Middle School Science Teacher - Dr. Marian G. Lacey K-8 Academy - (4 Positions)

Little Rock School District•Little Rock, AR

9h•Onsite

About The Position

The Dr. Marian G. Lacey K-8 Academy seeks to provide a rigorous, structured academic setting where leaders learn and learners lead. Students will benefit from a rich collection of opportunities designed to equip learners with the necessary tools to lead within and beyond the school walls, enabling them to positively impact their communities and society. The academy believes that all students can learn and deserve a quality educational experience in a safe environment, affirming that learning is required and success is the standard. Through quality, grade-level instruction, coupled with engaging, meaningful, and affirmative educational experiences, the academy cultivates an environment that celebrates diverse strengths to build prepared and healthy individuals who achieve success at high levels. Using the School Wellness Wheel framework, the academy serves as a beacon to stakeholders, addressing trauma, promoting wellbeing, and elevating learning for all. This is achieved through deliberate intention in implementing school-wide systems embodying mastery-based learning, a growth-based educational approach, and strength-based instruction in every classroom. Learners will engage in high levels of hands-on experiences, real-world investigations, and applied literacy and mathematics learning. Students will have opportunities to engage in structured science, technology, reading/writing, engineering, arts, and mathematics (STREAM) experiences from kindergarten through eighth grade, building a strong cohort of leaders with 21st-century skills for collaborative problem-solving, technological literacy, and career-readiness.

Requirements

Must meet Arkansas certification requirements in Middle School Science 4-8 and/or Earth/Life/Physical Science 7-12.
Demonstrates a willingness to try new teaching and assessment strategies that would benefit all students.
Willingness to participate in on-going staff development.
Ability to teach to differences and sensitivity to cultural differences.
Commitment to staff development and to apply new techniques in the classroom.
Demonstrates the conviction that all children can and will learn in the Little Rock School District.
Evidence of a strong commitment to quality desegregated education.
Ability to articulate student progress clearly to parents.
Evidence of the ability to design and implement hands-on activities in all thematic units and facilitate interdisciplinary studies, integrating all content areas.
Ability to collaborate with colleagues to monitor student progress, skill acquisition, and support their overall success.
Strong organizational, communication, and interpersonal skills.
Must have the ability to work for the duration of the daily contracted time period, and to be physically present and at assigned work, with only infrequent unexcused absences, during the contract year.

Nice To Haves

ESOL endorsement preferred.

Responsibilities

Embrace the K-8 school configuration and best practices with high expectations and promote student success while adopting a student-centered focus that allows students to grow socially, emotionally, physically, and academically.
Support the vision and mission of Dr. Marian G. Lacey K-8 Academy by working collaboratively with the administration and ALL staff to create a positive, safe, and learner-centered environment.
Maintain accurate, complete, and correct records as required by law, district policy, and administrative regulation.
Assist the administration in implementing all policies and/or procedures governing student life, conduct, wellness, and academic mastery.
Plan instruction designed to promote the social, physical, and intellectual growth and development of children; formatively assess student progress and modify instructional techniques; plan a program of study that meets the individual needs, interests, and abilities of the students; refer children to support services within the school community as needed.
Guide the learning process toward the achievement of curriculum goals by establishing and communicating clear objectives for all lessons, units, and projects; integrate skills into units and learning centers in the classroom.
Prepare for instruction and show written evidence of preparation upon request of immediate supervisor; employ a variety of instructional techniques and instructional media to meet individual student needs and learning styles.
Implement innovative, research-based instructional strategies, assessments, techniques, and programs being considered by the building and/or District; collect pertinent data and information; work with appropriate personnel to prepare formal narrative and statistical reports related to the effectiveness of the innovation.
Serve as a model classroom for the building and District; allow administrators, teachers, parents, and others to observe in the classroom as requested; provide technical assistance, share information and resources with other teachers and staff.
Create a classroom environment that is conducive to learning and developmentally appropriate to the maturity and interest of the students; encourage students to set, monitor, and maintain high standards for classroom behavior; develop reasonable rules and procedures to maintain a classroom climate that is equitable, fair, and conducive to learning.
Maintain an inventory of all equipment, furniture, and large center items; maintain a clean and orderly classroom.
Monitor individual and/or group activities to prevent accidents and promote social skills; take all necessary and reasonable precautions to protect students, equipment, material, and facilities.
Make provisions for being available to students and parents for education-related purposes outside the instructional day when required or requested to do so under reasonable terms; work with parents to promote cooperation, understanding of development, and participation in the program; allow parents to observe their children in the classroom setting; assume responsibility for encouraging and involving parents and community in decision-making relative to the development and implementation of programs at the building level.
Promote the community spirit of Dr. Marian G. Lacey K-8 Academy by being responsible to the needs of the administration, staff, and children of the school community as appropriate; use language that is encouraging and constructive in tone and volume when communicating with children, parents, and staff.
Meet and instruct assigned class in the location and at the times designated; work collaboratively with content and grade-level team members; attend staff meetings and serve on staff committees as required; make a commitment to the time necessary for participating in District/school-sponsored staff development.
Willingness to perform hands-on experiments with students.
Structure the classroom for cooperative learning activities.
Structure the learning environment to enable students to study the integrated science program outlined by the LRSD Curriculum Guides, giving preference to interdisciplinary opportunities in collaboration with other content areas.
Plan a program of study that, as much as possible, meets the individual needs, interests, and abilities of the students, with preference given to an individualized mastery-based learning approach and implementing differentiated classroom instruction.
Prepare for classes assigned and show written evidence of preparation upon request of school administration.
Employ a variety of instructional techniques, consistent with the physical limitations of the location provided and the needs and capabilities of the individuals or student groups involved.
Assess the accomplishments of students on a regular basis and provide progress monitoring with regular feedback to students and reports as required.
Demonstrate knowledge of lab safety procedures in dealing with situations in which accidents could happen.
Assume the primary responsibility for teaching science to assigned students and to coach/sponsor competitions such as Science Fair.
Assist in identifying and utilizing community resources such as field trips.
Actively improve professional competence.
Perform other duties as assigned.