Virtual Arkansas Instructor of Science, 7-12

Arch Ford • Plumerville, AR

2d • Remote

About The Position

Virtual Arkansas (VA) is Arkansas's fully accredited state virtual program, partnering with local schools to offer unique digital learning opportunities. VA supplements education by providing courses not otherwise available locally, implemented through a partnership between the Arkansas Department of Education and Arkansas Education Service Cooperatives. Teachers may be assigned to various 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, Advanced Placement, or concurrent offerings. Online teachers also serve as subject matter experts, engaging in curriculum and assessment design to ensure course quality and alignment.

Virtual Arkansas Online teachers are evaluated using a unique instrument, A Crosswalk of the NSQ Teaching Standards and the Danielson Framework, designed to articulate online instructor responsibilities and support teachers in online, hybrid, and blended environments. Standard H specifically addresses online teachers' unique responsibilities in curriculum development and curating effective online instructional materials, tools, and strategies. This includes designing technology-enhanced learning experiences, using formative lesson design, incorporating diverse media, integrating digital resources, aligning content with objectives and standards, and creating/selecting appropriate assignments and assessments.

Virtual Arkansas is seeking Arkansas-certified Physical Science, 7-12 instructors for the Core campus, with additional Life Science 7-12 certification preferred. The position may involve teaching any Arkansas 7-12 Science Courses. Teachers are responsible for following the established curriculum, providing instruction in a virtual environment, and leveraging digital tools like the Canvas Learning Management System (LMS) and Student Information System (SIS). Key responsibilities include delivering lessons, assessing progress, providing feedback, identifying students needing intervention, engaging students remotely, fostering a positive learning environment, and adapting to digital education challenges. Duties fall into three primary categories: Instructional/Traditional, Curriculum, and Assessment.

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
• Teaching license must indicate Science of Reading Awareness
• Employee must earn the 115/4051 licensure code, Online Teaching K-12, within two academic years of being hired, if applicable.

Nice To Haves

• Additional Life Science 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

Benefits

• Salary will be commensurate with years of experience and education level, and will correspond to the Virtual Arkansas 190 contract day certified salary schedule.

What This Job Offers

• Job Type: Full-time
• Career Level: Mid Level