Job Title:	Middle School Spanish Teacher
Department:	Full-Time 10 Months
Reports To:	Upper School Principal
FLSA Status:	Exempt

 

Position Summary:  

• Middle School (Grades 5-8) Spanish
• Primary emphasis on Spanish I/II 

The Middle School Spanish Teacher will instruct students in the Spanish Language (spoken and written), expose students to the Spanish Culture, utilize a conversational approach, and integrate a biblical worldview. Heavy emphasis will be placed on students' conversational skills and immersive opportunities

 

Essential Duties and Responsibilities: To perform this job successfully, an individual must be able to perform the following satisfactorily; other duties may be assigned. Reasonable accommodations may be made to enable individuals with disabilities to perform the essential functions.

• Overtly support and act in accordance with the school's mission and core values.
• Foster a Christ-centered, safe, predictable, and supportive environment for students.
• Interact with colleagues in a respectful and collegial manner that fosters mutual support, and a commitment to promote the welfare of others, respecting all people as individuals created in the image of God. 
• Maintain high standards of ethics, honesty, and integrity in all personal and professional matters following the Matthew 18 principle in dealing with conflict with students, parents, faculty, and staff.
• Demonstrate appropriate planning and preparation for instruction, and provide appropriate and
• timely feedback and evaluation of students.
• Develop and maintain an engaging classroom culture that inspires learning, effectively teaching
• from a Biblical Worldview.
• Be a passionate Christ follower who upholds professional standards of personal presentation, punctuality, professional courtesy, and discretion.        
• Exhibit a servant's heart and operate as a Christian role model to mentor students and create disciple-makers. 
• Appropriately carry out specific assignments including, but not limited to; service learning, advisory programs, assigned supervision, coaching, and other areas as determined by the Head of School, supervisor, or division leader.     
• Honor the confidentiality of school, student, and family information.
• Comply with the policies and procedures as articulated in the school's Employee Handbook.
• Authentically engage in self-reflection and an annual development of a growth and renewal plan. This includes written goals and progress towards these goals aligned with Legacy's professional development requirements.         

It is expected that the teacher will evidence the following types of leadership:

 

Spiritual Leadership – The school teacher will

• have a conviction that God has called him/her to Christian school teaching;
• pray with and for students every day;
• motivate students to accept God’s gift of salvation, and help them grow in their faith through his/her witness and Christian role modeling;
• love kids and lead students to a realization of their self-worth in Christ;
• maintain high standards of ethics, honesty, and integrity in all personal and professional matters;
• ensure that the classroom work environment is Christian-based, nurturing, wholesome, and loving;
• serve as advisor and mentor to a group of students that meets weekly.
• work with the administration and staff to address the spiritual formation needs of the students;
• follow the Matthew 18 principle in dealing with conflict with students, parents, staff, and administration.

Academic Leadership – The teacher will

• have knowledge and understanding of the Christian philosophy of education that will enable him/her to provide leadership and guidance in the school’s development of and commitment to a Christian worldview;
• have knowledge of the school’s curriculum, standards, and mission;
• plan a program of study that as much as possible meets the individual needs, interests, and abilities of the students, engaging and challenging them to do their best work;
• employ a variety of instructional aids, methods, and materials that will provide for creative teaching to reach the whole child spiritually, mentally, physically, socially, and emotionally;
• plan through approved channels the balanced classroom use of field trips, guest speakers, and other media;
• regularly assess the learning of students, provide progress reports as required, and initiate parent conferences as needed while responding in a timely manner to parent complaints and to parent requests for help or information;
• Initiate continuous professional development through professional reading, college course work, in-services, workshops, and/or conferences.

Administrative Leadership – The school teacher will

• keep proper discipline in the classroom and on the school premises to maintain a safe, positive, and productive learning environment;
• maintain a physical presence with the students by attendance and participation in school chapels, assemblies, athletics events, and other presentations;
• participate in beginning and end-of-year staff orientation/In-Service, staff devotionals, and staff meetings;
• maintain regular and accurate attendance and grade records to meet the demands for a comprehensive knowledge of each student’s progress;
• keep students, parents, and the administration adequately informed of student progress or deficiencies and give sufficient notice of student failure or behavior issues;
• inform the administration in a timely manner if unable to fulfill any assigned duty;
• deal directly, frankly and respectfully with the school administration in an earnest effort to resolve differences of opinion when they exist.

Supplemental Responsibilities: The teacher will:

• recognize the need for good public relations, representing the school in a favorable and professional manner to the school’s constituency and the general public;
• participate in the school’s development programs and activities in areas of constituency relations, fund-raising, and student recruitment and retention;
• supervise extracurricular activities, organizations, and outings as assigned. Embrace servant leadership;
• support the broader program of the school by attending extracurricular activities when possible;
• involve parents in prayer and volunteerism as appropriate;
• maintain a clean, attractive, and well-ordered classroom, utilizing bulletin boards and wall space in an instructive, interesting and attractive way that contributes to the excellence of learning;
• participate in the end-of-year school closing process, such as the inventorying of textbooks, furniture, and equipment;
• perform any other duties that may be assigned by the administration.

 

Competencies: To perform the job successfully, an individual should demonstrate the following:

 

Communications - Exhibits good listening and comprehension. Expresses ideas and thoughts in written form. Expresses ideas and thoughts verbally. Keeps others adequately informed. Selects and uses appropriate communication methods.

Student/Staff Support - Displays courtesy and sensitivity. Manages difficult or emotional situations. Meets commitments. Responds promptly to student needs. Solicits student feedback to improve support.

Dependability - Commits to doing the best job possible. Follows instruction. Keeps commitments. Meets attendance and punctuality guidelines. Responds to requests for service and assistance. Takes responsibility for own actions.

Planning & Organization - Integrates changes smoothly. Plans for additional resources. Prioritizes and plans work activities. Sets goals and objectives. Uses time efficiently. Works in an organized manner. Responsibly manages attendance tracking in time and attendance portal.

Use of Technology - Adapts to new technologies. Demonstrates required skills. Keeps technical skills up to date. Troubleshoots technological problems. Uses technology to increase productivity. Uses School technology platforms as directed by supervisor.

 

Qualifications:  To perform this job successfully, an individual must be able to perform each essential duty satisfactorily. The requirements listed below are representative of the knowledge, skill, and/or ability required. Reasonable accommodations may be made to enable individuals with disabilities to perform the essential functions.

 

Education/Experience:

Minimum of a Bachelor’s degree; Spanish degree is preferred

Minimum of three years’ experience teaching Spanish at the high school level preferred

Distinguishers include Texas Teaching Certification and/or Master’s degree in Spanish

Language Ability:

Read and interpret documents such as safety rules, handbooks, and procedure manuals. Write routine reports and correspondence. Speak effectively before groups of students and staff.

Reasoning Ability:

Apply common sense understanding to carry out instructions furnished in written, oral, or diagram form. Deal with problems involving several concrete variables in standardized situations.

Computer Skills:

To perform this job successfully, an individual should demonstrate a reasonable level of computer literacy.  Basic proficiency is needed in word processing, e-mailing, accessing the Internet, school management software and curriculum mapping software;

 

Expectations

• acknowledge Christ as Savior and support the school’s Mission Statement, Vision Statement, Core Values and Statement of Faith;
• be a Christian role model in attitude, speech, and actions towards others.  This includes being committed to God’s Biblical standards for sexual conduct (Luke 6:40).   
• possess evidence of competence in area of instruction, or other adequate preparation, background, or experience as determined by the school administrator;
• have a working knowledge of and follow LCA’s Employee Handbook, Parent & Student Handbook.  
• sign and live by the school’s Statement of Faith as a condition for employment and continued employment in this ministry;
• maintain confidentiality in the operation of the classroom and the school;
• refrain from unwholesome talk, including profanity, slang (language widely used and accepted, but not appropriate for godliness) or jokes that may be offensive;
• place his/her school ministry ahead of other jobs or volunteer activities; and
• maintain a personal appearance that models cleanliness, modesty, and good taste consistent with school policy.

Supervisory Responsibilities: Dependent on grade level and subject; may be assigned at the discretion of the division principal.

 

Work Environment:  The work environment characteristics described here are representative of those an employee encounters while performing the essential functions of this job. Reasonable accommodations may be made to enable individuals with disabilities to perform the essential functions. Duties are normally performed in a school/classroom environment. Duties may be occasionally performed on field trips away from school.

The noise level in the work environment is usually moderate.

 

Physical Demands:  The physical demands described here are representative of those that must be met by an employee to successfully perform the essential functions of this job. Reasonable accommodations may be made to enable individuals with disabilities to perform the essential functions.

 

Employee must have the ability to sit and stand for extended periods of time; must frequently lift and/or move up to 10 pounds and occasionally lift and/or move up to 25 pounds. Exhibit manual dexterity to enter data into a computer; specific vision abilities required by this job include Close vision, Distance vision and Depth perception. Ability to see and read a computer screen and printed material with or without vision aids While performing the duties of this job, the employee is frequently required to walk; sit and use hands to finger, handle, or feel. The employee is occasionally required to stand; reach with hands and arms; climb or balance; stoop, kneel, crouch, or crawl and talk or hear. Employee must have the ability to hear and understand speech at normal classroom levels, outdoors and on the telephone; speak in audible tones so that others may understand clearly in normal classrooms, outdoors and on the telephone; physical agility to bend, stoop, climb stairs, and reach overhead.

 

CORE VALUES:  Legacy Christian Academy affirms these essential beliefs and strives to honor and uphold them in all aspects of school life.

• Pursuit of Truth.   We affirm “all truth is God’s truth” through a liberal arts education that fosters a love for learning and a desire for wisdom.  (John 8:32:  and you will know the truth, and the truth will set you free) 
• Primacy of Scripture.   We teach all subjects from a biblical worldview and we apply the truth and authority of biblical principles in all situations.  (2 Timothy 3:16-17:  All Scripture is breathed out by God and profitable for teaching, for reproof, for correction, and for training in righteousness, that the man of God may be complete, equipped for every good work.)
• Imago Dei.   We respect all people as individuals created in the image of God and we celebrate the diversity of gifts and callings. (Genesis 1:26:  Then God said, “Let us make man in our image, after our likeness.)
• Covenant relationships.  We build relationships that foster mutual support, respect, and a commitment to promote the welfare of others.  (Philippians 2:3-4: Do nothing from selfish ambition or conceit, but in humility count others more significant than yourselves.  Let each of you look not only to his own interests, but also to the interests of others
• Discipleship.   We, as Christ-followers, are committed to a life of virtue and acting as agents in God’s plan of restoration.  (Matthew 16:24:  Then Jesus told his disciples, if anyone would come after me, let him deny himself and take up his cross and follow me.)
• Servant-leadership.   We provide opportunities to serve one another, our community, and our world.  (Matthew 20:26-28:  But whoever would be great among you must be your servant, and whoever would be first among you must be your slave, even as the Son of Man came not to be served but to serve, and to give his life as a ransom for many.)

 

The above job description is not intended to be an all-inclusive list of duties and standards of the position. Incumbents will follow any other instructions, and perform any other related duties, as assigned by their supervisor.

 

I fully support the Mission Statement, Vision Statement, Core Values, Statement of Faith as written without mental reservations.