Middle School English Language Arts Teacher

Walla Walla Public Schools•Walla Walla, WA

18h•Onsite

About The Position

Working in collaboration with colleagues, the middle school English language arts teacher will create a classroom environment that implements district approved curriculum to ensure an equitable, engaging, and positive learning experience for all students. This role involves building a foundation of positive relationships, high expectations, equitable systems, and SEL-informed practices. The teacher will actively support a productive climate of collaboration in a professional learning community, analyzing student data, taking risks, sharing successes/failures, and exploring new practices to improve student learning. The position requires planning, implementing, and evaluating classroom instructional activities consistent with adopted district curriculum and standards. Through an equity lens, the teacher will provide clear and focused instruction for all students using a variety of teaching strategies that promote student engagement and interaction to meet diverse needs. Collaboration in developing and implementing common formative assessments to monitor student learning and instructional effectiveness is also key. The role includes supporting and implementing building-wide behavior standards to ensure an orderly, safe, and productive learning environment, and communicating positively and regularly with parents/guardians regarding student progress and expectations, fostering collaboration between home and school. Establishing and maintaining collaborative working relationships with staff, administrators, parents/legal guardians, support groups, and community members is essential.

Requirements

Valid Washington State Teaching Certificate with appropriate endorsement.
Knowledge/awareness of own cultural identity and how this influences behavior, and desire to learn about the cultural identity of others.
Ability to establish and nurture an environment that promotes cultural competence and equitable treatment of staff, students, and patrons of the district.
Advocate for equity, inclusion and professional practices that ensure all students achieve at high levels.
Knowledge of SEL practices and approaches.
Knowledge and skill in instructional principles, methods and techniques.
Commitment and ability to work with a full range of students.
Skill in student management, student discipline and developing positive techniques for improving student behavior.
Must possess a positive attitude about change and an eagerness to implement changes that will enhance student learning.
Ability to maintain confidentiality.
Ability to establish and maintain positive effective working relationships with a variety of students, staff, and community in a multicultural and diverse socio-economic setting.
Ability to participate collaboratively in teams.
Ability to continue participation in staff development to maintain professional skills.
Ability to serve as a role model and treat students as individuals in a professional manner.
Ability to follow appropriate guidelines and protocols to ensure a safe and engaging learning environment.
Must maintain all licenses and certifications as a condition of continued employment.
Completed Employment Application/ Background Check.
Must complete Walla Walla Public Schools Risk Management and Bloodborne Pathogens Training upon hire.

Nice To Haves

Prior teaching experience is preferred.
Bilingual English/Spanish strongly preferred.

Responsibilities

Build a foundation of positive relationships, high expectations, equitable systems, and SEL-informed practices, which will drive daily practices and beliefs when working with students.
Actively support a productive climate of collaboration in a professional learning community whereby the teacher analyzes student data, takes risks, shares successes/failures, and explores new practices in order to improve student learning for all.
Plan, implement, and evaluate classroom instructional activities consistent with adopted district curriculum and standards.
Through the equity lens, provide clear and focused instruction for all students by using a variety of teaching strategies that promote student engagement and interaction in order to meet the needs of all students.
Collaboratively develop and implement common formative assessments in order to monitor student learning and instructional effectiveness.
Support and implement building-wide behavior standards in order to ensure an orderly, safe and productive learning environment.
Communicate positively and regularly with parents and/or legal guardians in the areas of growth, student progress, and teacher expectations; develop meaningful collaboration between home and school.
Establish and maintain collaborative working relationships with staff, administrators, parents/legal guardians, support groups, and community members.