POSITION TITLE: Classroom
REPORTS TO: Executive Director
PRIMARY FUNCTION:
Teachers work with colleagues and other staff to design, implement, and support the educational program of Palouse Prairie School in a manner that is true to the principles of EL Education the mission and vision of the school.
ESSENTIAL DUTIES AND RESPONSIBILITIES:
- Curriculum: Design, develop, document, and evaluate two semester-long learning expeditions as well as literacy and math curricula each year. Utilize Core State Standards for literacy and mathematics as well as Idaho/National Standards for science and social studies through projects, products, and guiding questions;
- Craft expeditions around compelling topics that are rich in content. Topics are linked to projects that motivate students to become experts, to understand the big ideas in their respective content area, and to develop strong inquiry skills.
- Use guiding questions to drive inquiry within the expedition and include the use of fieldwork, experts, and service.
- Plan Case Studies to animate the major concepts of a discipline or broad topic through concrete -often local- studies of subtopics within the discipline.
- Design Projects & Products – skills-rich projects that result in high quality products or performances for audiences beyond the classroom are designed to motivate and demonstrate student understanding of expedition content and skills.
- Fully document expeditions and other learning experiences for future use, including clear alignment to standards, learning targets, and assessment.
- Instruction: Deliver lessons that have explicit purpose and are guided by learning targets for which students take ownership and responsibility. Clearly articulate specific learning goals in student friendly language, employ strategies to scaffold learning so that all students make progress, and regularly check the understanding of each student through formative and summative assessment strategies.
- Differentiate Instruction – Proactively plan to meet students’ varied needs based upon ongoing assessment
- Create a culture of reading – including phonemic awareness, phonics, fluency, vocabulary development, and an array of comprehension strategies.
- Mathematics – rigor and integrity in discrete math classes, also integrated into projects, case studies, and expeditions whenever possible. Instruction should focus on foundational facts that are grounded in conceptual understanding.
- Create multiple opportunities for students to engage in complex, problem based activities, labs, and investigations, and to represent and analyze data.
- Emphasize the enduring themes or big ideas of social studies, often focusing on engaging social issues, cultural diversity, and social justice.
- Assessment: Embrace the power of student-engaged assessment practices to build student ownership of learning, focus students on reading standards-based learning targets, and drive achievement.
- Culture and Character: Incorporate structures and traditions such as C.R.E.W. community meetings, exhibitions of student work, and service learning to ensure that every student is known and cared for, that student leadership is nurtured, and that contributions to the school and world are celebrated.
- Professionalism & School Leadership: Participate in a strong professional culture that is sustained via collective leadership and action.
SUPERVISORY RESPONSIBILITIES:
Supervises students and classroom aids, paraprofessionals, or volunteers.
QUALIFICATION REQUIREMENTS: 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.
EDUCATION and/or EXPERIENCE:
Bachelor’s degree in Education, current Idaho Teaching Certificate.
Preferable: Master’s degree in Education or related field
Must pass a criminal background check
EVALUATION:
Performance of this job shall be evaluated annually in accordance with provisions of the board’s policy on evaluation of certified personnel.
Compensation: Based on experience and education
Employment type: full-time
Please send resume (including 3 references) and cover letter to Sara Beggs,
sbeggs@palouseprairieschool.org. Please put classroom teaching position in the subject line
POSITION TITLE: Physical Education Teacher (1.0 FTE)
REPORTS TO: Executive Director
Physical Education Teacher
Palouse Prairie Charter School (PPCS) is looking for a highly qualified, highly motivated candidate to teach physical education to grades K-5 and lead Adventure. Teacher candidates will instruct school-age students on healthy living, exercise and physical fitness including an element of social-emotional wellness in all lessons; potentially lead students in outdoor adventure and investigations of the natural world; teach with an emphasis on cooperation rather than competition; organize and supervise students during class activities; instruct students on proper exercise routines and technique and use norms to ensure emotional safety and to promote courage and risk-taking in intellectual and physical adventure.
Must have experience creating engaging lesson plans; knowledge of P.E. curricula; extensive knowledge of physical fitness, sports and exercise; planning classroom activities to motivate students; coaching students individually or as a group; communicating with parents and other teachers about a student’s progress. In addition, teacher candidates will co-lead or lead an outdoor adventure program with the support that incorporate team-building, courage, and risk-taking activities in the natural world.
This job demands a professional that believes that all young adolescents can succeed and who is dedicated to growing their practice in a professional learning community. All teachers at PPCS must work to support, engage, and hold all kids accountable through the implementation of the EL Education model of education (https://eleducation.org/). Applicants should send a cover letter, resume, and contact information for three professional references to Sara Beggs, Executive Director.
Why Teach at Palouse Prairie Charter School?
EL Education schools were founded on the ideals of Outward Bound and organize their curriculum around rigorous, multidisciplinary learning units called expeditions. The PPCS faculty enjoy a high degree of autonomy and responsibility in all aspects of the school program, including team-teaching; caring for students; developing curriculum and standards; leading students in service on and off campus; experiential methods of learning in environments outside the classroom; participating in shared decision-making; and engaging in professional development.
What Makes a Good PPCS Teacher?
Each Palouse Prairie teacher has a profound respect for the life of the child and believes that all young people are capable of great intellectual achievement and profound compassion. Palouse Prairie teachers are familiar with research on the teaching of reading, writing, math, and science, and they are comfortable with collaborative curriculum planning, working with students from various learning backgrounds, team-teaching, and working together with parents to help students achieve academic and personal success. In addition, the Palouse Prairie faculty is creative, innovative, and caring. The school community actively encourages teachers to remain intellectually engaged in their individual content areas as well as creatively inspires faculty to take on new intellectual and social challenges while continuing to hone their practice as teachers.
PPCS prefers candidates with the following qualifications:
- Current K-8 Idaho Teaching Certificate with a focus on Health Enhancement and Physical Education
- Appreciation for the life and mind of the child
- Sense of humor and a high level of energy, enthusiasm, flexibility, and spontaneity
- Teaching experience at the appropriate grade levels consistent with PPCS’s constructivist, project-based educational philosophy
- Understanding of how to pinpoint each student’s strengths and weaknesses and then apply differential instructional practices to meet the diverse learning needs of each student
- Ability to manage student behavior in a caring, compassionate, effective manner and in
- Strong desire to teach in a demanding, cutting-edge program in which all aspects of school life are open for discussion, reflection, and continuous improvement
- Collaborative approach to working with a diverse population of children and adults
- Deep and abiding sense of inquiry
Position open until filled.
Compensation
Depends on experience. Employee benefits include; medical, dental, and optional vision insurance coverage as well as payment into the state employees’ retirement plan (PERSI).
Extensive on-site professional development delivered by EL Education school designers, and opportunities for off-site professional development opportunities at EL Education Institutes, Site Seminars, and Conferences (PPCS pays for courses, airfare, lodging, substitute teacher, and daily per diem).
Please send resume (including 3 references) and cover letter to Sara Beggs,sbeggs@palouseprairieschool.org. Please put PE teaching position in the subject line.
Equal Opportunity Employer Statement
Palouse Prairie Charter School is committed to maintaining a work and learning environment free from discrimination on the basis of race, color, religion, national origin, pregnancy, gender identity, sexual orientation, marital/civil union status, ancestry, place of birth, age, citizenship status, veteran status, political affiliation, genetic information or disability, as defined and required by state and federal laws. Additionally, we prohibit retaliation against individuals who oppose such discrimination and harassment or who participate in an equal opportunity investigation.
PALOUSE PRAIRIE IS SEEKING SUBSTITUTE TEACHERS
Eligibility Criteria.
1. Possess a high school diploma or equivalent
2. Have successfully completed an Idaho State Department of Education background check & fingerprinting, at employee’s expense (PPCS will provide State Department of Education fingerprinting forms)
3. Prior experience in schools is preferred
4. Preference is given to substitute teachers who have obtained at least a bachelor’s degree
Selection Criteria.
Experience in an educational setting and/or training in an educational program
General Duties & Responsibilities.
1. Assume the responsibilities for instructing classes when a teacher is absent
2. Assumes responsibility for overseeing pupil behavior in class and during lunch and other regular activities.
3. Consult with the director before initiating any teaching or other procedures not specified in the lesson plan
Compensation. $105 per day
Availability. As Needed
Substitute Application Packet