Evening FT Lead Electrical/ HVAC Instructors

Position:  Lead Instructor

Reports to: Director of Training or Director of Education

Classification: Exempt

Department: Education

StrataTech Education Group

StrataTech Education Group focuses on the acquisition, growth and development of specialized career education schools, particularly skilled-trade programs designed to address the nation’s growing infrastructure needs.

The company’s Tulsa Welding School subsidiary was founded in 1949 with campuses in Tulsa, Okla., Jacksonville, Fla., Houston, and Dallas (Irving) Texas. Tulsa Welding School is accredited by the Accrediting Commission of Career Schools and Colleges (ACCSC) and is a member of the American Welding Society and the Association of Private Schools, Colleges, and Universities. TWS-Jacksonville is a branch campus of Tulsa Welding School, located at 2545 E. 11th St., Tulsa, OK 74104. Licensed by OBPVS and ASBPCE. Licensed by the Florida Commission for Independent Education, License No. 2331. Tulsa Welding School & Technology Center (TWSTC), a branch campus of Tulsa Welding School, opened and started training students in 2014. TWSTC is located at 243A Greens Road in Houston, Texas.

The Refrigeration School, Inc (RSI) was founded in Phoenix, Arizona in 1965. RSI trains students in the technical services that are needed today and challenges the student to reach their highest level of academic knowledge and leadership capabilities. Accredited School, ACCSC. Licensed by the Arizona State Board for Private Post-Secondary Education.

StrataTech Education - Core Values

At StrataTech, we are zealous advocates of positive and sustainable life change through skilled trades education. We are laser focused on student success by focusing on organizational and operational improvements, a dedication to excellence in training programs, innovation and technology aligning industry transformations, and a culture built on human compassion, care, and service. Together, we are on fire to inspire and collectively strive to make a true impact in the lives of others. Collectively, our organizational core values are focused on promoting an incredible work environment, with genuine and authentic people, which is both challenging and fun, while focused on serving the needs of others. Together, we are united with the desire to make a positive impact in the lives we touch and in the communities we serve.

Challenging and Fun:

Challenging and fun describes our culture at StrataTech. We cultivate an environment in which our faculty, staff, and students feel joy in asking questions, challenging the status quo, and always innovating and exploring new horizons. With a forward-thinking mentality and an energizing spirit, together we find fun in every challenge.

Creating an Incredible Work Environment:

StrataTech Education Group and our schools, Tulsa Welding School, and The Refrigeration School Inc, exist to change people's lives and create opportunities that empower them to build a life they're proud of – for themselves, their families, and their communities. This applies as much to students as it does to faculty and staff. We are unified in our commitment to change lives through a collaborative, inclusive community that encourages excellence within each and every one of us.

We value diversity, equity, inclusion, and belonging (DEIB), recognizing the importance of creating a culture that embraces and celebrates individuals from all backgrounds and perspectives. This commitment further strengthens our mission to change lives and build a vibrant community.

Genuine People:

We are all, individually, genuine people. As a unifying value, this means StrataTech is a space that actively encourages and celebrates each individual's authentic self. We care about each other's growth, both personally and professionally, and celebrate it, fostering genuine, authentic relationships based on honesty, accountability, respect, and being of service to one another.

We hire genuine people and encourage them to bring their whole selves to work or the classroom every day. We have built a culture of kindness and support that helps people feel comfortable being themselves, confident about what they contribute, championed in taking risks or trying new things, and joyful about showing up.

Force for Good:

StrataTech is a force for good in the world by creating opportunities for people to find meaning, purpose, creativity, and financial stability. We espouse a conscious capitalist ethos that exists within our economic system but balances it with an ethical framework and the belief that life—and business—is about making a positive impact.

 We strive to make a positive and sustainable impact on the lives and communities (and world) we serve by creating employment opportunities both internally and in the trades that we train students for. Everyone has the potential to positively impact the world and we communicate that to our faculty, staff, and students.

We are laser focused on student success by focusing on organizational and operational improvements, a dedication to excellence in training programs, innovation and technology aligning industry transformations, and a culture built on human compassion, care, and service. Together, we are on fire to inspire and collectively strive to make a true impact in the lives of others.

Position Summary:

The Lead Instructor provides academic leadership and instructional support within the program while maintaining the ability to teach all courses. This role oversees faculty onboarding and mentoring, supports retention initiatives by monitoring attendance and student performance trends, and collaborates with instructors to improve outcomes. The Lead Instructor participates in curriculum development and monthly curriculum meetings, serves as a subject matter expert when needed, and ensures effective use of instructional technologies such as Canvas and CourseKey. Additional responsibilities include supporting faculty with instructional best practices, assisting students when needed, maintaining program resources and equipment, and upholding institutional policies, academic standards, and confidentiality.

Lead Instructor

Must be able to teach all courses within the program, minimum of 2 years in current position. The instructor should possess all academic leadership competencies and actively participate in monthly curriculum meetings. This involvement can be demonstrated by attending each call, providing feedback, or serving as a subject matter expert (SME) for curriculum projects throughout the year.

Additionally, the lead should be actively involved in retention efforts, attending the weekly LDA/SOS meetings, inspecting attendance and retention patterns, and identifying strategies to improve outcomes with faculty who are below benchmarks in these areas. Track and perform onboarding training of multiple instructors.

Position regularly deals with confidential information -exercise proper judgment with appropriately maintaining and securing that information at all times.

Willing and able to provide students and other instructors with assistance and basic troubleshooting of Canvas, CourseKey, Interplay, Oculus, and other common classroom technologies. Provide direct troubleshooting, training, and guidance for students and faculty with these platforms, and assist faculty with common Canvas tasks such as setting due dates, posting announcements, responding to threaded discussion format and keeping gradebook updated weekly.

Meet or exceed all Minimum Core and Academic Leadership Competencies (see below)

Note for welding program-All welding instructors must complete the weld competencies test and demonstrate proficiency in all welding skills required for the entire program.

Minimum Core Responsibilities:

• Motivate students by demonstrating professionalism, enthusiasm, and sensitivity for their concerns.  Actively involve them in classroom discussions and/or activities. Identify different student learning styles and adjust accordingly.
• Create and maintain a safe environment at all times. 
• Manage tools assigned to the classroom, lab, and LMS/Canvas environment. 
• Integrate features of LMS/Canvas into the learning environment, to include announcements, threaded discussions, quizzes/exams, videos, communication inbox and gradebook.

• Post a minimum of one announcement weekly in LMS/Canvas, including motivational quotes, tips, etc.
• Post videos/ tutorials as necessary in LMS/Canvas to increase student engagement and understanding of the material.
• Provide qualitative, holistic feedback to support the assigned grade. Feedback should be based on the rubric and scope of content deliverables and provide students with takeaways to improve on future assignments. 
• Respond to all initial threaded discussion posts in LMS/Canvas within 24-36 hours.
• Extend discussions, either in classroom or LMS/Canvas, with follow-up questions or additional content that promotes critical thinking.
• Conduct minimum live online virtual session weekly for didactic portion (synchronous) , more often as directed by campus administration
• Respond to all student emails/communications within 24-36 hours.
• Check course Q and A in LMS/Canvas and respond to all posts within 24-36 hours of post.
• Identify struggling students - Review grade book to identify trends in students’ not logging in or attending regularly, declining grades, decline or absent LMS/Canvas discussion posts (quality and quantity).  Reach out to these potentially struggling students and offer assistance and advise accordingly (use approved academic advising forms).
• Contact any absent student that did not attend their scheduled course (s), inform student what they missed so, if retention issue/challenge, notify DOT/Lead and Student Services Department immediately, offer resources where needed. For Online Gen Ed faculty-submit weekly at-risk update to campus.

• Communicate, support and enforce school policies and procedures; advise students accordingly on attendance, grades and discipline issues as necessary (use approved academic advising forms).
• Complete mid-module assessment form for each student (use approved academic advising forms).
• Ensure an ethical and fair testing environment during periods of testing.  
• Constantly evaluates curriculum to ensure relevance and provide feedback, when necessary, on approved curriculum feedback form. 
• Maintain a working field knowledge through continuing education and demonstrate continuing professional development of technical expertise and as an instructor that meets company guidelines.

• Mandatory attendance at semi-annual graduation and mandatory faculty meetings. (Unless remote/adjunct)
• Maintain accurate and timely record keeping as it applies to student grades and attendance.
• Complete final grades as directed.

Academic Leadership Competencies

Instructional Excellence and Faculty Support

• Assist instructors on delivery methods that address students’ different learning styles and active engagement strategies.
• Mentor and provide support to new instructors during initial training until completion.
• Prepare and organize lesson materials, equipment, and training areas for consistency with the standard curriculum.
• Teach one class per term as lead instructor; remaining duties consist of administrative and leadership responsibilities.
• Enforce and support school policies and procedures; advise instructors as necessary.
• When appropriate, communicate approved changes to curriculum, books, and supplies.
• Monitor attendance trends and adjustments in collaboration with faculty and support the implementation of targeted improvement measures where needed.

Student Support and Engagement

• Be available to offer short-term tutoring assistance to students.
• Assist in providing tutoring schedules and office hours to Student Services.
• Work with students to resolve concerns or direct them to the appropriate department when needed.
• Meet key metrics associated with student and program retention and outcomes.

Program Operations

• Maintain inventory of program equipment, books, supplies, and training materials.
• Conduct monthly classroom and laboratory inspections, identifying and reporting facility or maintenance needs.
• Participate in PAC (Program Advisory Committee) meetings.
• Contribute to curriculum review by collecting feedback and suggestions from instructors.
• Assist Career Services with graduate placement efforts when initial placement attempts have not been successful.
• Perform other duties and responsibilities as assigned.

Education, Experience, and  People Responsibilities::

Minimum 2 years as a Senior Instructor

Must be able to teach every course within the program

Teach at least one course per term

Actively participate in monthly curriculum meetings

Mentor and train new instructors

Participate in retention initiatives and weekly LDA/SOS meetings

Support Canvas, CourseKey, Interplay, Oculus/OcuWeld as applicable

Meet all Minimum Core and Academic Leadership Competencies

Leadership and mentoring.

Physical Environment:

• Work can be performed in a variety of settings, from temperature-controlled office environments to outdoor areas exposed to the elements
• Incumbent may sit for long periods of time at a desk or computer terminal
• Incumbent may use calculators, keyboards, telephone and other office equipment
• Stooping, bending twisting, and reaching may be required
• Some work may be completed in classroom or shop environment

Other Duties:

Please note this job description is not designed to cover or contain a comprehensive listing of activities, duties or responsibilities that are required of the employee for this job.  Duties, responsibilities and activities may change at any time with or without notice.