Mission Statement
Through the use of social and restorative justice principles, Five Keys provides traditionally underserved communities the opportunity to improve their lives through a focus on the Five Keys: EDUCATION, EMPLOYMENT, RECOVERY, FAMILY, COMMUNITY.
Five Keys Overview
Five Keys is a nonprofit organization that operates an extensive network of programs across California. With a presence in 14 counties and over 120 locations, Five Keys focuses on various initiatives aimed at empowering individuals and families to overcome poverty and inequity. The organizations programs encompass a wide range of services, including public charter schools, restorative justice programs in jails and prisons, shelters, permanent supportive housing, and the development of new housing and support programs. At Five Keys, the overarching objective is to uplift individuals and families by providing them with essential resources. This includes education, housing, employment, and the necessary tools to sustain their progress. By offering these fundamental elements, the organization aims to create positive and lasting change in communities, making them better places for everyone.
Our Core Competencies
A well-qualified candidate has the capacity to communicate effectively, collaborate with others while building positive relationships, demonstrates strong problem-solving skills, has a dynamic learning mindset, and remains committed to a high level of cultural and social awareness. A successful candidate will work well under pressure, observe appropriate boundaries, and operate with a high degree of emotional intelligence.
What it's really like to join our agency…
At Five Keys, culture matters. Culture is at the very core of everything we do and impact on a daily basis. Weve made a commitment to building an inclusive culture that seeks collaboration over hierarchy to create empowered work teams. We serve vulnerable populations daily and strive to approach everyone with compassion, patience, and a trauma-informed approach. We choose to push past discomfort to have difficult conversations to impact the greater good. This allows us the opportunity to collaboratively create an inclusive culture and transform the world around us.
BENEFITS
We offer very low monthly costs for medical insurance! Dental, vision, and life insurance premiums paid by Five Keys and various pre-tax flexible spending accounts and retirement account 403b. Generous time off. Annual reimbursement up to $100 towards gym membership, smoking cessation, and weight loss programs. Annual reimbursement up to $50 towards annual athletic event participation and annual massage after 6 months of employment. FREE access to wellness-related apps, Employee Assistance Program, and a comprehensive mental health care platform for you and your dependents.
JOB SUMMARY
The CTE Teacher - Physical Therapy Aide Instructor is a key member of the Career Technical Education teaching team and reports directly to the Director of Career Technical Education. This role provides entry- and mid-level training to prepare students for careers as physical therapy aides, by teaching foundational concepts in physical therapy support, kinesiology, and rehabilitation practices. The instructor will also introduce students to healthcare technology and applications, including electronic health records, patient documentation systems, and digital communication tools commonly used in clinical environments. In addition to technical instruction, the position emphasizes career readiness by guiding students in identifying employment opportunities, developing resumes, practicing interview techniques, and understanding workplace expectations. The instructor fosters workforce readiness by teaching professional communication, interpersonal skills, time management, and strategies for success in healthcare settings. Upholding the programs mission, the instructor creates a learning environment rooted in mutual respect and fairness, encourages creative and critical thinking through an equity lens, and contributes to a culture of diversity, inclusion, and multicultural understanding.
The Physical Therapy Aide Instructor
The Physical Therapy Aide Instructor provides vocational and career development training for students in Northern and Southern California through classroom groups of varying sizes.
This is a grant-funded position, funded by the K12 Strong Workforce Program. This position supports multiple sites in Los Angeles and San Bernardino Counties. The scheduled hours vary between 7:00 am - 8:00 pm; the current schedule is 8:00 am - 3:30 pm. Temporarily for the 2025-2026 school year, this position will work 7 hours per day, 35 hours per week, with 195 working days annually. Based on the organizations needs, the schedule may change to the original: 6.5 hours per day, 32.5 hours per week, with 210 working days annually.
Topics/Areas of Focus covered in this course include:
As a Physical Therapy Aide Instructor, you will prepare students with the knowledge and skills needed to succeed in healthcare support roles. Instructional areas include:
We are looking for someone who is adaptable and flexible, insists on maintaining a positive attitude, and enjoys supporting a diverse group of people. If this job is for you, you are extremely organized, easy to talk with, and are patient and caring.
JOB DUTIES AND RESPONSIBILITIES
Facilitate courses in the Physical Therapy healthcare pathway Create and maintain an engaging learning environment As needed, research, create, and update materials necessary to develop/supplement program curriculum Maintain student attendance and academic progress records Evaluate student progress and provide constructive feedback based on learning objectives/outcomes Adhere to policies regarding student retention and re-engagement Maintain regular office hours in order to advise and assist students Attend CTE Team and CTE Advisory Committee meetings Teach and provide support to other instructors as needed to support the overall CTE program Model the appropriate professional standards of the healthcare industry Develop partnerships with community-based organizations, industry sector leaders, and others who can provide mentorship and work-based opportunities to students Provide timely management of student records in the Student Information System Other duties as assigned
KNOWLEDGE AND SKILLS
Knowledge of Physical Therapy and healthcare frameworks Knowledge of project-based learning Able to apply general pedagogical knowledge to physical therapy and kinesiology curriculum Able to adapt curricular material to students with varying abilities Able to apply teaching to real-world situations Advanced proficiency in Zoom, Microsoft Office, Google Workspace, and databases Able to maintain strict confidentiality and take all precautions when handling sensitive information
EDUCATION AND WORK EXPERIENCE
Previous teaching experience required Must have a valid California CTE Teaching Credential in Health Science and Medical Technology At least 5 years of experience in a related field
PHYSICAL REQUIREMENTS
Must wear provided PPE (Personal Protective Equipment) and adhere to all safety guidelines and requirements, when needed Frequent and prolonged standing, walking, and sitting Frequent talking and hearing conversations Occasional reaching with hands and arms Occasionally lifting up to 25 lbs Ability to follow oral directions in emergency situations Travel to multiple sites required Ability to instruct for 2 ½ -3 hours without a break Ability to work outdoors in a variety of conditions-heat, cold, rain, etc Frequently using arms and hands write on chalkboards or flip chart
ADDITIONAL REQUIREMENTS
This position is contingent upon:
WORK ENVIRONMENT
Must be willing and able to work in a correctional facility and travel throughout the area to community sites Work environment varies from site to site Outdoors/Indoors Moderate noise level Some personal safety risk working in underserved communities
GROWTH OPPORTUNITIES
At Five Keys, we understand that when our employees grow, the agency has a greater capacity to thrive and accomplish its mission. It is for this reason that we remain committed to providing ongoing professional development opportunities for all of our employees. These include but are not limited to: conferences, staff development training, and coaching plans that allow incumbents to grow into new positions within and across programs within the agency (i.e., programs, schools, housing).