Steilacoom Education Association (SEA) Position
Fair Labor Standards Act Exempt
Reporting Relationship: School Principal or Assistant Principal
Updated: February 26, 2026
The BEST education for EVERY student
ELEMENTARY TEACHER (K-3)
Elementary teachers play an important role in supporting young learners an opportunity to learn and practice the
essential social, emotional, problem-solving skills and study skills that students will use throughout their
schooling. Elementary students are in a developmental period of their lives where they begin to develop their first
feelings of competence and confidence as learners. They are beginning to develop decision-making,
communication and life-skills, as well as character values. It is also a time when students develop and acquire
attitudes toward school, self, peers, social groups and family. Our Elementary teachers are a critical part of our
school teams that ensures quality, genuinely accessible education for ALL students.
Essential Responsibilities and Duties
Elementary teachers provide instruction and support following district approved curriculum, instruction and
assessment practices. This description represents the key areas of responsibilities - specific other duties may be
assigned.
Student Learning and Growth:
- Creates a differentiated learning environment that supports individual and collaborative learning, positive
social interactions and active engagement.
- Plans for student success by assessing each student's current knowledge and skill level, sets learning goals
and assesses student progress.
- Facilitates and shares responsibility of instruction and learning with students by initiating cooperative
learning groups, student-led discussions and varying teaching approaches to accommodate diverse
learning styles and language proficiency.
- Delivers engaging instruction, including project-based learning aligned to the subject using district
approved curriculum.
- Maintains and provides reasonable and meaningful evaluation of student growth consistent with school
and district policy and regularly and effectively communicates student progress to students and families.
Safe and Positive Learning Environment:
- Communicates clear expectations, and creates a learning environment in which there is genuine care and
respect for students and a belief in their capability.
- Supports students in applying social emotional learning strategies and help them identify and remove
barriers to learning and developing skills critical for academic achievement.
- Maintains a learning environment that is orderly, purposeful and facilitates student learning.
- Assists students and families in finding ways to help students develop a positive sense of identity.
Consultation and Collaboration:
- Collaborates with other educators at individual education plan (IEP) and 504 meetings, system
intervention meetings, and school attendance conferences to support students.
- Collaborates with special education, ELL and intervention teachers to provide inclusive activities within
the classroom for students to receive additional support.
- Actively participates in department and school-wide meetings and initiatives. Engages with students at
school activities and events.
The BEST education for EVERY student
Minimum Qualifications and Skills
- Successful experience or demonstrated commitment toward working with culturally and racially diverse
students, families and communities.
- Successful completion of a teacher certification program at an accredited college or university.
- Possess or qualify for issuance of a valid Washington state certification and endorsement(s) to teach
Elementary Education.
- Knowledge of strength-focused strategies for students, including trauma-informed and social emotional
learning (SEL) practices.
- Experience or skill in creating a caring classroom environment that is orderly, purposeful and facilitates
student learning.
- Experience or skill in planning, preparing and delivering differentiated instruction that facilitates active
learning.
- Demonstrated skill or experience supporting and contributing to the success of students with disabilities.
- Understanding of how injustice or racial inequity may impact students and families experience with
school.
- Exceptional interpersonal skills and ability to collaborate with others.
- Strong relationship building, networking skills to connect with community businesses and resources.
- Ability to maintain regular, in-person physical presence at the assigned work location during scheduled
work hours.
- Ability to maintain confidentiality, work effectively under pressure, and remain flexible.
- Ability to meet and maintain punctuality and attendance expectations.
Desired Qualifications and Skills:
- Successful experience teaching at the primary school level (PK-3).
- Experience and training in identifying and responding to anxiety in children.
- Experience working with military-connected students and families.
- Bilingual skills.
Physical and Environmental Requirements:
The district is committed to providing reasonable accommodations to employees with disabilities to access the
physical and environmental requirements of this position.
This position typically requires: stooping, kneeling, crouching, reaching, standing, walking, pushing, pulling, lifting,
finger dexterity, grasping, talking, hearing, seeing, and repetitive motions. This position may be exposed to
prolonged exposure to visual display terminals as required. Exerting up to 50 pounds of force occasionally, and/or
up to 20 pounds of force frequently, and/or up to 10 pounds of force constantly to move objects.
While performing the duties of this job, the employee occasionally works in outside weather conditions. The
employee is occasionally exposed to wet and/or humid conditions, fumes or airborne particles, toxic or caustic
chemicals. It may be expected that the individual could be exposed to blood or other potentially infectious
materials during the course of their duties. The noise level in the work environment is usually moderate but can
be loud on occasion.