This position posting is for a middle school career explorations teacher for the 2024-2025 school year. Qualified applicants must have strong skills in the areas of standards-based planning, instructional best practices, and intentional use of assessments. Applicants must be eager to work cooperatively within department and school team settings. Applicants must be organized and possess outstanding communication skills in working collaboratively and effectively with students, teachers, parents, and administrators. Teachers who are also interested in serving in HS or MS coaching positions are encouraged to apply. 

Signal Mountain Middle/High is a 6-12 school located on Signal Mountain, TN, just outside of Chattanooga. We are the only International Baccalaureate school in Hamilton County, offering both the prestigious IB Middle Years Program (MYP) and Diploma Program (DP). Although known for our academic accomplishments, SMMHS also provides students with many other experiences, including State-Championship athletics programs, award-winning performing and visual arts programs, and opportunities for students to learn and grow through a variety of extracurricular activities. While knowledge of IB requirements is preferred, training is also available for teachers who are new to IB.

Career Exploration Courses 1, 2, and 3 for Middle School students are designed to build foundational knowledge of career opportunities through examining key characteristics evident in successful leaders, connecting academic aptitude and personal strengths to postsecondary and career success, and bringing awareness to career availability in various contexts. Students will engage in self-reflection and intentional goal setting by using a career assessment tool, analyze academic strengths and progress, research postsecondary options and the requirements for various career sectors, and identify coursework, extracurricular activities, and experiences that can support career exploration. Students will also engage in experiential learning that can support career advising and planning. Upon completion of this coursework, proficient students will understand their own strengths and academic skills, explain specific careers and career sectors of interest, and develop an understanding of the career pathways, postsecondary education institutions, and employers located in their greater community. Finally, students will demonstrate transferable skills (e.g. teamwork, self-advocacy, and effective communication), alongside technical skills (e.g. time management and goal creation) to practice critical skills needed in the workplace. Students will use their own strengths and skills to set meaningful academic and career goals, and to articulate high school pathways and careers that align with their strengths and academic background or plans.

Plan, deliver and assess effective instruction that is tightly aligned with State standards.

• Designs lessons based on best practices with clear learning targets and measurable goals aligned with State standards and/or unit outcomes. Frequently plans collaboratively with colleagues.
• Conveys high expectations while using multiple effective strategies, materials, and classroom practices that involve and motivate students while differentiating instruction to meet students’ needs.
• Uses colleagues and own self-reflection on instructional practice to continually improve instruction.

Classroom Management & Relationships:

• Fosters a well-structured and engaging learning environment by utilizing effective classroom procedures and routines while showing caring, respect, and fairness for all students.

Family & Community:

• Consistently develops strong relationships with students’ families while diligently informing parents of expectations, positive news, and/or concerns about their children.
• Provides opportunities for parents to be involved in their children’s learning.

Professional Responsibilities:

• Actively seeks out opportunities to collaborate with colleagues and other stakeholders in order to improve teaching & learning.
• Reflects on own instruction and leadership while contributing ideas, expertise, and time to the mission and goals of the school.
• Adheres to the Teacher Code of Ethics as defined by Tennessee Law
• Performs other duties as assigned.

Knowledge/Education/Experience:

Valid Tennessee educator license with an elementary, middle or high school endorsement required.

CTE academic endorsements are processed by the division of college, career, and technical education. To view all applicable endorsements, please visit https://www.tn.gov/education/career-and-technical-education/career-clusters/cte-cluster-stem.html .

All academic practitioner license applications must be submitted through TNCompass by an educator prep program (EPP). The practitioner teacher license is valid for a period of three years. Individuals applying for the practitioner license must meet the following criteria:

• Hold a bachelor’s degree from a regionally accredited college or university AND
• Be formally admitted to or have completed a state-approved educator preparation program AND
• Recommended by the state-approved educator preparation program OR submitted qualifying scores on required assessment.

Educators must submit qualifying scores on all required assessments within three years of obtaining the practitioner license. If the educator does not submit assessment scores and complete an EPP within three years of the license being issued, the license will become inactive.

Skills/Qualifications:

• Demonstrate excellent verbal and written communication skills to deal effectively with students, educators, parents, and community members.
• Demonstrate excellent planning, organizational, problem-solving, decision-making, and time management skills.

Compensation:Salary is based on a combination of relevant education and experience.Salary Scale