Ministry Opportunity

Elementary School Teacher

Position Description: The elementary school teacher is responsible for maintaining a controlled learning environment in which the students have the opportunity to reach their full potential in all areas:  spiritually, academically, emotionally, and socially.  The teacher shall prayerfully help students learn attitudes, skills, and subject matter that will contribute to their development as mature, able, and responsible Christians to the praise and glory of God.

Responsible to:  OCS Principal

Supervises: Students in classroom

Evaluated:  An annual written evaluation is provided by the OCS Principal and/or Head of School

Type of Position:  This is a contracted, exempt employee that is paid on a salaried basis.

Required Spiritual Qualities

It is expected that the school teacher will …

• Acknowledge Christ as Savior and seek to live life as His disciple.
• Believe the Bible to be the inspired, the only infallible, authoritative, inerrant Word of God—our standard for faith and practice.
• Believe and actively support the school’s statement of faith (attached).
• Demonstrate a desire for spiritual growth as evidenced by his or her prayer life, Bible study, and spiritual outreach to others.
• Be a Christian role model in attitude, speech, and actions toward others (Luke 6:40). This includes being committed to God’s biblical standards for sexual conduct.
• Evidence of the fruit of the Spirit in dealing with people.
• Have a Christ-centered home.
• Actively participate in a local Bible-believing church.

 

Required Professional Qualities

It is expected that the school teacher will …

• Hold a Bachelor’s degree or higher in relevant subject area or be willing to participate in a program to complete such a degree within a specified time period.
• Have an above average knowledge of the Bible
• Demonstrate a reasonable level of computer literacy, having a basic proficiency in doing word processing, creating and using a spreadsheet, emailing, and accessing the Internet.
• Possess evidence of other adequate preparation, background, or experience as determined by the school administrator.

Required Personal Qualities

It is expected that the school teacher will …

• Have the spiritual maturity, academic ability, and personal leadership qualities to “train a child in the way he should go” (Prov. 22:6, NIV).
• Be an enthusiastic visionary, an encourager, and a self-starter with a high energy level and a strong work ethic.
• Possess above average classroom management skills
• Demonstrate sensitivity toward staff, parents, volunteers, and children, and an ability to interact effectively with them.
• Meet everyday stress with emotional stability, objectivity, and optimism.
• Understand the importance of discernment, discretion, and confidentiality in the operation of the classroom and school.
• Develop and maintain rapport with students, parents, and staff by treating others with courtesy, patience, friendliness, dignity, respect, and a good sense of humor.
• Recognize her or his mistakes and take measures to correct them.
• Be a team player.
• Use acceptable English in written and oral communication. Speak with clear articulation.
• Respectfully submit and be loyal to constituted authority.
• Make an effort to appreciate and understand the uniqueness of the community.
• Maintain a personal appearance that is a Christian role model of cleanliness, modesty, and good taste consistent with school policy.

Essential Job Functions—Accountabilities

It is expected that the school teacher will …

Spiritual Leadership

• Have a conviction that God has called her or him to Christian school ministry.
• Reflect the purpose of the school, which is to honor Christ in every class and in every activity.
• Maintain high standards of ethics, honesty, and integrity in all personal and professional matters.
• Follow the Matthew 18 principle in dealing with conflict with students, parents, staff, and administration.
• Motivate students to accept God’s gift of salvation, and be a Christian witness and role model to them in order to help them grow in their faith.
• Lead students to a realization of their self-worth in Christ.
• Ensure that the classroom work environment is Christian-based, nurturing, wholesome, and loving.
• Work with the administration and staff to address the spiritual formation needs of the students..

Academic Leadership

• Have a thorough knowledge and understanding of the Christian philosophy of education that will help in providing 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.
• Integrate biblical principles and the Christian worldview throughout the curriculum and activities.
• Teach classes as assigned following the prescribed scope and sequence as scheduled by the administration.
• Ensure that his or her school classroom reflects an organized, clean, professional and Christian environment.
• Provide an environment conducive to learning.
• Have knowledge of the physical/emotional development of children—particularly at the age level of the children being taught—and understand the problems they face.
• Plan broadly through the use of semester and quarterly plans and objectives, and more currently through the use of a lesson plan book by submitting detailed lesson plans each week.
• Implement the prescribed instructional program that will result in students achieving academic success.
• Employ a variety of instructional aids, methods, and materials that will provide for creative teaching to reach the whole child—spiritual, mental, physical, social, and emotional.
• Plan through approved channels the use of field trips, guest speakers, and or other media for a balanced classroom.
• Use homework effectively for drill, review, enrichment, or project work.
• Follow and enforce all policies, procedures and rules set forth in the KCCBS/OCS handbooks.
• Take reasonable precautions to protect students, equipment, materials, and facilities.
• Regularly assess the learning of students, and provide progress reports as required.
• Respond in a timely manner to parent complaints and to parent requests for help or information.
• Participate in formal and informal parent-teacher conferences.
• Participate in continuous professional development through professional reading, college course work, in-services, professional organizations, workshops, and conferences when applicable
• Keep parents informed by maintaining accurate and complete records of academic performance, attendance, and social acclimation, reporting on all elements of student development at parent-teacher conferences, both regularly scheduled and as needed.

Administrative Leadership

• Have the ability to accomplish the goals and objectives assigned by the school administration and school policy.
• Help the staff, students, and volunteers function efficiently, effectively, and productively.
• Understand supervision and how to lead in a positive manner.
• Provide a good learning environment by keeping proper discipline in the classroom, the gym, and other places on the school premises.
• Maintain a physical presence with the students by attending and, when possible, participating in school chapels, assemblies, athletics events, and other presentations.
• Participate in beginning-of-year staff orientation, regular staff meetings, and parent/teacher fellowship meetings.
• Respect professional ethics that require confidentiality concerning the sharing of information about children, parents, or staff.
• Maintain regular and accurate records of attendance and grades 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.
• Know the procedures for dealing with emergency situations in the classroom and school. Conduct required emergency safety drills in coordination with school leadership.
• Report to the appropriate individuals any campus safety, health, and maintenance needs that are observed.
• Inform the administration in a timely manner if unable to fulfill any assigned duty.
• Deal directly and frankly with the school administration in an earnest effort to resolve differences of opinion when they exist.
• Take responsibility for recess (when applicable), lunchroom, and after-school supervision duties, on a rotating basis

Professional Leadership

• Seek and accept constructive evaluation of her or his own job performance.

Additional Duties or Responsibilities

It is expected that the school teacher will …

• Recognize the need for good public relations. Represent the school in a favorable and professional manner to the school’s constituency and the general public.
• Support the broader program of the school by attending extracurricular activities when possible.
• Involve parents in prayer and volunteerism as appropriate.
• 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.