SYElementary School Lead Teacher; Grades 1-4

School Mission

At the Inspired Teaching Demonstration School, a professional learning community of master teachers and teacher residents ensures that a diverse group of students achieve their potential as accomplished learners, thoughtful citizens, and imaginative and inquisitive problem solvers through a demanding, inquiry-based curriculum. With its clear mission and prominent location in Washington, DC, the school serves as a model of instruction for students and training for teachers, with the goal of becoming a leader in changing the way teachers are prepared and supported and students are educated nationwide.

Job Purpose

Teachers in the elementary grades facilitate inquiry-based classrooms in which students tackle the standards through student-centered workshops, hands-on projects, and authentic field work. While arts integration supports a diverse group of learners’ access to challenging academic standards, our classrooms are focused learning communities in which each student is encouraged to contribute. On the elementary team, teachers use the workshop model for literacy and math instruction, and manage their classroom using the practices outlined in Responsive Classroom and the school’s handbooks.

Teachers also plan and implement instruction in science and social studies*. Additionally, teachers attend to socio-emotional growth and learning. Families are engaged as partners in their children’s education, and all teachers demonstrate inclusive practices to support our school’s welcoming community.

* Fourth grade is departmentalized into Humanities (ELA, SS) and STEM (math, science).

Essential Functions

The Elementary School Lead Teacher is responsible for the following:

Planning and Preparation

• Plan and document (using the school’s selected lesson planning tool) high-quality instruction in line with:

• The school’s mission and philosophy;

• The five core elements of teaching: joy; wide-ranging evidence of learning; purpose, persistence and action; student as expert; and mutual respect;

• Intentional, well-designed curricula approved by the school, whether purchased or teacher-designed;

• Nationally-normed standards (Common Core, NGSS, C3 Framework, etc).

• Work to actively understand students’ needs and strengths, including actively striving to develop cultural competence, engaging in ongoing study of child development theory and brain research, and keeping current with student IEP’s, 504’s, and BIPs.

• Seek out and access high-quality resources and materials, including resources beyond the school campus.

• Demonstrate solid knowledge of the concepts in each of the disciplines taught.

Classroom Environment

• Draw from Responsive Classroom, Restorative Justice, and Relationship-based discipline to manage student behavior, in and out of the classroom, for the purpose of providing a safe and optimal learning environment.

• Monitor students in a variety of educational environments (e.g. classroom, cafeteria, playground, school grounds, hallways, restrooms, field trips, etc.).

• Build on the established Community Expectations (Everyone Learns, Everyone is Safe, Everyone Builds the Community, and Everyone is Welcome) to create a classroom community that reflects the mission and philosophy of the Inspired Teaching Demonstration School.

• Maintain a safe and orderly classroom, with responsible and child-friendly organization of supplies, material and technology, and use of practices consistent across the school.

Instruction

• Engage actively with and implement feedback from principals and coaches; assume a stance of teacher-as-learner when working with colleagues, special education staff and assistants/residents.

• Communicate to students and families clearly and in an age appropriate way the purpose of instruction.

• Engage students with different levels of questions and discussion prompts

• Facilitate student-centered, high-quality instruction in line with areas identified under Planning and Preparation above.

• Utilize a workshop model to teach reading, writing, and mathematics.

• Draw on multiple teaching strategies and approaches to engage students and provide differentiation.

• Conduct, review,…