Middle School Teacher

MISSION OF THE ROLE

• SEEQS faculty members bring the SEEQS vision—the school culture, academic excellence, and interdisciplinary, community-based work—into reality by engaging students in meaningful learning experiences.

OUTCOMES

• All students are provided daily opportunities to engage in rigorous, meaningful learning experiences in content and EQS courses.
• All students receive timely feedback relative to standards.
• All students develop an understanding of the SEEQS Sustainability Skills and build a portfolio of work documenting their growth.
• All students are supported in social-emotional learning and growth opportunities.

COMPETENCIES

• Pedagogical commitment to and demonstrated excellence in constructivist and investigative approaches to learning
• Loves working with and being mentors for young people, especially middle school students
• Willing to engage productively with students, parents, colleagues, and supervisors
• Self-reflective, lifelong learner
• Flexible and open to feedback
• An excellent sense of humor!
• Willingness to take on leadership roles
• Proficient technology user, including Google-based tools
• Disciplinary content expertise and interdisciplinary interests
• Commitment to implementing sustainable practices and philosophy

QUALIFICATIONS

Minimum:

• Bachelor's degree
• Two years experience working with middle school-aged children 

Preferred:

• Masters degree and/or significant professional experience in content area
• Three or more years experience teaching at the middle school level
• Valid Hawaii Teaching License in the subject area of instruction
• Experience working with students with special needs

GOALS & RESPONSIBILITIES
SEEQS teachers can expect the following roles and related responsibilities:

Teacher/ facilitator

• Develop and/or implement research-based, standards-aligned curriculum that enables students to develop content-specific skills, tools, and knowledge.
  • Science courses use the SEPUP middle school science curriculum
  • Math courses use the Desmos Math Program.
  • English Language Arts (ELA), Arts, and Social Studies courses are multi-aged, theme-based courses designed by teachers.
    • ELA courses use a Reading and Writing Workshop approach
    • Social Studies classes use a Reading Like a Historian approach.
    • Arts courses are multi-aged, theme-based courses designed by teachers.
• Lead a student-centered classroom with an emphasis on inquiry, classroom collaboration, purposeful integration of technology, and self-exploration.
• Personalize each student’s learning environment by providing relevant and timely feedback, strategies and suggestions for growth and improvement, as well as facilitating student success on individual projects.
• Communicate with families about classroom studies and student progress to help create an engaged community.
• Use standards-based grading to document a variety of formative and summative assessments that measure student progress towards content standards, performance expectations, and work habits.
• Implement classroom, school, and behavior management strategies as necessary that are aligned with SEEQS' philosophy of logical consequences and restorative practices.
• Contribute to and attend events for the SEEQS community, including Open Houses/Orientations and Project Exhibitions, and Presentations of Learning.

Co-learner

• Participate with students in morning Physical Activity (including physical activity in Advisory).
• Learn from experts, field trips, student projects, and colleagues about issues related to sustainability during EQS courses.

Co-teacher

• Co-lead, plan, supervise, and assess an Essential Question of Sustainability course alongside other teachers with different content expertise.
• Collaborate with local organizations and communities to introduce students to real-world issues, and to have a real-world audience assess student exploration.
• Support an environment of full inclusion for students with special needs by meeting regularly with Special Education/Support teachers to co-plan shared courses and by attending and preparing for IEP and 504 meetings.

Learner/ co-constructor

• Model effective teaching and learning practices and strategies for fellow faculty members; learn from fellow teachers doing the same.
• Prepare for, participate fully in, and follow-up on professional development and learning community.
• Plan and reflect on teaching practices and roles through goal-setting and peer observation processes.

Advisor/ Mentor

• Model Safe, Kind, Respectful, and Responsible behaviors with students, parents, colleagues, and community members.
• Serve as a mentor/advisor to a group of students in Advisory to support student success, health, happiness, emotional intelligence and intellectual safety.
• Model a democratic, collaborative approach to creating school norms and rules by participating in school-wide decision-making and facilitating constructive conversations.

Professional

• Intentionally work to uphold SEEQS faculty norms and organizational values.
• Communicate appropriately and in a timely manner, including electronically.
• Adhere to school policies and procedures consistently, completely, and on time.
• Respectfully share working spaces and communal areas with colleagues and students.
• Implement sustainable practices and philosophy.