Secondary English 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 Connections Academy employees rated the company an A or B.

Connections Academy launched a school in South Carolina under contract to the South Carolina Connections Academy Charter School in 2008. SCCA is South Carolina's very first virtual charter school, authorized by the new South Carolina Public Charter School District. The school serves students in grades K12 from anywhere in South Carolina. 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 our office in Columbia, South Carolina or working from home in Charleston or Greenville, South Carolina, 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 Secondary Teacher will be responsible for the successful completion of the following tasks:

• Complete all grading, create report cards and conduct parent conferences in a timely manner.
• Support the instructional program with asynchronous web conferencing sessions.
• Review curriculum and devise alternate approaches to presenting lessons to increase student understanding (working directly with students and parents).
• 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 courses 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 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.
• Work with a team to coordinate 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.
• Work with Advisory Teachers and School counselor to ensure students and families are receiving appropriate communications, students are making adequate progress and established goals are being met.

Attend field trips and other community activities implemented for families.

Other duties as assigned.

Requirements • South Carolina Teacher Certification appropriate to content area and grade level
• Strong technology skills (especially with Microsoft OS and MS Office programs)
• Excellent communication skills, both oral and written
• 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)
• Willingness to travel to the Columbia, SC office on a prescheduled basis
• Ability to work some occasional evening hours, as needed to support some families

Openings for the 2009-2010 School Year Include:
Secondary English

www.connectionsacademy.com