Virtual Arkansas Instructor of Science, 7-12

Arch Ford•Plumerville, AR

1d•Remote

About The Position

Virtual Arkansas (VA) is Arkansas’s fully accredited state virtual program, partnering with local schools to offer courses not readily available through local resources. VA is not an online school or a diploma-granting institution but serves as a supplement to local education. The program operates through a partnership between the Arkansas Department of Education and the Arkansas Education Service Cooperatives. Teachers may be assigned to various instructional services based on organizational needs, including Content + Teacher Supplemental, Dedicated/Emergency Use, Division of Youth Services, Alternative Learning Environment, and the Learn Anywhere Academy. Teachers are assigned courses within their licensure area based on organizational need, not by request. VA maintains a comprehensive catalog of courses aligned to Arkansas Curriculum Standards or other learning outcomes defined by credit-granting entities. As subject matter experts, VA online teachers also engage in ongoing curriculum and assessment design to ensure the quality and alignment of VA online courses.

Requirements

Science of Reading level required: Awareness
Arkansas Teacher's License with Physical Science, 7-12 required
Arkansas residency required
Minimum of a B.A. or B.S. required
Employee must earn the 115/4051 licensure code, Online Teaching K-12, within two academic years of being hired, if applicable.
Excellent time management skills with a proven ability to meet deadlines and prioritize tasks
Ability to function well in a high-paced and at times, stressful environment
Excellent verbal and written communication skills
Excellent interpersonal, teamwork, and customer service skills
Proficiency in using digital tools and platforms
Excellent organizational skills and attention to detail
Strong analytical and problem-solving skills
Ability to monitor, analyze, and interpret student data to then make informed decisions related to student progress and success
Desire and ability to learn and adapt to new and emerging technologies and teaching strategies
Arkansas licensure in assigned area(s): 7-12 Physical Science required
Teaching license must indicate Science of Reading Awareness
Prolonged periods of sitting at a desk and working on a computer
Periodic travel requirements
Sit, stand, walk, stoop, kneel, or crouch
Use hands to handle or feel, type, and pick up objects, and reach with hands and arms
Speak and hear to communicate effectively
Frequently lift and/or move up to 10 pounds and occasionally lift and/or move up to 25 pounds

Nice To Haves

Additional Life Science certification preferred
Additional Life Science 7-12 certification preferred

Responsibilities

Effectively utilize the Virtual Arkansas technology systems, programs, software, and platforms to perform duties and deliver instruction.
Plan, prepare, and design live (synchronous) digital lessons and assignments.
Learn and utilize effective synchronous and asynchronous student engagement strategies.
Monitor and track student attendance to synchronous sessions.
Implement intervention and enrichment strategies, based on assessment data and mastery of standards.
Utilize effective and efficient student feedback tools and strategies.
Monitor student progress and respond appropriately to the needs of the students.
Implement effective/efficient communication strategies with students and local digital learning facilitators.
Attend and participate in required professional development, department-level collaborative teams, intervention meetings, and other required meetings.
Meet at least once weekly with the local facilitator(s) to coordinate upcoming lessons and strategies.
Maintain availability for students throughout each school week.
Deliver and respond to communications, including emails and messages, in a timely manner.
Collaborate with all stakeholders (e.g. students, parents, colleagues, local school facilitators, supervisors, etc.) for the purpose of establishing and maintaining effective professional communication and positive relationships.
Implement ELL, IEP, and 504 goals and accommodations into lessons and assessments.
Maintain a professional home office.
Make occasional site visits to schools to foster relationships with students and school staff.
Complete other duties as assigned consistent with online, digital teaching.
Monitor the digital curriculum and make recommendations for continuous curricular improvement through the established curriculum change/support process.
Assist design team members with the implementation of requested curriculum changes.
Make curriculum change recommendations based on standard revisions or misalignments between standards, content, and assessments.
Create and enhance online content, including the creation of focus and micro-topic videos.
Engage in bi-annual course blueprint maintenance initiatives.
Update course syllabi and pacing guides, and complete course alignment matrices.
Use various simple tools to create small, fun learning objects to improve the interactive aspect of courses (Learning Objects).
If enrollment numbers do not meet the desired enrollment threshold, engage in more extensive course enhancement projects.
Utilize and/or design assessment items that are aligned to the Arkansas Curriculum Standards (or other learning outcomes) that reflect appropriate DOK levels for each course.
Align assessment items to learning outcomes.
Monitor assessment data and student mastery of standards to inform student learning, instruction, curriculum gaps, and assessment validity.