Wednesday, April 23, 2014

Is this really how Joplin should advertise for kindergarten teachers?

These are the qualifications that a kindergarten teacher in the Joplin R-8 School District must have, according to an ad posted today on the district website. It is a shame that the district does not have the same kind of requirements for those whose jobs are situated at the Administration Building.


Highly qualified Missouri teacher for a kindergarten class.
Missouri Certification required or ability to obtain.

Job Title:                    Teacher
Department:              Instruction
Reports to:                 Principal
Classification:            Exempt
Term:                         9 Months

Summary
Teachers are responsible for providing direct instruction to students and maintaining an environment conducive to learning

To perform this job successfully, an individual must be able to perform each essential duty satisfactorily.  The requirements listed below are representative of the knowledge, skills and abilities required.  Reasonable accommodations may be made to enable individuals with disabilities to perform essential functions.

General Expectations:
  • Supports the mission of Joplin Schools
  • Supports the value of education
  • Complies with the privacy rights of students
  • Safeguards confidential and/or sensitive information
  • Communicates effectively with all the members of the school district and community
  • Provides excellence in customer service both internally and externally.
  • Reacts to change productively
  • Keeps abreast of new information, innovative ideas and techniques
  • Maintains accurate records and filing systems for accountability and audit purposes
  • Ensures that all activities conform to district and state guidelines

Essential Duties and Responsibilities
An individual who holds this position is required to:
Provide instruction to students
Create and implement a classroom disciplinary plan
Create lesson plans and activities to implement and supplement instruction
Participate in building, grade level and subject area committees
Participate in professional development activities
Maintain accurate student records including attendance, grades and discipline
Complete and submit forms and required reports in a timely manner
Communicate regularly with parents regarding progress and other educational concerns
Participate as a member of an IEP team, 504 team or other student assistance teams as requested
Implement special educational plans such as 504 plans, individual educational programs and individual health plans
Report suspected abuse, neglect, discrimination and harassments as directed by Board policy
Prepare lesson plans for use by a substitute teacher

Subject area teachers may have additional duties and responsibilities

Supervisory Duties
Supervise students at all times



Qualifications
Education
Bachelors Degree
Certificates, Licenses, Registrations
Valid Missouri Teaching Certificate

Skills and Abilities
Language
An individual who holds this position must have the ability to:
Read, analyze and interpret professional journals, Board policy, administrative procedures and forms and governmental regulations and guidance 
Complete forms, write reports and engage in written correspondence with parents
Present information effectively and respond to questions
Write clear and complete lesson plans
Computation
An individual who holds this position must have the ability to:
Work with mathematical concepts such as probability and statistical inference
Apply concepts such as fractions, percentages, ratios and proportions to practical situations
Reasoning
An individual who holds this position must have the ability to:
Solve a variety of problems in many different situations
Interpret instructions presented in written, oral, diagram or schedule form
Apply knowledge of current educational theory and instructional techniques while presenting subject matter to students
Other Skills and Abilities
An individual who holds this position must have the ability to:
Identify needs and abilities of individual students and to adapt instructional methods accordingly
Establish and maintain effective relationships with students, peers and parents
Perform multiple tasks simultaneously
Technology
An individual who holds this position must have the ability to:
Perform basic computer functions such as word processing and internet use
Use district software for recording grades and finding student information
Utilize smart boards, projectors and other instructional technology provided by the district




The physical demands described here are representative of those that must be met by an employee to successfully perform the essential functions of this job.  Reasonable accommodations may be made to enable individuals with disabilities to perform essential functions.

Physical Demands
An individual who holds this position must have the ability to:
Speak and hear in an environment where numerous conversations and activities may be taking place simultaneously
Move around the classroom
Read handwritten or printed material
Attendance
Consistent and regular attendance is an essential function of this position.

The work conditions and environment described here are representative of those that an employee encounters while performing the essential functions of this job.  Reasonable accommodations may be made to enable individuals with disabilities to perform essential functions.

Conditions and Environment

The individual who holds this position will regularly work in a school environment that is noisy and active.  Occasionally the individual will be required to work outdoors for short periods of time to perform such tasks as loading and unloading students from district transportation and supervising recess.

5 comments:

Anonymous said...

Rumor is that lit. Intervention teachers are being cut and those teachers are being asked to go back to the classroom. It was the understanding of this tax payer that reading was a top priority. However, where is the title 1 money going to? I think it is going to pay the worthless TLC's since that grant money is long gone. Also heard a job offer from Nebraska is on the table for CJ. this is his opportunity to leave Joplin, and come back as the hero he wants to be on opening day 2014-2015.
Now time to get rid of the worthless "Directors of Secondry and Elementary Ed" and get some people in the upper admin who actually deserve it. What did either of those 2 do to deserve the pay and distinction of being leaders in the district. The secondary head is a wannabe weather reporter and the other one is a waste of space.

Anonymous said...

4:44-
If you mean the reading teachers, yes, they were cut last year and replaced with the TLCs so CJ could justify paying them with Title One funds, at least at the grade school level. Paying them with Title One funds beyond fifth grade would be a misappropriation of funds, and we all know that CJ wouldn't do that, right?

Anonymous said...

What's wrong with this job post?

Anonymous said...

Funds were cut last year and many lit teachers were let go or had to choose another job in the district. Then some of those positions were posted after they had taken other jobs. Now, those teachers are being cut again. Maybe one question that needs to be asked is, are all the title 1 funds being spent on the Read 180 program and that's why we can't have teachers?

Anonymous said...

The students in Read 180 and System 44 are not making as many gains as the students who are in the classroom the whole day.