JDE: 4.14

Transitional Kindergarten Teacher

Purpose Statement

A Transitional Kindergarten (TK) teacher is responsible for providing a nurturing and engaging educational experience for children in the transitional year between preschool and traditional kindergarten. The teacher plays a pivotal role in fostering the academic, social, and emotional development of young learners. Key responsibilities include designing and implementing a developmentally appropriate curriculum, assessing student progress, managing the classroom environment, and collaborating with parents and colleagues. The TK teacher should have a strong educational background, relevant certifications, and a passion for working with young children. Effective communication skills and a commitment to creating a positive and inclusive learning environment are essential for success in this role.

Job Title: Transitional Kindergarten Teacher

Salary: See Teacher Salary Schedule

Benefit Summary: D

Reports To: Building Principal

Wage/Hour Status: Exempt

Required Qualifications:

• Iowa State Teacher License
• Bachelor's degree in Early Childhood Education, Elementary Education, or a related field.
• Previous teaching experience, preferred

Essential Functions

• Collaborates with all stakeholders ( e.g. students, parents, colleagues, administration, etc.) for the purpose of establishing leadership and positive relationships while focusing on high expectations and continuous improvement for student learning.
• Designs instruction (e.g. lesson plans, individualized instruction; diverse learning styles/needs, etc.) for the purpose for ensuring all students are engaged and participating in individual and classroom learning objectives.
• Provide effective and differentiated instruction in subjects such as language arts, mathematics, social studies, and science.
• Develops and guides learning in partnership with students (e.g. classroom mission and learning goals; strategies and processes; student recognition and celebration; etc.) for the purposes of ensuring continuous improvement for student learning in alignment with state and district standards.
• Evaluates individual student and class performance (e.g. analyzes assessment data and other comparative data) for the purposes of gauging and subsequently adjusting instruction to improve individual and class performance.
• Implements current best practice instruction and resources (e.g. focus on student needs/goals, classroom priorities, etc) for the purpose of improving and enhancing student learning in alignment with state and district standards.
• Maintains documentation and required data.
• Manages classroom structure and procedures (e.g. behavioral expectations, positive classroom culture, etc) for the purpose of establishing a positive, safe, and orderly optimal learning environment to support students in achieving classroom and individual goals.
• Models positive behaviors (e.g. Iowa Teaching Standards, Code of Professional and Ethical Standards, etc.) for the purpose of promoting appropriate social and interpersonal behavior in alignment with district goals.
• Participates in a variety of meetings and professional development opportunities for the purpose of conveying and/or gathering information to perform essential functions.

Other Functions

• Responds to emergency situations for the purpose of resolving immediate safety concerns and/or directing to appropriate personnel for resolution.
• Demonstrates integrity and maintains confidentiality.
• Works well with others, maintaining positive and effective communication with school personnel and works well with other custodians on jobs that require more than one person.
• Is respectful and appropriately interacts with staff, students, and visitors.
• Upholds and adheres to safety rules and policies of the Ankeny Community School District safety program.
• Supports the goals and objectives of the school district and follows all district policies.
• Demonstrates the ability to attend work on a regular and routine basis to avoid disruption to district operations.
• Perform all duties in a safe manner to avoid injury to oneself and/or others.
• Performs other related duties, as assigned, for the purpose of ensuring the efficient and effective functioning of the work unit.

Knowledge, Skills and Abilities

• Specific knowledge based competencies required to satisfactorily perform the functions of the job include:
• Appropriate codes, policies, regulations, and/or laws
• Age appropriate activities
• Instruction and assessment practices
• Behavioral management strategies
• Child development, brain development, and best practices in education
• Curriculum development
• Safety practices and procedures
• Conflict resolution
• Crisis de-escalation techniques
• Specific skill based competencies required to satisfactorily perform the functions of the job include:
• Interacting effectively with students, teachers/staff, the community and parents
• Adhering to safety practices
• Operating standard office equipment including using pertinent software applications
• Preparing and maintaining accurate records
• Using district approved crisis intervention techniques
• Specific ability based competencies required to satisfactorily perform the functions of the job include:
• Establishing and maintaining constructive relationships
• Ability to schedule activities, meetings, and/or events
• Gather collate, and/or classify data
• Flexibility is required to independently work with others in a wide variety of circumstances
• Ability to work with a significant diversity of individuals and/or groups
• Ability to problem solve
• Exhibiting tact and patience
• Adaptability to changing work priorities
• Maintaining confidentiality


Working Environment

Mental Demands/Physical Demands/Environmental Factors:

The usual and customary methods of performing the position functions require the following physical demands: significant lifting, carrying, pushing, pulling, climbing, reaching, driving, standing and walking. Working conditions may include extreme temperatures and humidity. Hazards may include exposure to communicable diseases. This position requires one to maintain emotional control under stress.


Responsibility

Responsibilities include working under limited supervision using standardized practices and/or methods. Utilization of some resources from other work units is often required to perform position functions. There is some opportunity to significantly impact the organization’s services.


Terms of Employment

Work year established by the Superintendent; Salary according to schedule adopted annually.


Clearances

Criminal Justice Fingerprint/Background Clearance


Evaluation

Job performance will be evaluated annually, as per district policies and procedures


The foregoing statements describe the general purpose and responsibilities assigned to this job and are not an exhaustive list of all responsibilities and duties that may be assigned or skills that may be required.


Approved by: Justin Mohr Date: January 15th, 2024


Ankeny Community School District is an Equal Opportunity/Affirmative Action Employer. It is the policy of the District to provide equal employment opportunities and not to illegally discriminate on the basis of race, national origin, religion, sex, disability, sexual orientation, gender identity, color, age or marital status in its employment and personnel practices. The job categories where the representative groups are underrepresented.