ServingSchools · 2 months ago
Classroom Teacher - Gifted and Talented
Kennebunk, ME
Full-time
Onsite
Mid LevelServingSchools is dedicated to improving student outcomes and transforming lives through high-quality education. As a Classroom Teacher for Gifted and Talented students, you will lead instructional planning and deliver a rigorous curriculum while fostering a positive learning environment that promotes diversity, equity, and inclusion.
Education
Responsibilities
Gifted and Talented Annually create and review the Individualized Learning Plan for each identified student
Conduct consultations with students to assess and provide gifted and talented services, focusing on addressing executive functioning challenges such as time management, planning, organization, task initiation, prioritization, and perfectionism
Collaborate with students to develop tailored strategies and interventions to enhance their executive functioning skills and academic performance
Advocate for student needs by conducting consultations with teachers and educational stakeholders, ensuring appropriate support and accommodations are provided to facilitate student success
Identify gifted and talented students during transitional years and provide guidance and support to facilitate a smooth transition into advanced academic programs
Conduct parent teacher conferences twice a year
Research and locate opportunities for enrichment outside of the classroom
Involve community members and unique learning experiences as much as possible
Ground planning in in-depth knowledge of subject matter, standards-based content and curriculum (including National Standards in Gifted and Talented Education), pedagogy, and diverse needs of students to provide meaningful learning experiences
Identify and align lesson objectives to approved standards-based curriculum using student learning data and in-depth, individualized student knowledge to guide planning and differentiated instruction
Plan accordingly for pacing, sequencing content coverage, transitions, and guided practice and application of knowledge
Develop appropriate long- and short-range plans; adapt plans when needed based on real-time student performance and ongoing formative assessment results
Incorporate educational technology into plans strategically and selectively to enhance student learning and instructional effectiveness
Establish and maintain effective behavioral and instructional routines and procedures that optimize student learning time while creating and maintaining a safe physical setting
Establish a climate of trust, collaboration, and teamwork by being fair, caring, respectful, inclusive, and enthusiastic
Promote respectful interactions that challenge and engage all students within the learning environment
Create an environment that is academically appropriate, stimulating, and challenging; encourages student participation, inquiry, and intellectual risk-taking; and treats learning time as a precious commodity
Employ a balance of effective verbal, nonverbal, written, and digital communication tools to foster a positive, culturally inclusive learning environment that features and celebrates diverse voices and perspectives
Engage and maintain students in active, scaffolded, and rigorous learning that meets students where they are while building upon their existing knowledge and skills; differentiate and pace instruction to meet current and evolving students’ needs; address multiple intelligences and multiple learning styles
Employ a variety of effective high-impact instructional strategies that develop students’ higher-level and critical thinking skills
Use real-world content and application, varied methods and materials, primary sources, experiential and proficiency-based learning, strategically selected technology, and thoughtfully sourced supplemental resources to enhance instruction, provide compelling experiences, and deepen student learning
Maintain and communicate clear learning objectives, reinforce learning goals consistently throughout the lesson, communicate content clearly, and check for understanding ongoing through informal checks, and regular use of diagnostic, formative, and summative assessments
Activate prior learning experiences; link present content with past and future learning, other subject areas, and real-world experiences and applications to deepen learning with interdisciplinary connections and perspectives
Ensure that instructional decision-making is driven by the analysis of comprehensive, relevant, accurate, and up-to-date student data
Set, communicate, track, and invest students in both short- and long-term goals that will result in meaningful student growth
Involve students in setting learning goals and monitoring their own data-based progress
Manage with a goals-based approach; create and maintain a classroom culture of ongoing accountability checks to gauge progress towards ambitious data-driven goals
Track outcomes by student sub-groups, with a particular focus on minimizing achievement gaps by various identities
Commit to and develop a deep, functional, and genuine collaborative relationship with colleagues to deepen collective instructional impact
Seek and share feedback and input to ensure collaboration between shared grade teams and across grades, departments, disciplines and schools
Commit to continuous learning and improvement for self, students, school, and district by identifying and scaling successful approaches, and by altering and discontinuing ineffective approaches
Incorporate learning from formal and informal professional growth opportunities into instructional practice; experiment and reflect upon the effectiveness of implemented strategies to continuously refine effectiveness
Identify and evaluate personal strengths and weaknesses; set goals for improvement of skills and professional performance based on self-assessments and in collaboration with principals, coaches, instructional strategists, and evaluators
Apply a strong DEI lens to ensure prioritization of cultural competence and responsiveness, multicultural perspectives, and intentional efforts to enhance classroom-based experiences of inclusion
Ensure students see you as their advocate, feel comfortable sharing examples of discrimination and harassment they witness or experience, and trust that discrimination and harassment will be addressed if shared
Develop, recommend and implement improvements to curriculum and instruction with awareness and understanding of their impact on a community of diverse needs and backgrounds; address negative instructional experiences by students that conflict with our stated DEI priorities, values, and beliefs
Demonstrate a commitment to the RSU 21 Equity Initiative by internalizing the district’s DEI priorities and policies; model behaviors to reinforce the equity-based, diverse, and inclusive culture we seek
Reflect on personal biases that may impact your work, decision-making, and/or the culture of the classroom you lead through a commitment to personal DEI growth
Serve as an instructional leader by seeking and applying new and innovative methods when needed to produce the best student outcomes rather than relying on familiar and comfortable approaches; balance classroom autonomy with respect for institutional process to do right by your students
Serve as role model for students in how to conduct themselves as informed, engaged citizens and as confident, intelligent, considerate, and tolerant human beings
Demonstrate behavior consistent with district, legal, ethical, procedural and professional standards and requirements
Collaborate and communicate proactively with students’ families to promote students’ well-being and success; build positive and professional relationships with parents/guardians through frequent communication concerning students’ progress through varied formal and informal communication channels
Communicate in partnership with all family and guardian stakeholders, while engaging stakeholders in ways that convey mutual respect and effective conflict management, when needed
Collaborate with other teachers to provide differentiated educational opportunities for gifted students in heterogeneous classes (science and social studies)
Facilitate professional development for colleagues about gifted and talented students (social and emotional learning topics, differentiation, identification process, etc.)
Qualification
Required
Bachelor's degree or higher
valid Maine teaching certification or eligibility for endorsement required
Maine DOE Certification Endorsement - 690 Gifted & Talented required
subject matter expertise
knowledge of effective teaching practices
comfort with standards-based curriculum
ability to design differentiated lessons that meet the educational needs of all students
ability to work collaboratively with colleagues
a belief that all students can and deserve to learn
proven and high-potential educators with passion
high expectations for students
demonstrated track record of intentional, standards-based planning
rigorous, differentiated and high-impact lesson delivery
creation and maintenance of inclusive and high-performing instructional environments
Preferred
Prior evidence of strong results on measures of student learning outcomes in relevant subjects strongly preferred
National Board Certification, a plus
Company
ServingSchools
ServingSchools is an online marketplace providing schools, agencies and job seekers a fast and easy way to find each other.
Founded in 2000
51-200 employees
Funding
Current Stage
Growth StageCompany data provided by crunchbase