Home School Teacher (15 hrs/week)

Position Title: Home School Assistance Program (HSAP) Teacher

Immediate Supervisor: Director of High School Teaching and Learning

Summary (Job Goal): Be dedicated to the development of lifelong learners by equipping parents with the resources and skills to confidently educate their children at home to meet life's challenges as responsible, productive citizens while operating under and maintaining compliance with the Iowa legal code regarding Home School Assistance Programs and dual enrollment guidance.

Essential Duties and Responsibilities: (Other duties may be assigned.)

Enhance Academic performance

• Assist parents in establishing clear objectives for lessons, units, and projects, and effectively communicate with students and parents.
• Assist parents in setting individual and long-term goals for their students.
• Assist parents in identifying students' needs and make appropriate referrals and develop strategies for individual education plans.
• Effectively communicate with parents on a regular basis during the normal classroom day by means of e-mail, notes, phone calls and individual parent/student conferences as required by program guidelines and state guidance.
• Promote parent participation and involvement in education activities provided for their children through the HSAP.
• Confer and cooperate with other staff members to plan and schedule lessons and events promoting parent training, student learning, family interaction and highlighting educational accomplishments.
• Confer with parents or guardians in regards to lesson plans; textbook and supplementary materials; educational goals and objectives; teaching and learning techniques; forms of assessment and evaluation of student learning; student's strengths and weaknesses; interpretation of test results; planning; and record keeping.
• Provide formal and informal assessments of the student's progress to the student and the student's parent, guardian, or legal or actual custodian.
• Annually maintain a diary, record or log of visitations and assistance provided.
• For purposes of assisting the district to meet its "child find" obligation under the Individuals with Disabilities Education Act, referring to the child's district of residence for evaluation any child who the practitioner has reason to believe may be in need of special education.
• Engage in collaborative work and contribute to team planning.

Competence in Content Knowledge

• A strong knowledge in a wide variety of home school curriculums, resources, and materials.
• A strong knowledge and understanding of home school methods and philosophies.
• Develop adaptations of a variety of curriculum choices to the needs of each student as needed/requested by the parent.
• Develop and use instructional materials suitable for verbal or visual instruction of students with a wide range of mental, physical, and emotional maturities.
• Enrich the educational program through study/field trips to community locations and through community member classroom visits. Share and interpret these experiences with students and parents.
• Enrich parents through teaching and learning techniques and resources.

Planning/Preparing

• Assist parents in developing lesson plans and instructional materials to provide individualized and small group instruction to meet the needs of their students.
• Plan group activities to stimulate academic, social and emotional growth as well as positive networking among home school families.
• Plan and conduct activities, if called upon, for a balanced program of instruction, demonstration, and work time that provides students with opportunities to observe, question, and investigate.
• Assist parents in long term planning of educational goals and objectives.
• Prepare for assigned classes, and show written evidence of preparation upon request of immediate supervisor.

Instructional Strategies

• Implement individual and group activities to stimulate academic, social and emotional growth as assigned.
• Foster cooperative social behavior through activities and group projects to assist children and families in forming satisfying relationships with other children and adults.
• Instruct parents in a wide variety of learning styles and strategies to meet individual student needs.
• Develop in each parent an awareness of his/her child's uniqueness, worth, and potential.
• Utilize technology - computers, audiovisual aids, and other equipment in the delivery of instruction, if applicable.
• Assist in identifying student needs and make appropriate suggestions and referrals as well as develop strategies for individual education plans.
• Engage families in varied experiences that meet diverse needs and promote social, emotional, and academic growth.

Methods to Monitor Student Learning

• Evaluate students' academic and social growth, keeping appropriate records.
• Utilize assessment materials and make appropriate student assessments in enrichment classes.
• Maintain accurate and complete student records and prepare reports on students and activities as required by home school laws, HSAP policies, and district/administrative regulations.
• Interpret test results to determine students' developmental levels and needs.

• Develop parent and student self-assessment strategies for families.

Classroom Management

• Establish, implement, and enforce rules and procedures for appropriate classroom behavior, to maintain a positive learning environment with assigned enrichment classes and activities.
• Model and maintain standards of responsible behavior to students and families.

Professional Growth

• Attend professional in-service activities and teacher training workshops provided by the Home School Assistance Program as well as self-selected professional growth activities in order to maintain and improve professional competence.

Professional Responsibilities

• Effectively communicate, collaborate, and cooperate with colleagues, supervisors, parents, and students.
  • Coordinate and communicate with the curriculum administrative assistant for all require forms and data tracking.
• Plan and coordinate assigned enrichment classes and activities.
• Maintain a positive image for the school and HSAP as well as good public relations within the community.
• Attend staff meetings and serve on committees as required.
• Supervise students and families in enrichment classes and activities as assigned.
• Participate in enrichment and workshop development programs as required.
• Other duties as assigned.

Supervisory Responsibilities:

Supervise home school families as required and document contacts throughout the school year.

Supervises students and/or families as assigned and/or required to maintain a safe and orderly environment which is conducive to learning.

Minimum Education or Experience (Will vary depending on specific position):

B.A. or B.S. degree.

Home School experience preferred.

Licensure or Certification:

Holds and maintains a valid Iowa Teaching License appropriate to the position. This may include an active Iowa BOEE substitute authorization or substitute license.

Knowledge, Skills and Abilities: (To perform this job successfully, an individual must be able to perform each essential duty satisfactorily. The requirements listed here 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.)

Competency in the areas of content knowledge, content pedagogy, general teaching knowledge, and knowledge of students; willingness to learn new skills and knowledge to enhance their instructional skills; ability to help parents use a variety of educational resources and materials and assist in adapting these to individual needs. Strong relationship skills to work as a team and work with a wide variety of educational philosophies, methods, and materials.

Knowledge of home school philosophies, methods, materials, laws and guidelines.

Ability to access information and resources, create multi-aged teaching strategies, and make suggestions that effectively address a variety of student learning styles.

Ability to assess the strengths, needs, interests, and aspirations of their students with the parents who teach them; willingness to hold high expectations for student academic performance and behavior; ability to set achievable instructional goals, monitor and evaluate student progress; ability to be resourceful in responding to the changing needs of their students and the home school families.

Ability to recognize the relationships between themselves and others; they accept responsibility for their contributions to the home school families, students, the district, and the community; willingness to actively participate in improving themselves and their professional skills.

Ability to listen, speak, write, read, and respond clearly to students, parents, community members, and to each other; ability to use a variety of media and technology to enhance their communications.

Ability to use interpersonal skills to develop constructive relationships with students, parents, colleagues, and community groups; willingness to provide a high level of service and response to the diverse needs of home school families.

Ability to function effectively as part of a teaching team, support peer teachers, plan collaboratively, and work constructively with the teaching team to solve problems that arise.

Ability to guide the learning process toward the achievement of educational goals; ability to assist in establish clear objectives for all lessons, units, projects, and the like in harmony with the educational/curricular goals of the parents.

Ability to encourage and implement policies, practices, and procedures which create a positive atmosphere conducive to learning; willingness to assist the HSAP staff in governing conduct in maintaining a safe environment; ability to develop reasonable rules of classroom behavior and maintain order in a fair and just manner.

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, stand, speak, hear, see, and walk to carry out routine duties. Must be able to bend arms, torso, and neck. Must be able to occasionally lift, move, or push items of 50 lbs such as assisting children or moving/rearranging furniture. Must hold a valid driver's license and have reliable transportation for home visits. Specific vision requirements include close vision, distance vision, color vision, peripheral vision, depth perception, and ability to adjust focus. Must be able to supervise students in all types of weather, meet multiple demands from several people, and interact with the public and other staff.

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.)

Noise level is quiet to loud. Work may be indoors and/or outdoors. Work may be in non-air conditioned rooms. Tobacco and alcohol-free environment. Fast-paced atmosphere with constant contact with students, staff, or the public. May include evenings. Direct responsibility for the safety and well-being of students when assigned to enrichment activities.