Ojai Valley School is a pre-kindergarten to grade 12 boarding and day school located on two campuses in Ojai, California.  The Lower Campus serves students in grades PK-8 and the Upper Campus serves students in grades 9-12.

Summary of Position

The Elementary Learning Center Teacher, among other duties and under the supervision of the Head of Lower Campus, is responsible for the day-to-day management and instruction of the Learning Center. This includes helping students meet educational, academic, life skills, behavioral, physical, social, and emotional goals. Due to the varied and individual needs of each student, Learning Center Teachers may provide a variety of support and assistance and should be flexible adjusting to student needs and grade levels.

ESSENTIAL DUTIES AND RESPONSIBILITIES include the following. Other duties may be assigned.

1. Participate in the intake process of students who may need services beyond the regular classroom.
2. Assist the Admissions Committee with reading files of students who may or may not need services from the Learning Center.
3. Assist the Admissions Committee to best provide transitional student services between campuses.
4. Provide remediation and support for students who are below grade level in the areas of reading, oral language, written language, or math. This may mean a separate intensive class or incorporating intensive work into a general support program.
5. Learn various applications and programs to support students with skill building, remediation, executive function, such as Read Live, One-Minute-Reader, Word Warm-Ups, On Cloud Nine, Visualizing and Verbalizing, Seeing Stars, etc
6. Support students who need guidance developing strong time-management, organization, and study skills. Teach study skills, when possible, as part of academic support. For example, teach students memory techniques when helping them to study for a test. Teach students how to edit an essay when working with them on a current essay assignment.
7. Support students who need guidance developing strategies to support executive function skills. 
8. On a weekly basis, review what teachers are doing in their classes. Use this information to help students prepare for upcoming tests, assignments, and projects.
9. Serve as a testing center as needed for students who need additional time on tests, testing in a different location, small testing environment, reading a test to a student, working as a scribe when a student dictates test answers, etc.
10. Interpret data from general testing instruments to determine the collective needs of the student.
11. Working with the Administrative team, on a quarterly basis review standardized testing to monitor student progress and identify students who may need remediation or enrichment. Based on testing, develop plans and review them at the next testing cycle.
12. Collect additional in-house data using the school's assessment tools.
13. Provide assessment for students that can be conducted and reviewed within a reasonable amount of time during the first few weeks of each semester and used for internal use.
14. Write summary notes sufficient to provide services to the student and to communicate effectively with parents, administration and colleagues regarding student progress.
15. Create Learning Plans for students in the Learning Center and students with diagnosed learning differences.
16. Provide information and support for getting students assessed for a learning difference through a private specialist or through Ojai Unified School District.
17. Participate in the IEP and ISP process as needed.
18. Provide regular support to the classroom teacher of Learning Center students with strategies/learning plans that will be helpful to those students when not in the Learning Center. 
19. As needed, adapt and modify classroom materials for students with learning differences in order for assignments to be more accessible or in line with the Learning Plans.
20. Provide professional development opportunities to faculty and improve understanding of differentiation strategies for all learners.
21. Support transition for ESL students to the regular classroom.
22. Meet regularly with colleagues to exchange ideas for strategies to support these students.
23. Lead children, by example and otherwise, adhering to the guidelines of the school Course of Study and Employee Training Manual.
24. Maintain a warm and positive environment in the classroom, while establishing and managing classroom rules and regulations.
25. Prepare course objectives and outlines for the Course of Study following curriculum guidelines, satisfying state and local requirements.
26. Accompany classes to special events and school functions.
27. Communicate with parents, dorm parents, and administration on a regular basis.
28. Display student work and progress.
29. Orient new students.
30. Prepare a presentation for an All School assembly.
31. Counsel students and review grades on a continual basis.
32. Coordinate and contribute to class field trips.
33. Contribute to parent newsletters and/or publications.
34. Cares for and protects the safety of the students and is versed in emergency and disaster procedures. Is thoroughly advised and clear about role during emergency and disaster procedures, and provides leadership with emergency and disaster procedures.
35. Is a member of a weekend team.
36. Give instructions to children regarding desirable health and personal habits.
37. Provide after-school tutoring 2-3 days a week for students as needed.
38. Participate, as needed, in athletics, outdoor experiences with students and student advising.
39. Support the school and its leadership.
40. Supports and participates in the Outdoor Education Program.
41. Other duties as assigned.

QUALIFICATION REQUIREMENTS: 

To perform this job successfully, an individual must be able to perform each essential duty satisfactorily. The requirements listed below 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.

EDUCATION and/or EXPERIENCE:

Bachelor’s degree from a four-year college or university; prior teaching experience required. Credential and experience with curriculum planning is preferred.

LANGUAGE SKILLS:

Ability to read and interpret documents such as safety rules, operating and maintenance instructions, and procedure manuals. Ability to write routine reports and correspondence. Ability to speak effectively before groups of customers or employees of organization.

MATHEMATICAL SKILLS:

Ability to add, subtract, multiply, and divide in all units of measure, using whole numbers, common fractions, and decimals. Ability to calculate grades, and possesses basic skills to work with budgets.

REASONING ABILITY:

Ability to apply commonsense understanding to carry out instructions furnished in written, oral, or diagram form. Ability to deal with problems involving several concrete variables in standardized situations.

CERTIFICATES, LICENSES, REGISTRATIONS:

1. Current CPR and First Aid preferred.
2. California Driver's License preferred.

OTHER SKILLS and ABILITIES:

1. Ability to use training and experience to teach children of all ages.
2. Enthusiasm, sense of humor, patience, and self-control.
3. Good character, integrity, and adaptability.
4. Ability to supervise children of all ages.
5. Ability to relate to one’s peers.  

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 stand; walk; use hands, fingers, handle, or feel objects, tools, or controls; reach with hands and arms; stop, kneel, crouch or crawl; and talk or hear.  The employee is occasionally required to climb or balance. 

The employee must frequently lift and/or move up to 10 pounds, and occasionally lift and/or move up to 50 pounds.  Specific vision abilities required by this job include close vision, distance vision, color vision, peripheral vision, depth perception, and the 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 essential functions.  

While performing the duties of this job, the employee regularly works in outside weather conditions.  The employee occasionally works near moving mechanical parts and is occasionally exposed to wet and/or humid conditions and toxic or caustic chemicals. 

The noise level in the work environment is usually moderate.

About Ojai Valley School

Independent PreK-12 School

Connections working at Ojai Valley School