Position Description & Application Process for Founding Special Populations Coordinator
Liberty STEAM Charter: A School of Inquiry, Innovation, and Impact
Overview
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Liberty STEAM Charter, a tuition-free, open-enrollment public charter school to be located in Sumter, South Carolina, will open in the Fall of 2021 initially serving 144 scholars in kindergarten and first grade. The first-ever of its existence in the community, the charter school will serve scholars in grades PK-12 at its build out with grade levels being phased in over time to ensure quality educational programming is offered to all enrolled scholars.
This is a unique opportunity to open a school that will offer its founding staff autonomy and leadership opportunities. Although the school is still very early in the pre-planning launch phase, the vision and mission of the school is predicated upon a general theory of action that has been well-communicated by early supporters who believe if a school existed which emphasized a focus on STEAM career fields through project-based learning and personalized learning, seeking to provide scholars with a blend of rigorous & relevant academic and workplace learning experiences, then its graduates will leave with the competencies necessary to be successful in college or career.
As such, the school will eventually serve as the cradle-to-college/workforce pipeline in the Sumter community and become an integral part of a holistic revitalization approach. A planning committee has been formed, who will collectively author the state charter school application for submission in late Winter of 2020. By leveraging innovative practices common to some of the state and nation's top performing public schools, the proposed charter school is ready to shatter the opportunity gap for all scholars. In addition to a project-based learning approach with an integration of the STEAM curriculum, scholars will be provided with a strong foundation in literacy to help define and achieve their dreams.
Assembling a World-Class Faculty & Staff to Deliver on our Promise of Excellence for all Scholars

The founding faculty and staff at Liberty STEAM Charter will be champions who believes all scholars are capable of greatness and achievement far beyond what society has been conditioned to accept. If you have what it takes, then keep reading. You will be demanders of excellence for yourself and your scholars, encouraging and accepting nothing less than scholars' best and most thoughtful work.

You are already a passionate learner who is hungry for professional development and thrives on feedback. Here, you will cultivate classroom cultures built on strong structures, communication and lasting relationships. You will be part of a powerful team that is all aligned around the same goals. Every day, your hard work will prepare scholars who will go on to become graduates who will be thoughtful and engaged citizens prepared to take on the leadership challenges of the 21st century. And you'll grow. Your growth matters to us. Because doing what's best for kids means doing what's best for teachers, too.
This is a full-time position located in Sumter, South Carolina.
Description of Sumter
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Known as the Gamecock City, Sumter lies near the geographic center of South Carolina. Nearly 108,000 people call Sumter their home. Sumter offers a highly diversified industrial structure and is famed for its lovely gardens and charming residential neighborhoods. Part of the well-known Santee-Cooper Lakes region, Sumter is renowned for hunting, fishing, water sports and golf. Located between two great vacation centers, Sumter is 100 miles west of Myrtle Beach's Grand Strand and 175 miles east of the Blue Ridge Mountains. Columbia, the state capital, lies 44 miles to the west, and the major port city of Charleston is 99 miles south. Sumter is proud to be the home of Shaw Air Force Base and the Third Army, which are integral parts of our community. Sumter has become increasingly known for textiles, manufacturing, biotech industries, a thriving retail environment, and medical center of its region in addition to agricultural products, which makes it a hub for business in the east-central portion of South Carolina.
The Challenge
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Sumter is not immune to the issue that has plagued rural communities of the Palmetto State and indeed the nation for the last several years - the local public school system is not producing enough graduates prepared to enter a rapidly changing skills-based economy. Make no mistake about it: Sumter is at an important crossroads and bold, dynamic innovation is a must if our community is to move forward and increase its global competitiveness. A 21st century education system must be centered around preparing our young people to participate in an ever-changing economy. Early backers of the school's concept strongly believe that when kids leave school with an industry recognized credential or some kind of skill, trade, or even a degree, they are able to take those high-wage, high-demand jobs that we desperately need to fill locally in order to further grow our Sumter economy.
Solution
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The creation and establishment of Liberty STEAM Charter, a public charter school in Sumter (South Carolina) focused on STEAM career fields through project-based learning supported by industry is the way forward. Liberty STEAM Charter (LSC) will work to provide all scholars with equal access to a world class K-12 education in an academically rigorous and scholar-centered learning environment, creating graduates who will be thoughtful and engaged citizens prepared to take on the leadership challenges of the 21st century. LSC's vision is as follows: In partnership with our families and the community, our vision is to provide real-world interdisciplinary, personalized, and project-based learning experiences through a STEAM-based academic program where graduates become the next generation of leaders, employers, and employees who contribute to the economic well-being of their communities and families.
Multiple career pathways will be offered to scholars to include industrial & engineering technology, health sciences, computer technology, and early college. The school will hold a deep commitment to cultivating an inclusive & supportive community where everyone is focused on learning. The establishment of the charter school could be one part of a holistic approach to help lead a renaissance in the Sumter community and will encourage further growth, hope, and a sense of pride, while being a launching pad for better education opportunities in our community. Thus, the charter school will essentially serve as a key lever for holistic neighborhood revitalization by helping to close the opportunity gap in building a strong, economically diverse community. Our community leaders believe this will positively impact local education as a whole and also, more importantly, encourage further development throughout our community, improve the quality of life, and be a mechanism to recruit new families to Sumter while providing a world-class education system for those that already call Sumter home. The founding committee is deeply intrigued with the East Lake model in Georgia, focusing on the academic achievement and growth at Charles R. Drew Charter School. Charter schools like Drew, with a clear purpose, have shown positive and profound effects on the community while improving quality of life and education opportunities for its residents.

Founding Lead Special Education Teacher Opportunity
The proposed charter school is seeking a passionate and energetic founding special education teacher to join a group of talented educators who is excited and prepared for the challenges of building a high-performing, independent public charter school. The ideal candidate has a documented track record of excellence in special education and will be responsible for building the foundations of our special education program to include administrative and teaching Responsibilities for a multicategorical caseload. Responsibilities include:
Outstanding Academic Achievement & Character Development

• ​Create a positive, achievement-oriented and structured learning environment that excites and invests scholars.
• Motivate scholars to realize high academic and behavioral standards.
• Build classroom community by investing families in children's academic success and development of REACH values (REACH stands for Respect, Enthusiasm, Achievement, Citizenship and Hard work).
• Utilize data from Sumter STEAM Charter's interim assessments to drive instruction and intervention.
• Design and implement unit and lesson plans in collaboration with grade or subject team.
• Hold all scholars accountable during transitions, meals, trips and school events.
• Exemplify SSC's core values in all interactions with scholars, families and colleagues.
• Serve as "owner" of all special education-related services, including writing and implementing rigorous, standards-driven Individualized Education Plans (IEPs), managing legal documents and files related to scholars' IEPs and 504 plans, liaising with external service providers, ensuring all services are in compliance with mandates and coordinating annual IEP review process.

Professional Learning, Development, and Growth

• Collaborate with the Executive Director, Dean of Academics, and grade-level chairs to improve instructional, culture-building and leadership skills.
• Attend all professional development, team planning and data analysis meetings.
• Participate enthusiastically in structured and informal learning and development opportunities.

Skills and Characteristics

• Strong instructional and classroom management skills.
• High level of personal organization and planning.
• Team player: maturity, humility, strong work ethic, follow-through, sense of humor, willingness to respond positively to feedback and a "roll-up-my-sleeves" attitude.
• Strong belief in the SSC mission and educational model.
• Mastery of and enthusiasm for subject matter.
• Familiarity with the IEP process and Enrich computer program

Educational Background and Work Experience

• Two years of teaching experience preferred with a proven record of high scholar achievement.
• Bachelor's degree with a GPA of at least 3.0 from a competitive college or university; Master's degree preferred.
• South Carolina certification in special education (multicategorical) or in process of obtaining a certification.
• If you are not yet certified, you may learn more about the process at https://ed.sc.gov/educators/certification/ .

Compensation
Salary for this position is very competitive and commensurate with experience. Additionally, Liberty STEAM Charter offers a comprehensive benefits package. Teachers receive funds for supplies and materials as well as a laptop computer.
To Learn More About Liberty STEAM Charter
Please visit the Liberty STEAM Charter website at www.libertysteamcharter.org . Liberty STEAM Charter is an equal opportunity employer and an organization that values diversity. People from all diverse backgrounds are strongly encouraged to apply.
Use Your Talents and Pasion to Help Deliver Life-Changing Opportunities for Kids... Apply Today
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Click here to apply: www.libertysteamcharter.org/talent

Teacher Recruitment Packet

Interested applicants should apply directly to the job posting via the online JazzHR platform that can be accessed from the school's main website. Candidates who apply can expect the following flow: application, video recorded interview, follow-up phone screening, and a final round interview with school leaders.