Middle School Teacher, Music (Guitar) (Sy 2023-2024)

Position Overview

The Teacher plans, designs, implements and assesses an appropriate instructional program in a middle school environment that guides and encourages a diverse group of students at all levels to develop and fulfill their academic potential. The Teacher designs learning experience, monitors student progress and presents the information to parents, develops assessments, creates and reinforces classroom expectations, works with school administration to prepare students for a variety of assessments, and manages students outside the classroom, such as in school hallways, field trips, etc.

At the middle school level, the Teacher may be assigned to teach students from sixth through eighth grade. The middle school students are transitioning into adolescence and need an environment that is challenging, equitable, empowering, and developmentally responsive. The Teacher helps students build on the fundamentals taught at the elementary level and prepares students for the variety of curriculum pathways available in high school. The Teacher motivates students in the content and competencies of the specific subject area, creating learning experiences that are authentic, engaging, rigorous and relevant.

Roles and Responsibilities

The following information is intended to describe the overall nature and scope of the work being performed in relation to the position. This is not a comprehensive listing of all responsibilities or tasks; other work may be assigned when deemed appropriate:

• Manages the behavior of learners in an instructional setting to ensure that the environment is conducive to learning; assists and participates in managing student behavior in other parts of the school, center, school grounds, or work site.
• Supports colleagues, students, parents and community stakeholders to promote student learning and student mastery of content and competencies.
• Plans instructional activities with other professional staff, both school- and non-school-based, to maximize learning opportunities.
• Designs authentic and engaging learning experiences using a variety of resources and technology to promote the development of critical thinking, collaboration, and problem solving.
• Personalizes instruction based upon the needs of students and manages time to maximize student learning opportunities.
• Adheres to LCPS Assessment and Grading policy and guidelines.
• Assesses student growth as related to educational goals, objectives, and outcomes.
• Analyzes assessment data to inform instructional practices.
• Establishes a safe and supportive environment that is conducive to learning and enables each student to demonstrate agency, ownership, and reflection.
• Participates actively in the school’s professional learning community, as appropriate, to deepen the understanding of curriculum, content, and competencies and to create assessments that measure lesson/unit mastery.
• May direct the work of teacher assistants, student teachers, and volunteers to provide an effective learning environment.
• Designs and implements authentic and engaging learning experiences using the Virginia Standards of Learning, LCPS curriculum, and effective strategies to maximize student achievement using a variety of instructional materials.
• Continually communicates with students and parents/guardians to keep them informed of the students’ progress in meeting instructional objectives.

Qualifications

Below are the qualifications for this position:

• Demonstrated knowledge of subject content, curriculum, methodology of effective teaching
• Bachelor’s degree from an accredited university or college
• Skilled in the use of multi-media and computer technology to enhance learning
• Ability to establish and maintain effective collaborative relationships with students, peers, administrators, and parents
• Demonstrated skill in oral and written communications; excellent human relations skills
• Holds or eligible for a Virginia teaching license in middle school with an endorsement in appropriate subject area
• Ability to apply knowledge of current research and theory to instructional programs

Physical Requirements

The following provides a brief description of physical requirements for this position:

While performing the duties of this job, the employee is regularly talking, expressing or exchanging ideas by means of the spoken word. Those activities in which they must convey detailed or important spoken instructions to other workers accurately, loudly, or quickly. The employee must possess normal cognitive abilities including the ability to learn, recall and apply certain practices and policies. Frequently sitting and/or remaining in a stationary position for long periods of time. Exerting up to 25 pounds of force occasionally and/or negligible amount of force frequently or constantly to lift,
carry, push, pull or otherwise move objects.

FLSA status: Exempt

Months/Days/Hours: 197 days, 3.5 hours per day

Reports to: Principal or Assistant Principal

Salary Scale: https://www.lcps.org/compensation