Job Title: Heritage Academy First Steps SPED Teacher

Department: Instructional

Reports To: Heritage Academy Program Director

Compensation:  $74,000 + $16,000 bonus potential

Classification: Classified

 

Summary:

EPIC’s FirstSteps  Program is an innovative career pathway designed to take you from someone who did not go to college to be an educator to a trained and certified teacher. If you

have a Bachelor’s degree and are interested in changing careers or are interested in working

with students who are learning in a dual-language immersion model, Epic’s FirstSteps Program at Heritage Academy can help you achieve your goal. Applicants will go through a multi-step interview process. If

selected for the cohort, EPIC will make an offer of employment and pay you during the FirstSteps  

Program.

The Heritage Academy is a unique PK-12 dual language education learning environment that

provides a non-traditional educational setting utilizing Internet-based, individualized self-

paced instruction provided in nearly any location in Oklahoma. The Heritage Academy offers

a 90:10 and 50:50 language immersion model that is pedagogically sound in language

acquisition theory, language learning practices, content learning, bilingualism and biliteracy,

as well as socio-cultural competency. We also partner with facilities across the state to

provide educational services to the students they serve. A Heritage Academy FirstSteps  

Teacher will report to the Heritage Academy and deliver instruction to students in both in-

person and virtual classroom settings.

 

Successful candidates should also have the following experiences and characteristics:

•  Have an eagerness to learn and a growth mindset;
•  Hold exceptionally high standards for the quality of work and a reflex to improve at every turn; 
•  Have well-developed emotional intelligence and moral character; 
•  Possess an ability to build strong relationships, thoughtfully navigate challenging
• situations, and get excellent results from others; and
•  Have problem-solving and clear communication skills.
•  Be bilingual and biliterate in English and Spanish
• Be bicultural
• Have a strong understanding of dual language education, language acquisition, and culturally proficient practices
• Essential Duties and Responsibilities include the following. Other duties may be assigned.
•  Work with assigned students to provide instruction in a virtual and in-person learning environment
•  Prepare and present content as directed by OAS to students at the facility.
• Communicate effectively with staff, supervisor, and all other stakeholders regarding student progress.
• Provide learning experiences and teach students in pre-reading, reading, language arts, social studies, mathematics, science and other electives.
• Use technology as an everyday tool for teaching, learning and communicating
•  Teach students how to use online curriculum and supplemental curriculum
• Adapt instruction and curriculum to the needs of the student
• Work to coordinate, schedule, assess and implement appropriate instruction for each student Counsels with students to promote self-awareness, self-identity and positive social and academic skills
• Perform administrative tasks for day-to-day management including: tracking student grades, managing schedules and meetings, conferring with the school, while scheduling and monitoring student course progress
•  Closely monitor and review student transcripts
•  Record grade and attendance in a timely manner
•  Develop and follow Individual Learning Plans to assist in developing measurable goals for continuous improvement of assigned students
•  Create and support English Language Acquisition Plans (ELAPs) for ELD students
•  Create and support Spanish Language Acquisition Plans (SLAPs) for SLD students dentify potential at-risk students using common risk factors and frequently observed characteristics
•  Design interventions for individual students
•  Assess student behavioral needs
•  Be an adult advocate for assigned students
• Inform students and parents about pertinent test results, academic programming, behavior intervention strategies and their implications to the overall academic success
•  Identify opportunities for additional tutoring for assigned students
• Report suspected child abuse/neglect

 

Supervisory Responsibilities:

There are no supervisory responsibilities for this position.

 

Education and/or Experience

• Have a 4-year degree (any major) from an accredited college or university (foreign credentials will need to be evaluated by a vendor approved by the OSDE).
•  Have a minimum of a 2.75 GPA

 

Qualifications

•  Ability to collect and analyze data from a variety of sources
• Strong communication skills, both verbal and written.
• Demonstrated ability to think creatively and demonstrates leadership abilities
• Ability to build effective relationships, work collaboratively and gain credibility quickly to instill confidence of teaching ability
• Strong decision making, organizational, planning, analytical and problem solving skills.
•  Use effective positive interpersonal communication skills
•  Resolve issues and conflicts
•  Strong technology skills in up-to-date computer software including Zoom, word processing and spreadsheets
•  Current on new instructional technologies
•  Ability to coach, mentor and teach students ages 4 – 21
•  Ability to work cooperatively and collaboratively with others
• Demonstrates self-discipline and initiative
•  Passionate commitment to the mission of school choice
• Ability to maintain professional confidentiality and comply with FERPA guidelines

 

Language Skills

Must be proficient in Spanish and/or bilingual and biliterate in English and

Spanish. Ability to read, analyze, and interpret common scientific and technical

journals, financial reports, and legal documents. Ability to respond to common

inquiries or complaints from customers, regulatory agencies, or members of the

business community. Ability to communicate effectively with students, families

and coworkers, both verbally and in writing. Ability to effectively present

information to students, families and supervisors.

Mathematical Skills

Basic math skills required

Reasoning Ability

Ability to define problems, collect data, establish facts, and draw valid conclusions.

Computer Skills

 

To perform this job successfully, an individual should have knowledge of Google applications,

Microsoft Excel, Word, and PowerPoint. Must have a high aptitude to learn new software as

necessary for the business operations of the school.

Certificates, Licenses, Registrations

Current driver’s license and valid car insurance

 Google Certification Preferred

 

First Steps Certification Process

 

 Phase 1: Emergency Certification

Upon offer of employment, participants will seek Emergency Certification through the

Oklahoma State Department of Education. Candidates will be responsible for paying the

$50 Emergency Special Education Certificate fee to the Oklahoma State Department of Education’s

teacher certification system and the fees for fingerprints and background checks, as well as any fees required for transcripts or credential evaluations. 

 

Phase 2: Teacher Residency; Pursuit of Alternative Certification

FirstSteps  program participants will pursue an OSDE-approved education area of interest

for certification based on your degree and work experience and apply for the Alternative

Certification pathway evaluation at OSDE, and take and pass any required exams or

coursework, with support from an assigned mentor at Epic.

 

Phase 3: Apply for Standard Certification

Upon completion of all requirements of the alternative certification program,

participants will apply for an OSDE 5-year Oklahoma standard certification, in the

content area selected.

 

Other Qualifications

•  Must be able to pass a state-mandated background check for teacher certification
• purposes after a conditional offer of employment is made
•  Must have favorable employment references
•  Have a strong desire to obtain a teaching certification

 

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.

While performing the duties of this Job, the employee is regularly required to sit and talk or hear.

The employee is occasionally required to stand; walk; use hands to finger, handle, or feel and

reach with hands and arms. The employee must regularly lift and /or move up to 10 pounds,

frequently lift and/or move up to 25 pounds and occasionally lift and/or move up to 50 pounds.

Specific vision abilities required by this job include close vision and ability to adjust focus.

 

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.

This position will report to the Heritage Academy location. The noise level is quiet to moderately

loud (when students are present).