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Professional Learning Specialist

Employer
Arlington Public Schools
Location
Arlington, VA, US
Salary
Competitive
JOB STATUS: OPEN
POSTING DATE: 07/05/2022
POSTING NUMBER: T22/23.888.56.1
LOCATION: Syphax Education Center
POSITION TITLE: Professional Learning Specialist

JOB DESCRIPTION:

Arlington Public Schools (APS) requires all employees to be fully vaccinated against COVID-19 unless a medical or religious exemption is approved. Being fully vaccinated means that an individual is at least two weeks past their final dose of an authorized COVID-19 vaccine regimen (i.e. Pfizer, Moderna, and/or Johnson and Johnson). As a condition of employment, newly hired employees will be required to provide proof of their COVID-19 vaccination.

This position is a 1.0 FTE located at Syphax Education Center. Under the general direction of the Director of Professional Learning, the Professional Learning (PL) Specialist is responsible for developing, implementing, and facilitating training and professional career growth for licensed instructional, administrator, and school-based (e.g., paraprofessional) classroom staff.

RESPONSIBILITIES:

DISTINGUISHING CHARACTERISTICS
This position is inclusive to the Teacher Specialist class series This position is distinctive from other licensed instructional teachers and specialists, given the complexity and discretion of programs supporting training and professional development and learning.

ESSENTIAL FUNCTIONS OF THE CLASS (May not include all duties performed.)

  • Coordinate competency development and implementation, evaluation, and professional growth for licensed instructional staff and school-based paraprofessionals
  • Research and implement mentoring best practices and emergent skills, tools, and resources.
  • Collaborate with administrators to ensure appropriate mentor/mentee matches are made.
  • Plan and implement an effective mentor program in accordance with district and state requirements.
  • Develop learning and training plans to support beginning, mid, and end of the school year recruitment.
  • Evaluates and measures the effectiveness of mentoring, learning and training opportunities to provide continuous improvements.
  • Serves as a liaison between the school system and national, state, and local government and community programs that focus on mentoring and support for licensed instructional staff.
  • Prepare new teacher, instructional paraprofessional and evaluation handbooks, program agendas, templates, and documented guidance references.
  • Collaborate with various departments and offices to plan for new teacher and assistant orientation and induction.
  • Ensure logistics for professional learning opportunities are arranged (e.g., scheduling conference rooms/space, participant materials, speaker arrangements, etc.).
  • Provide support, guidance and management of the teacher and assistant evaluation process.
  • Coordinate teacher support through implementation of an effective Career Advancement Program, including National Board for Professional Teaching Standards certification.
  • Manage the student field experience objectives and expectations of universities.
  • Communicate with local and online colleges and universities about student field work opportunities and process for application.
  • Collaborate and network with schools and programs to find placements for student field work participants.
  • Support departments and staff utilizing the district's Learning Management System (LMS).
  • Collaborates with staff to meaningfully plan and deliver professional learning; this includes design, development, and implementation of professional learning.
  • Models effective adult learning, coaching, and professional learning delivery.
  • Conducts personal professional learning including research relating to professional growth goals, related conference attendance, workshops, and coursework.

SUPERVISION
Work is performed under general supervision of the Director of Professional Learning. This position has no staff or student supervisory responsibility, however, may provide guidance and assistance to full-, part-time, and/or hourly employees, as assigned

EXPERIENCE:

REQUIRED KNOWLEDGE, SKILLS, AND ABILITIES
Knowledge of (1) the full range of Virginia/APS Pre-K-12 curriculum and instructional areas, advanced concepts, principles and practices of Pre-K-12 instructional planning and delivery, and learning/educational project management altogether to assess needs, aid teachers, other educators and administrators and manage projects concerning elementary education. Knowledge of adult learning theories and the skills to apply learning theories in the administration and facilitation of training and professional learnings courses.

This position requires the skills to perform multiple tasks with a potential need to upgrade skills to meet changing job conditions. Specific skill-based competencies required to satisfactorily perform the functions of the job include Danielson's Framework for Teaching, the APS Career Advancement Program, Mentor Program, and evaluation process.

This position requires the knowledge to perform basic math; understand written procedures, write routine documents, and speak clearly; and analyze situations to define issues and draw conclusions. Specific knowledge-based competencies required to satisfactorily perform the functions of the job include interacting with contacts in a professional, customer service-oriented manner by establishing and maintaining effective working relationships and working in harmony with supervisors, staff, students and the general public. This position requires the ability to schedule activities; gather and/or collate data; and use basic, job-related equipment. Flexibility is required to work with others in a wide variety of circumstances: work with data utilizing specific, defined processes; and operate equipment using standardized methods. Ability is also required to work with a diversity of individuals and/or groups; work with a variety of data; and utilize a variety of job-related equipment. Problem solving is required to analyze issues and create action plans. Specific ability-based competencies required to satisfactorily perform the functions of the job include adapting to changing work priorities. communicating with diverse groups; maintaining confidentiality; working as part of a team; setting priorities; working with frequent and sustained interruptions.

REQUIRED EDUCATION, TRAINING, AND EXPERIENCE
Master's Degree in Education, Curriculum field (e.g., Science, English), Human Resources, Instructional Design, Organizational Development, or a related field and five (5) of progressively
more responsible successful teaching experience related to specialty, some of which may have been in a supervisory or administrative role (such as, head teacher, department chair, etc.).

Progressively responsible experience planning, implementing, and delivering professional learning for teachers or other adult learners is highly preferred.

Advanced degree(s) beyond the minimum degree requirement in a relevant field may be considered for some experience. Equivalent combination of education and experience in related
fields can be substituted as minimum requirements for position.

QUALIFICATIONS:

A Postgraduate Professional License or a Collegiate Professional License issued by the Virginia State Board of Education. (Eligibility for Virginia Licensure/Endorsement through comity, reciprocity or equivalence may be acceptable.)

A National Board for Professional Teaching Standards Certification and/or successfully completed the APS CAP local portfolio is preferred .

Certifications, skills and knowledge in coaching is highly preferred.

CONTACT INFORMATION:

CONTACTS
Contacts include, but are not limited to, licensed instructional staff, paraprofessional and support staff, school-based and central office administrators. Other contacts include professional associations and organizations, subject-matter experts, consultants, vendors, and jurisdictional learning communities. The purposes of contacts include, but are not limited to, exchange of routine and non-routine information related to staff professional learning and development.

GUIDELINES
Guidelines include but are not limited to APS Policies and Procedures for instruction and curriculum, employment, licensure, Virginia Administrative Code (VAC), Virginia Department of Education (VDOE) ordinances and regulations, state and local laws governing building use and maintenance.

HAZARDS/UNUSUAL DEMANDS
Work may include after-hours duty, weekends, high volume, tight deadlines, and other demands.

PHYSICAL ATTRIBUTES
This job operates in a professional office environment and has a noise level of mostly low to moderate. This role routinely uses standard office equipment such as computers, phones, photocopiers, filing cabinets, and fax machines.

Work is predominantly sedentary and involves light physical effort. It requires moving about to obtain work objects, supplies, etc., distribute work products, coordinate with others, observe instruction and perform related functions; operating office and communications equipment; and reviewing written documents containing small print, symbols, and special notations.

The work environment and physical demands described herein are representative of those that must be met by the employee to successfully perform the essential functions of this job. Reasonable accommodations may be made to enable individuals with disabilities to perform the essential functions.

If you would like to apply for a position please follow these steps:
1. Log in to your application and select the appropriate application (Current APS employees interested in transferring must select the Employee Transfer Application). If you are a new online application user, please regiser with the online system, then proceed to Step 2.
2. to your application, select the appropriate application, click the Start Application button at the bottom of the page.
3. Click the Continue/Save button at the bottom of the each web page until you reach the Employment Openings page of the application.
4. On the Employment Openings page, click the Add Job button.
5. Select the position you would like to apply for from the drop down list.
6. Click the Add Another button to add a different position to your application or if you have finished click the Continue button and proceed to Step 7.
7. Once you have finished selecting the job(s) click the Continue button at the bottom of each web page and submit the application. (You will need to complete the Applicant Testimony and Applicant's Authorization Statement every time you re-submit your application).
8. Click the Submit button on the left.
9. Click the Submit Application button to finish applying for an APS position(s).
10. Please do not contact the schools regarding job openings.

Arlington Public Schools is an Equal Opportunity Employer

It is the policy of the Arlington School Board, as stated in Policy G-2.30, Employee Relations - Equal Employment Opportunity - that "Employment opportunities shall not be restricted, abridged or otherwise adversely affected on the basis of race, national origin, creed, color, religion, gender, age, economic status, sexual orientation, national origin, marital status, genetic information, gender identity or expression, and/or disability."

APPLY TO:
Please follow the instructions listed above.
SALARY:
Salary will be based on the FY2022-23 salary schedule.

DAYS:

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