Classroom teacher job description

This post includes 3 parts: duties list, job qualification and job description writing tips for Classroom teacher in details. A complete job description concludes Classroom teacher key duties/responsibilities, Classroom teacher job qualifications (knowledge, education, skills, abilities, experience…KSA model) and other ones such as daily tasks, key activities, key/core competencies, job functions/purpose…

I. List of Classroom teacher duties:

1. Teach core academic classes in grades five and/or six, demonstrating strong instructional skills, including implementing engaging, developmentally appropriate and challenging lessons plans based upon research-based teaching strategies and best practices and supporting the development of grade level curriculum, vertical alignment, unit planning and pacing guides.
2. Assess and report on student progress in accordance with school policies and attend parent/teacher conferences.
3. Effectively manage classroom environment by promoting consistent and effective strategies in accordance with school policies.
4. Serve as an advisor and advocate for an assigned group of students.
5. Collaborate with instructional leadership and lead teachers to ensure that students receive remediation and support as needed.
6. Work with an AmeriCorps volunteer in training her/him for increased teaching responsibilities throughout the year.
7. Organize and supervise grade-level field trips.
8. Oversee other staff duties such as student lunch/recess, passing periods and responsibility for community spaces.
9. Attend academic, athletic and social events with students and families during the school day and occasionally in the evenings or on weekends throughout the school year as requested.
10. Collaborate with colleagues at professional development workshops, grade level, subject area, faculty, staff and committee meetings and staff retreats.
11. Support recruiting of students and teachers as requested.
12. Provide staff support to parent committee, as assigned.
13. Chair one of the academic departments, as assigned.
14. Assist with Student Recruitment.
15. Co-lead professional development, along with the Head of School.
16. Assist OSS with building and refining the infrastructure and culture of the school.

II. List of Classroom teacher qualifications

1. Bachelors degree in field of education or a related discipline.
2. Advanced coursework in education and/or teaching certification preferred, including knowledge of state educational goals and objectives, learning theory and curriculum development.
3. Minimum 5 years full-time teaching experience at the elementary or middle-school level preferred, particularly low-income, diverse and/or urban populations.
4. Portuguese or Spanish bilingual preferred.

Proficiency with computers and software programs, especially Microsoft Office, and integrating technology into the academic curriculum preferred.

Strong public speaking and written and verbal communication skills.

Excellent interpersonal skills, including professional collaboration.

Superior organization and time management skills.

III. Tips to write job description

1. Too-long job description:

Looking at a too-long job description can frighten the candidates off and drive the away. A job description, no matter how important the job is, should not be included in more than 3 pages. If one focuses on too many things at a time, he shall definitely lose focus on the main items and get overwhelmed by the remaining; So, keep it concisely.

2. Too-short job description:

While too-long can be a problem, too-short is more a problem. It will ruin the meaning of the job description. A too-short one means it lacks necessary details and therefore, the candidate will not be able to understand while reading it.

3. Listing unnecessary functions or job duties:

Just classifying these into the “others” category will save you a lot of effort and space. On the other hand, the job description will become more dilute and easy to be neglected.

4. Key functions

Not listing key functions as required for the job can be a fatal mistake to a job description.

5. Grammar and spelling

Poor grammar and having spelling errors can ruin the job description, too. Never think that as you are the employer, you may have the right to make grammar or spelling errors while requires other not to. A job description with such errors is easily to be mistaken as a fake or ghost ads; as a result, the candidate will turn away from it.

6. Not specific enough:

Be specific and concise; if you don’t address the specific, then what the job description is for. It is for the candidate to understand just exactly what he needs to do or needs to have. Lacking details can confuse the candidates very well.

7. Not having the job description reviewed by others:

This is also a common mistake. One may be subject to bias, but more than one, especially with the help of those external advisor, the job description can be more perfect.

8. Using buzzwords or abbreviations:

In fact, it is not necessary at all to use such in a job description.

9. Using slang or legal words:

Just use common wording to communicate with others and don’t do anything extraordinarily.

10. Not updating the job description:

The same job may require different duties and responsibilities in different times, so, you cannot use the same job description for 2 different times.