Durango School District 9-R is accepting applications for Elementary Instructional Specialst for the 2017/2018 school year.

Job Title: Elementary Instructional Specialist                    Pay Grade:  Licensed Salary Schedule

Job Family:  Licensed Staff                                            FLSA Status:  Exempt      

Department: Curriculum, Instruction, and Assessment       Prepared Date: April 18, 2017

Typical Work Year:  187 - 207 days

SUMMARY: The Instructional Specialist is an integral part of ensuring all students meet or exceed graduation standards identified by our district (aligned to the Colorado Academic Standards) and developing a collaborative culture among adult learning communities.  The role of the specialist is to develop teacher understanding and artful application of research based instructional practices, data-based decision making, and the delivery of standards-aligned learning plans for the success of every student.  The Instructional Specialists will collaborate with one another and the entire Curriculum, Instruction, and Assessment team to create and facilitate effective adult learning opportunities that align with the district vision and mission.  He/she ensures effective instruction in the classroom through modeling, co-teaching/planning, facilitating professional learning communities, providing feedback to teachers, and presenting best practices.  The Instructional Specialist will demonstrate passion and leadership in providing successful learning experiences for every student. The Instructional Specialist is not a supervisory position and will not include the evaluation of teachers.

ESSENTIAL DUTIES AND RESPONSIBILITIES 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.

• Lead others in successful implementation of instructional practices that ensure all students meet or exceed graduation standards.
• Facilitate adult learning in a way that develops the professional community’s compelling purpose, collective efficacy and shared responsibility for student learning, collaborative culture, communal application of effective teaching practices, deprivatized practice, relational trust, and individual/group learning based on ongoing assessment and feedback so that each educator and student meets or exceeds expectations.
• Present, Facilitate, Consult, and Collaborate with other educators to create and implement professional learning that results in the success of every educator and every student.
• Collaborate with teachers to construct learning opportunities for students based on best practices for personalized mastery and competency in the standards.
• Observe (non-evaluative) teachers’ practice and provide cognitive coaching and feedback for the teachers’ professional growth and students’ success in meeting or exceeding the graduation standards.
• Consult with all educators and the community so that all will understand the Durango 9-R Vision, Mission, and Core Beliefs.
• Support school leaders, instructional leadership teams, and teachers in using data to meet the needs of every student so that all students meet or exceed graduation standards.

ADDITIONAL JOB REQUIREMENTS: 

• Demonstrate faithfulness and promptness in attendance at work.
• Submit required reports promptly at the times specified.
• Demonstrate care of and protection of School District property
• Report suspected child abuse or neglect as required by law.
• Use the District’s internet and E-mail system as specified in Policy.
• Fulfill other duties as assigned by the Director, Superintendent or their designees.
• Models continual improvement, demonstrates lifelong learning, and applies new learning to help all students achieve.
• Demonstrates evidence of professional growth, including leadership and participation in a wide range of significant professional development activities.

EDUCATION AND TRAINING:

Minimum:  Bachelor’s degree from accredited university.  Extensive education and/or training in workshop instructional model for teaching and learning is preferred.

EXPERIENCE:

Minimum: Three years of successful teaching experience required. Experience in teacher leadership, learning focused conversations, and/or cognitive coaching preferred. 

CERTIFICATES, LICENSES, & REGISTRATIONS 

Valid driver’s license required.  Colorado Teaching License. 

TECHNICAL SKILLS, KNOWLEDGE, & ABILITIES:

• Excellent interpersonal relations and oral and written communication skills.
• Strong decision making, analytical and organizational skills.
• Ability to work with teachers with diverse needs in various contexts.
• Ability to develop and implement lessons and programming that lead to student success in meeting the graduation standards.
• Ability to lead others.
• Critical thinking and problem solving skills.
• Ability to maintain confidentiality in all aspects of the job.
• Ability to promote and follow Board and District policies, Superintendent policies and building/department procedures.
• Ability to communicate, interact and work effectively and cooperatively in a team setting
• Ability to recognize the importance of safety in the workplace, follow safety rules, practice safe work habits, utilize appropriate safety equipment and report unsafe conditions to the appropriate administrator.
• Ability to utilize formative and summative assessments to access student learning.

MATERIALS AND EQUIPMENT OPERATING KNOWLEDGE:

• Computers and general office equipment.
• Microsoft Office applications.
• Student Information Systems.
• Presentation tools.

Durango School District 9-R is an equal opportunity educational institution and will not discriminate on the basis of race, color, sex, religion, national origin, ancestry, creed, age, marital status, sexual orientation, genetic information, disability or need for special education services in admissions, access to treatment, or employment in educational programs or activities which it operates, or any other applicable status protected by federal, state or local law. For information regarding civil rights or grievance procedures, contact Laura Galido, Compliance Officer, Durango School District 9-R, 201 E 12th Street, Durango, CO 81301, (970) 247-5411, lgalido@durango.k12.co.us, or the Office for Civil Rights, U.S. Department of Education, 1244 Spear Boulevard, Suite 310, Denver, CO 80204-3582, (303) 844-5695.