be required to follow any other job-related instructions and perform other job-related duties requested by the Principal and/or Administration.

Wissahickon School District is an equal opportunity employment, educational and service organization.