What are the responsibilities and job description for the Secondary English Language Teacher/Coordinator position at Thornapple Kellogg Schools?
Position: Secondary English Language Teacher/Coordinator
Purpose:
The district EL Teacher/Coordinator is responsible for providing effective English language instruction while ensuring access to grade-level academic content to support the academic success of secondary-identified multilingual students. The role includes both direct instruction and program coordination, guaranteeing compliance with state and federal requirements. The ideal candidate will possess a strong understanding of language acquisition and will support students at both secondary buildings. The role involves collaborating with colleagues, administrators, students, and families to create a supportive learning environment that meets the diverse needs of all learners.
Qualifications:
- Valid State of Michigan teaching certificate
- ESL or TESOL endorsement for 6-12 or K-12 education
- Knowledge of language acquisition theories and best practices for English language development.
- Strong understanding of cultural diversity and the ability to create an inclusive and supportive learning environment for students from diverse linguistic and cultural backgrounds.
- Excellent communication skills, with the ability to collaborate effectively with colleagues, students, and families.
- Demonstrated ability to differentiate instruction and develop instructional materials that meet the needs of diverse learners.
Responsibilities:
Under the supervision of the Director of Teaching and Learning, the EL Teacher/Coordinator has the following responsibilities:
- Collaborate with general education teachers and school staff to plan and co-teach lessons integrating language and content instruction.
- Provide direct English language instruction aligned with WIDA and state standards.
- Provide differentiated instruction and support to meet the needs of multilingual learners, and support inclusion of students with varying levels of English proficiency and educational backgrounds.
- Support translation/interpretation services.
- Oversee identification, placement, and exit procedures for ELL students, as well as lesson planning and scheduling of support staff with the department.
- Assess students’ language proficiency and academic progress using various formal and informal assessment tools, and use data to inform instruction and intervention strategies.
- Administer and interpret English proficiency assessments such as WIDA ACCESS.
- Ensure compliance with Michigan Department of Education requirements and Federal Title III regulations.
- Maintain open communication with families regarding student progress and needs, and support family engagement.
Engage in ongoing professional development to stay current with best practices and district initiatives.
Attend staff meetings and collaborate with colleagues to improve instructional strategies.