Elementary Teacher

Description 2009-2010 School Year

Company Summary
Connections Academy, a “school without walls”, is an innovative public virtual educational program serving K-12 students throughout various states in a non-classroom-based environment. A learning team, consisting of Parent/Learning Coach, a Certified Teacher and educational specialists, work collaboratively with students using a standards-based hybrid curriculum that includes both online and offline options. This is a unique opportunity to be part of an exciting new public schooling model that creates alternative teaching and learning options for students, parents and teachers by leveraging the latest technologies, capitalizing on recent policy initiatives and embracing a cutting edge approach to education. 92% of all CA employees rated the company an A or B on the annual employee satisfaction survey.

Connections Academy operates one school in Pennsylvania under contract to the Commonwealth Connections Academy Charter School (CCA). CCA is a public cyber charter school authorized by the Pennsylvania Department of Education. The school serves students in grades K12 from anywhere in Pennsylvania. CCA is nationally accredited by the Commission on International and Trans-regional Accreditation (CITA) and the Middle States Association. 92.8% of all CA parents rated the program an “A” or “B” for the 2008-2009 school year.


Position Summary and Responsibilities
Working from one of our offices in Pennsylvania, certified Teachers will “virtually” manage instructional programs. Through use of the telephone, Internet and various curriculum tools they will consult regularly with learning coaches and students to ensure that each child successfully completes his/her instructional program.

The Elementary Teacher will be responsible for the successful completion of the following tasks:

• Support the instructional program with asynchronous web conferencing sessions.
• Complete all grading, create report cards and conduct parent conferences in a timely manner.
• Communicate with parents, students and other teachers on a regular basis to develop and update Personal Learning Plans and schedules, score assessments, provide feedback on student work, suggest instructional approaches and strategies, monitor completion of assignments and coach special projects.
• Work collaboratively with a team of teachers to ensure that all students on the team's caseload are successfully progressing through the program, that parents have a central point of contact, and that tasks are distributed evenly amongst the team members.
• Develop a general knowledge of the entire program's print-based K-12 curriculum and a very detailed knowledge of the grades for which responsible.
• Support students and parents with alternate strategies and provide additional assistance with daily assignments and projects.
• Communicate regularly with parents, students, and curriculum specialists through use of computer and telephone.
• Keep student records and data up-to-date, including cumulative files, online student and family information, attendance accounting, and logging of all student and parent contacts.
• Consult with team members and staff learning specialists to develop alternate enrichment activities and modifications to students' programs to increase student understanding.
• Communicate with Parent Community Coordinators to suggest social activities and relevant field trips for students.
• Manage regional field trips and make efforts to integrate trips into the curriculum.
• Devise and implement virtual methods of creating and maintaining a “school community”.
• Participate in the organization and administration of the State Testing, as directed.
• Participate in student recruiting sessions and other marketing efforts that require teacher representation.
• Review curriculum and devise alternate approaches to given lessons to increase student understanding (working directly with parents and students).

Attend field trips and other community activities implemented for families.

Other duties as assigned.

Requirements • Pennsylvania Teacher Certification (appropriate to grade level responsibilities)
• Strong technology skills(especially with Microsoft OS and MS Office programs)
• Excellent communication skills, both oral and written
• Highly organized and punctual
• Customer focused approach
• High degree of flexibility
• Demonstrated ability to work well in fast paced environment
• Team player track record
• Willingness to travel on occasion for marketing and state testing events (may require occasional overnight travel)
• Ability to work remotely, if necessary
• Ability to work some occasional evening hours, as needed to support some families

www.connectionsacademy.com