Teacher, Big Picture High School, 1.0 FTE

Durango School District 9-R•Durango, CO

19h•Onsite

About The Position

Durango School District is accepting applications for an Advisor position, with a desire to work as part of a smaller educational team in a Big Picture Learning high school. Must have a Colorado teaching license by the start date, August 17, 2026. Preference Given to Candidates who Possess: Experience working in a Big Picture Learning school. See https://www.bigpicture.org/ for more information about Big Picture Learning. Experience working in alternative education programs. Experience as a generalist, working with students in all subject areas, while being able to be the content expert in one area. Strong comfort level with technology. Experience at the high school level. SUMMARY: Facilitating learning through student-designed independent project work by aligning research and products with state academic standards and district competencies in a variety of subject areas. Implement, by instruction and action, the Big Picture Learning philosophy of education. Coordinate Leaving To Learn experiences outside of school for students. Facilitate quarterly learning plan meetings with each student. Forecast the educational needs of each student based on their interests and abilities. Identify learning opportunities and internships for students. Facilitate internship searches through phone calls, shadow days, and informational interviews to ensure that each student has an internship. Monitor student internships through site visits, phone calls, and mentor meetings. Report on each student’s educational and social/emotional progress in detail through quarterly narratives, phone calls to parents and weekly student meetings. Attend staff meetings, professional development days, and yearly training sessions. Create a positive culture of learning. Maintain complete and factual records on each student as required by school and law. Work with staff on strategies for grade levels, school, and network. Make provisions to be available to students and parents for education-related reasons outside of the school day when necessary.

Requirements

Must have a Colorado teaching license by the start date, August 17, 2026.
Minimum: Bachelor’s degree of related subject from accredited university.
Colorado Teaching License with endorsements for the levels and subject areas teaching.
Pass the PLACE or PRAXIS II Test.
Meet CDE and ESSA requirements for teachers.
May be required to complete CPI training depending on assignment.
Excellent interpersonal relations and oral and written communication skills.
Strong decision making, analytical and organizational skills.
Ability to work with students with diverse needs at various levels.
Ability to develop and implement engaging lessons that facilitate student mastery of the Colorado Academic Standards.
Critical thinking and problem solving skills.
Ability to maintain confidentiality in all aspects of the job.
Ability to promote and follow Board and District policies, Superintendent policies and building/ Department Procedures.
Ability to communicate, interact and work effectively and cooperatively in a team setting
Ability to recognize the importance of safety in the workplace, follow safety rules, practice safe work habits, utilize appropriate safety equipment and report unsafe conditions to the appropriate administrator.
Ability to utilize formative and summative assessments to assess student learning.
Ability to implement IEPs, 504s, and behavior support plans.
Microcomputers and general office equipment.
Microsoft Office applications.
Google Suite of applications.
Student Information System: Infinite Campus.

Nice To Haves

Experience working in a Big Picture Learning school.
Experience working in alternative education programs.
Experience as a generalist, working with students in all subject areas, while being able to be the content expert in one area.
Strong comfort level with technology.
Experience at the high school level.
Experience is preferred but may not be necessary for hiring.

Responsibilities

Facilitating learning through student-designed independent project work by aligning research and products with state academic standards and district competencies in a variety of subject areas.
Implement, by instruction and action, the Big Picture Learning philosophy of education.
Coordinate Leaving To Learn experiences outside of school for students.
Facilitate quarterly learning plan meetings with each student.
Forecast the educational needs of each student based on their interests and abilities.
Identify learning opportunities and internships for students.
Facilitate internship searches through phone calls, shadow days, and informational interviews to ensure that each student has an internship.
Monitor student internships through site visits, phone calls, and mentor meetings.
Report on each student’s educational and social/emotional progress in detail through quarterly narratives, phone calls to parents and weekly student meetings.
Attend staff meetings, professional development days, and yearly training sessions.
Create a positive culture of learning.
Maintain complete and factual records on each student as required by school and law.
Work with staff on strategies for grade levels, school, and network.
Make provisions to be available to students and parents for education-related reasons outside of the school day when necessary.
Utilize effective teaching practices to teach the adopted curricula for assigned grades and subjects so that students attain adopted grade/course expectations and standards.
Modify and tailor the curriculum as necessary to address individual student differences, learning styles, and student abilities.
Instruct with adopted materials and utilize supplemental classroom materials, media, and teaching appropriate for assigned levels and subjects.
Utilize formative and summative assessments to assess the learning, achievement, and performance of each student and report the results as required by District Policy and school procedures.
Model, promote, and as situations arise, take the opportunity to provide instruction related to character education including citizenship and responsible behavior (respect for self, others and property), bullying prevention, conflict resolution skills, and responsible work habits and ethics.
Provide safety instruction for students when the subject, activities, chemicals, products, tools and/or equipment pose possible harm or injury to students including use of personal protective devices (protective eye devices, safe clothing) and assure that students adhere to safety requirements.
Maintain an orderly, positive learning environment free from disruptive behavior by implementing proactive classroom management strategies and enforcing the Student Conduct Code.
Supervise students to minimize any possibility of violent behavior and to minimize potential accidents.
Be familiar with and abide by all applicable Federal and Colorado laws and regulations; Board of Education policies and District Regulations, as amended from time to time; school procedures that relate to employment with the District.
Perform other duties as assigned.
Assure the safety and welfare of students including necessary actions to insure that students are supervised at all times.
Demonstrate faithfulness and promptness in attendance at work.
Submit required reports promptly at the times specified.
Demonstrate care of and protection of School District property
Report suspected child abuse or neglect as required by law.
Use the District’s internet and E-mail system as specified
Fulfill other duties as assigned by the Principal, Superintendent or their designees.