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Heartland Alliance

Certified Teacher

Certified Teacher – Youth & Residential Services

Summary: The Certified Teacher – Youth & Residential Services (YRS) plans and implements activities that promote the social, physical, and intellectual growth of children. This position is responsible for teaching and developing curriculum and activities in a non-traditional educational setting suited to address the multicultural and multilingual needs of children whose educational experience range from uneducated to those having formal high school level education. The teacher will use a hands-on approach to help children understand abstract concepts, solve problems, and develop critical thinking skills. In addition, this position maintains relevant documentation, and classroom cleanliness and orderliness. Individual accountabilities and work volume will be established through the development of annual Success Objectives, within the framework outlined below.

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This position is governed by a Collective Bargaining Agreement for which the employee, as a condition of employment, shall be required to remit dues or fees to the Union for administration of the contract.

Essential Duties and Responsibilities:

  • Instructs through lectures, discussions, demonstrations and field trips in various subjects including ESL, mathematics, science and health for grades K through 12.
  • Develops and implements lesson plans and curricula in accord with program guidelines
  • Establishes clear objectives for all lessons, units, and projects and communicates those objectives to students.
  • Prepares, administers, and grades tests and assignments to evaluate students' progress.
  • Prepares materials and classrooms for class activities and assigns and grades class work and homework.
  • Adapts teaching methods and instructional materials to meet students' varying needs and interests.
  • Recognizes and responds to individual and cultural differences in students and employs different teaching methods that will result in higher student achievement.
  • Maintains accurate and complete student records as required by contractual obligations, YRS, and licensing and certification agencies.
  • Observes and evaluates students' performance, behavior, social development, and physical health.
  • Engages in physical education activities and instruction, including but not limited to swimming, basketball and soccer.
  • Helps program participants to modify attitudes and patterns of behavior by increasing understanding of self, personal problems, and program participant's part in creating them.
  • Establishes and enforces rules for behavior and procedures for maintaining order among students.
  • Maintains inventory of educational materials and supplies.
  • Provides extra help to students outside of classroom, as needed
  • Provides transportation of program participants, as assigned.
  • Ensures supervision and safety of students at all times, individually and in groups.
  • Enforces all YRS policies and procedures.
  • Keeps management and other staff informed of any necessary information regarding the care and safety of the children.
  • As an intricate and important part of the residential program team the teacher assists and accepts responsibility in other daily program duties such as meals, laundry and hygiene instruction, as necessary.
  • Works cooperatively and communicates effectively with other teachers and other staff.
  • Attends and participates in staff meetings, program events, and other meetings as requested.
  • In addition to conducting classroom activities, teachers oversee milieu time, supervise extracurricular activities, and accompany students on field trips.
  • Other duties may be assigned.

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 and/or Experience: Bachelor's degree and 3 years demonstrated teaching experience including the submission of a professional portfolio containing developed teaching curriculum and other professional items that demonstrate past experience required. Experience or ability to be certified in teaching English as a Second Language (ESL) preferred. Expertise in a particular subject area may be required.
  • Licensure/Certification: A valid Illinois Standard Teaching Certificate in Early Childhood, Elementary, High School or relevant Specialization, or an Illinois Alternative Teaching Certificate, or a national teaching certification endorsed by the National Board for Professional Teaching Standards, or a license or certification required by a state other than Illinois to teach within its school system, is required.
  • Other Skills and Qualifications: A valid driver's license and a clean driving record is required. Excellent verbal, listening, and written communication skills required. Excellent organizational skills required. Ability to be flexible in assignment and work hours required.
  • Language Skills: Bilingual ability in English or another language may be required.
  • Computer Skills: Proficiency in Microsoft Office, Internet Explorer, Outlook/Exchange; Windows operating systems; and other software routinely used by Heartland Alliance.

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.

  • The employee is regularly required to talk, hear and see.
  • The employee is regularly required to stand up to 95% of the day.
  • The employee is regularly required to assume postures in low level positions that best allow physical and visual contact with children.
  • The employee is regularly required to sustain a high level of energy.
  • The employee is regularly required to bend to perform various tasks numerous times throughout the day.
  • The employee is regularly required to stoop or sit on the floor.
  • The employee is regularly required to have the agility to move from a seated position to a standing position promptly to respond to emergency situations.
  • The employee is regularly required to perform all activities with children, i.e. jump, dance, walk, run, etc. for extended periods of time.
  • The employee must occasionally lift and/or move up to 40 pounds.

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.

  • Work is primarily performed in a YRS residential facility but may also be performed at community sites for field trips or at other locations as needed.
  • Depending upon activities and season, may be required to be outdoors for regular, prolonged activities.
  • Work hours may vary to meet the needs of the program.
  • The noise level in the work environment is usually moderate.

Heartland Alliance makes all hiring and employment decisions, and operates all programs, services, and functions without regard to race, receipt of an order of protection, creed, color, age, gender, gender identity, marital or parental status, religion, ancestry, national origin, amnesty, physical or mental disability, protected veterans status, genetic information, sexual orientation, immigrant status, political affiliation or belief, use of FMLA, VESSA, military, and family military rights, ex-offender status (depending on the offense and position to be filled), unfavorable military discharge, membership in an organization whose primary purpose is the protection of civil rights or improvement of living conditions and human relations, height, weight, or HIV infection, in accord with the organization's AIDS Policy Statement of September 1987.

Job ID: f8b928be71a3dfca80c2290b1f8557cb
Employment Type: Other

This job is no longer available.

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