NMES Kindergarten Teacher

Position Title: Kindergarten Teacher

ALL INTERESTED APPLICANTS MUST APPLY AT: https://www.applitrack.com/southmontschools/onlineapp/

Classification: Certified

Terms of Employment: Full-Time, 183-Day Contract

Location: New Market Elementary School

Reports To: Building Principal

Job Goal

To introduce New Market's youngest learners to a positive, nurturing, and rigorous school experience. The Kindergarten Teacher will develop and implement foundational academic, social, and emotional instruction aligned with Indiana Academic Standards, ensuring every child builds the essential early literacy, numeracy, and behavioral skills required for long-term academic success.

Performance Responsibilities & Essential Functions

• Standard-Aligned Curriculum: Plan, prepare, and deliver structured lessons aligned with Indiana Academic Standards for Kindergarten, with a heavy emphasis on foundational reading (Phonics and Phonemic Awareness/Science of Reading), early writing, and core math concepts.
• Differentiated Instruction: Design lessons that accommodate a wide variance in school readiness, providing interventions for students needing extra support and enrichment for advanced learners.
• eLearning Design: Create age-appropriate, manageable digital or take-home activities for scheduled or weather-related district eLearning days, ensuring parents can easily facilitate learning at home.
• Observational Assessment: Regularly assess students' fine motor skills, social-emotional development, and behavioral milestones through structured observation.
• Reporting Growth: Maintain accurate, up-to-date records of student progress and complete standards-based report cards that clearly communicate development to families.
• Nurturing Culture: Establish a warm, welcoming, safe, and highly structured classroom environment that fosters a sense of belonging and a love for school.
• Routine & Transition Management: Explicitly teach, model, and reinforce daily routines, classroom procedures, and smooth transitions to maximize instructional time.
• Social-Emotional Learning (SEL): Teach and model foundational social skills, including sharing, emotional regulation, conflict resolution, independence, and positive peer interactions.
• Family Partnerships: Establish strong, proactive communication with parents and guardians through newsletters, apps (e.g., ClassDojo or Seesaw), conferences, and phone calls, recognizing that kindergarten is often a familys first transition into public education.
• Professional Learning Communities (PLCs): Collaborate actively with the kindergarten team, Title I reading specialists, speech-language pathologists, and special education staff to support the diverse needs of all students.
• Contractual Expectations: Fulfill the 183-day contract schedule, including attendance at all required professional development days, faculty meetings, kindergarten roundup/orientation events, and parent-teacher conferences.
• Compliance: Maintain a valid Indiana teaching license, complete Professional Growth Points (PGPs), and strictly adhere to FERPA and district safety guidelines.
• All other duties as assigned

Qualifications & Requirements

Required:

• Bachelor's Degree in Elementary Education or Early Childhood Education from an accredited institution.
• Valid Indiana Teaching License appropriate for Kindergarten (e.g., Elementary Generalist K-6, Early Childhood Education, or equivalent).
• Deep understanding of child development and research-based early literacy practices (Science of Reading).
• Strong digital literacy (proficiency with Google Workspace for Education and early-learning software/hardware).
• Successful clearance of all required state and federal criminal background checks