Harrison Junior School - Middle School ELA Teacher

Position: Middle School ELA Teacher - 8th Grade
Reports to: Building Principal
Location: Harrison Junior School

Southwest Local School District, situated in the southwestern corner of Ohio, is composed of: Harrison Elementary School, Miami Whitewater Elementary School, Crosby Elementary School, the Southwest Early Childhood Learning Center, Harrison Junior School and William Henry Harrison High School. The District has achieved an “Excellent” rating from the Ohio Department of Education for the past four years and each of our schools have been recognized by the U.S. Department of Education with Blue Ribbon Awards for Excellence in Education.

Our Mission: "Academic and Social Growth for all students, every day!"
Our Motto: "Excellence through Relationships"
Our Core Values: Trust, Respect, Ownership and Leadership

Southwest Local School District believes in providing the best possible learning environment by hiring, developing and retaining quality personnel. We believe that education needs to take a leadership role in improving society by enhancing activities/programs that help develop well-rounded students who can cope with everyday pressures. We are seeking an 8th Grade ELA Teacher at Harrison Junior School for the 2025/2026 school year and beyond.

Job Summary: The ideal candidate will promote the academic and social growth of all students every day and maintain a classroom environment that is positive, focused, and conducive to learning.

Responsibilities:

• Implement a comprehensive program which involves screening to identify early entrance candidates, individual diagnosis and recommendations for remediation, individual and group counseling, staff development programs for school and related personnel, strategies for classroom management, instructional methodology, and crisis intervention designed to assist the school in determining appropriate educational options for handicapped children.
• Provide best practice instruction with a focus on high levels of student engagement, differentiation, and engagement.
• Adapt subject material and methods to develop relevant sequential assignments that guide and challenge students.
• Provide remedial and challenging instruction to ensure high levels of student interest and meet the individual needs of all students.
• Adapt the curriculum to provide the three tiers of instruction (core, strategic, and intensive) to whole class, small groups, and individuals. (differentiation/Rtl)
• Provides services as outlined in the students' IEP, 504, WEP, and/or Intervention Plan.
• Create activities that lead students to develop skills in inductive reasoning, logic, and critical analysis.
• Identify and address student needs both collaboratively and independently in assessing and helping students solve health, attitude, and behavior concerns.
• Design and administer formative assessments that are aligned with instructional outcomes and responsive to the needs of individual students.
• Use assessment results to plan future instruction (makes data-based decisions) to intervene or enrich.
• Explicitly teach behavior expectations and provide a three-tier level of support to cultivate a safe school environment. (PBIS)
• Establish clear standards of student conduct and maintain an orderly, productive classroom environment.
• Teach content and skills in the subject area according to the state standards and district curriculum maps, guides, etc.
• Encourage students to think independently and to express original ideas.
• Assess student academic progress on an ongoing basis and provide progress reports as required.
• Establish and maintain open lines of communication with students and parents concerning academic and behavioral progress of all students.
• Administer or monitor district and statewide tests with efficacy and integrity.
• Participate in the sponsorship of student activities.
• Maintain professional competence through in-service educational activities provided by the district and/or in self-selected professional development activities.
• Attend staff meetings and serve on staff committees as required.
• Maintain accurate, complete, and correct records as required by law, district policy and administrative regulations.
• Possess an understanding of technology for the purposes of email, record keeping, word processing, enhancing classroom instruction, etc.
• Apply knowledge of current research and theory to instructional program.
• Perform other tasks/duties as assigned by the building administrator.

Qualifications:

• Bachelor’s degree in Education or a related field.
• Valid Ohio teaching license/certification in Language Arts or eligibility for licensure.
• Proven success in facilitating student growth, particularly in standardized testing measures.
• Experience working with middle school students in a team-oriented environment.
• Strong communication and interpersonal skills, with the ability to build positive relationships with students, colleagues, and families.
• Commitment to fostering a culture of trust, respect, ownership, and leadership within the school community.
• Willingness to participate in professional development opportunities to enhance teaching practices and stay current with educational trends and research.

Benefits:

Southwest Local School District participates in the Southwest Ohio Organization for School Health (SWOOSH). SWOOSH is a health and wellness consortium for school districts and government agencies that come together to provide stability and quality access to health care and benefits to all eligible members. Full-time employees have access to the benefits below:

• Retirement
• Health Insurance
• Dental Insurance – 100% paid by District
• Vision Insurance
• Life Insurance
• Employee Assistance Program
• Mental Health Benefits
• Paid Time Off

Southwest Local School District provides equal employment opportunities to all employees and applicants for employment and prohibits discrimination and harassment of any type without regard to race, color, religion, age, sex, national origin, disability status, genetics, protected veteran status, sexual orientation, gender identity or expression, or any other characteristic protected by federal, state or local laws. This policy applies to all terms and conditions of employment.