POSITION:              Department Substitute Teacher K-8 Special Education

POSITION TERM:          10 Month

REPORTS TO:                Director

Date:                              August 2021

Our Mission:

The mission of the Agora Cyber Charter School is to provide an innovative, intensive academic preparation that inspires and educates students to achieve the highest levels of academic knowledge and skills. Agora embraces a collaborative partnership between teachers and parents in order to empower students to reach extraordinary heights. Extraordinary results require extraordinary efforts.  With commitment, hard work, consistency and responsibility, every student will meet the challenge of mastering high expectations.

Our vision:

The vision of Agora Cyber Charter School is to prepare all students to achieve their highest potential through actively engaging in their own schooling, achieving their personal learning goals and cultivating success as lifelong learners.

Position Summary:

The Agora Cyber Charter School department substitute teacher is a highly qualified and Pennsylvania state-certified teacher responsible for delivering specific course content and instruction in an online environment when the regular teacher is absent. Department substitute teachers work closely with school level leadership, special education department members, grade level or content area peers and report directly to their grade level principal.  Department substitute teachers are assigned to a grade band or department for the duration of a school year, and report to the same grade band or department each day to cover any daily assignments as scheduled by the building administrator. The position requires the candidate to commit to be available on a daily basis.

Essential Functions:

(Reasonable accommodations may be made to enable individuals with disabilities to perform the essential functions.)

Planning and Preparation

1. Follow lesson plans provided by the regular teacher to create a cohesive and consistent learning experience for students; provide a written summary of work completed for the regular teacher and/or principal
2. Demonstrate knowledge and understanding of state standards and aligned curriculum
3. Understand overall diversity of assigned families and individual student characteristics; specifically, how this will impact planning for personalized learning

Virtual Classroom Environment

1. Manage the classroom effectively to encourage student participation, minimize distractions, and maintain a positive learning environment.
2. Create and manage home office
3. Establish and maintain positive rapport with students and families
4. Support students with setup and maintenance of their learning environment
5. Support students through basic computer troubleshooting
6. Demonstrate high expectations for student learning
7. Value student voice by intentionally providing opportunities for students to show high levels of engagement and motivation in their learning; to take ownership of their own learning and to serve as change agents in their own learning process
8. Ensure students collaborate with peers in a respectful, thoughtful manner
9. Set clear standards for student online conduct and enforce standards in a respectful manner
10. Build meaningful relationships in order to facilitate a positive climate

Instruction

1. Adapt teaching methods to fit the needs of individual students.
2. Comply with and follow specially designed instruction in students’ IEPs
3. Utilize questioning, online discussion techniques, and differentiated synchronous student tasks to ensure all students are engaged in learning
4. Demonstrate flexibility in contributing to the success of the lesson and of each student. Adapt instruction in order to meet the learning needs of all students
5. Perform other duties as assigned

Professional Responsibilities

1. Comply with all building procedures and schedules
2. Uphold Board policies and follow administrative procedures
3. Take precautions to ensure student/staff safety. Does not leave students unsupervised.
4. Demonstrate professionalism and high ethical standards in all interactions with students, parents/caregivers and staff members

Competencies:

• Technology Capacity
• Ethical Conduct
• Strategic Thinking
• Excellent written and verbal communication skills
• Self-Motivated
• Have the ability to learn new technology tools quickly (e.g., database and web-based tools)
• Have the ability to support and guide adults, as well as students
• Ability to be flexible given the demands of the day and job
• Proven ability to use data to inform instruction

Required Education and Experience:

• Bachelor’s Degree
• Active and valid Pennsylvania Instructional certification for subject and/or grade
• Have experience working with the proposed age groups and content area

 
Preferred Education and Experience:

• 3+ years teaching experience
• Experience in online teaching

Work Environment:

This job operates in a professional virtual environment.  This role routinely uses standard office equipment such as computers, phones and photocopiers.

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.

While performing the duties of this job, the employee is occasionally required to stand; walk; sit; use hands to finger, handle, or feel objects, tools or controls; reach with hands and arms; climb stairs; balance; stoop, kneel, crouch or crawl; talk or hear; and taste or smell.  The employee must occasionally lift or move up to 25 pounds.  Specific vision abilities required by the job include close vision, distance vision, color vision, peripheral vision, depth perception and the ability to adjust focus.

Declaration:

Agora Cyber Charter School is an equal opportunity employer committed to providing employment opportunities to all qualified applicants without regard to race, color, religion, age, sex, sexual orientation, gender identity, national origin, disability or protected veteran status.