Elementary School Teacher

Position:

Elementary School Teacher

Reports to:

Elementary Principal

Term:

Continuing

FTE:

7.5 hours/day; 5 days/week; 1.0 FTE

Building:

Elementary School

FLSA Status:

Exempt

Wage:

Certificated Salary Schedule

Representation:

San Juan Education Association

Benefits Eligibility:

Medical, Dental, Vision, Retirement, HRA

About San Juan Island School District:

Located in the Salish Sea off the northwest coast of Washington State, San Juan Island is the largest of the many islands in the world-famous archipelago of the same name. Approximately seven thousand permanent residents share this fifty-five square mile natural paradise. Connected to the mainland by ferry, float plane and small airlines, island living combines a cohesive small-town community with comprehensive services and commercial diversity unusual in a rural setting. The community has a comprehensive library, a state-of-the-art theater that features diverse performing arts, many wonderful restaurants, an historic museum, two national parks, miles of public shoreline, and a vibrant agricultural community. A newer hospital and art museum have joined the performing arts center as examples of how San Juan Island residents work together to craft a unique blend of country living and urban amenities. The many land and water-based recreational opportunities that support the tourist-based economy are available year-round to residents. There are over 100 non-profit organizations dedicated to a variety of goals such as land stewardship, wildlife preservation, sheltering domestic animals and helping children and families. We serve nearly 800 students with an elementary school (Grades K-5, approximately 315 students) and a secondary campus containing a middle school, high school, and alternative learning program (Grades 6-12, approximately 420 students). The schools are unique learning communities with growing economic and ethnic diversity. Students are encouraged to reach their highest potential in academics, athletics, and the arts. The district is noted for high levels of parent and community involvement, low staff turnover, and strong voter support for levy and bond measures. Every spring our community awards well over $200,000 in scholarships to our graduating seniors. This is a place that values and supports schools and school people.

Position Summary:

The Elementary Teacher will create an environment that ignites a passion for learning in our elementary school students. The teacher plans and administers the instructional program and classroom operation in compliance with guidelines and regulations determined by district administration, Board of Directors, and state & federal agencies. The teacher will utilize all resources available to establish a cooperative relationship with parents, staff members and administrators to support each student's ability to learn and grow intellectually, socially, and thereby becoming a positive and productive citizen of our democracy.

Essential Job Functions:

This list of essential job functions is not exhaustive and may be supplemented as necessary. Depending upon individual assignment, the employee may perform all or a combination of several of the following duties:

• Spark enthusiasm for learning. Provide an exceptional educational experience to all students, equitably.
• Deliver clear and focused instruction using a variety of teaching strategies to meet the needs of all students.
• Collaborate with fellow teachers to improve teaching methods, teaching strategies, and classroom management techniques.
• Keep informed of current world events and use these themes to keep historical content relevant.
• Provide extra support to struggling students and additional resources to those who display exceptional interest in the subject matter.
• Establish, maintain and monitor standards of student behavior needed to provide an orderly productive environment for learning.
• Ensure all curriculum, school, and state requirements are met.
• Communicate regularly and positively with parents and/or legal guardians. Share student progress and teacher's expectations, encourage engagement by reinforcing learning goals in the home environment.
• Assess and monitor students, provide feedback to students, parents, and administration regarding student progress, expectations, and goals.
• Direct instructional assistants, volunteers, and /or student aides to ensure services are effectively addressing the needs of individual students.
• Utilize district adopted curriculum to guide instruction.
• Maintain consistent presence at assigned worksite and regular work hours.
• Professionally interact with students, staff and public.
• Establish and maintain professional boundaries with students.
• Comply with all district policies and procedures.
• Comply with Code of Professional Conduct
• Perform related duties as assigned.

Desired Skills:

• Possess a passion for the subject matter and the ability to inspire students.
• Resilience, compassion, and the ability to work with students from multiple backgrounds while being approachable and caring.
• Value and respect different opinions while fostering a learning environment where students feel safe and respect each other.
• Excellent communication and interpersonal skills.
• Flexible to changes in assignments or situations.
• Ability and willingness to perform a variety of specialized tasks, maintain records, establish and maintain cooperative working relationships with students, parents, and school personnel; work as a team member; and meet schedules and deadlines.
• Knowledge and application of quality classroom-based assessment practices.
• Knowledge of the unique physical, psychological and social changes students experience and a desire to help them grow in these particular areas.
• Ability to define excellence by standards of performance.
• Skills in classroom management and organizational techniques.

Minimum Qualifications:

• Possesses or has the ability to obtain a valid Washington State Teaching certificate with the required endorsement for this position.
• Excellent oral and written communication skills.
• Experience and/or knowledge of age-appropriate teaching methods and state curriculum framework as it pertains to implementation of Washington State Essential Academic Learning Requirements.
• Successful WA State Patrol and FBI fingerprinting clearance.
• I-9 Employment Eligibility in compliance with the Immigration Reform and Control Act.
• Completion of all district-required trainings within thirty (30) calendar days form hire date.

Preferred Qualifications:

• Elementary Education Endorsement or equivalent.
• Experience and/or training with cultural, ethnic and language diversity preferred.
• Training in and/or direct experience with elementary aged students.

Work Environment:

The work environment characteristics described are representative of those an employee encounters while performing the essential functions of this job. The employee is confined to a work area, required to have precise control of fingers and hand movements; experiences constant interruptions and inflexible deadlines; and must be able to stoop, crouch, crawl, bend, kneel, stand for periods of time, and lift in order to assist a student with personal care. The employee is required to deal with distraught and/or angry persons and may be exposed to infectious diseases carried by children. The noise level in the work environment is acceptable to this particular environment and can vary depending upon daily activity but will remain within acceptable ranges.

Physical Requirements Include:

• Continuous (2/3 to all the time, possibly the full day): Talking, Hearing, Seeing, Handling, Fingering, Grasping.
• Frequent (1/3 to 2/3 of the time or up to 6+ hours of an eight-hour day): Standing, Walking, Bending, Stooping, Crouching, Squatting, Reaching
• Occasional (1/12 to 1/3 of the time or up to 2 ½ hours of an eight-hour day): Sitting, Lifting, Carrying up to 50 pounds, Turning, Twisting, Kneeling
• Rare (0 to 1/12 of the time, 40 minutes of an eight-hour day): Climbing, Balancing, Pushing, Pulling
• Not Present: Jumping, Crawling

Reports to:

Reports to the Elementary School Principal

Evaluation:

The Elementary School Principal will evaluate the Elementary School Teacher periodically pursuant to the currently established district procedures and evaluation criteria. The process shall include an evaluation of the employee's performance of the above essential job functions.

Our District Commitment to Non-discrimination:

San Juan Island School District does not discriminate in any programs, activities, or employment opportunities on the basis of sex, race, creed, religion, color, national origin, age, veteran or military status, sexual orientation, gender expression or identity, disability, or the use of a trained dog guide or service animal and provides equal access to the Boy Scouts and other designated youth groups. The following employees have been designated to handle questions and complaints of alleged discrimination: Civil Rights Compliance Coordinator and Title IX Officer, Jeff Thompson, Human Resources Director; and Section 504 Coordinator, Becky Bell, Special Services Director. Both an be reached at PO Box 458, Friday Harbor, WA 98250. Out of state applicants are encouraged to apply with the understanding that a WA state certificate will need to be obtained prior to the start date.