What are the responsibilities and job description for the Specialist - IB (International Baccalaureate) - Westwood High School 2025-2026 position at Mesa Public Schools?
- Forbes named Mesa Public Schools in their list of 2024 Best Employers in Arizona.
- East Valley Tribune names Mesa Public Schools as Best Place to Work in East Valley for multiple years.
Full-time
Base Salary:
$70,491.00
Calendar:
Certified Exempt, 238 workdays
Benefits:
Sick leave, holidays, matched retirement through the Arizona State Retirement System, health, and life insurance
Performance Pay:
Available annually
New Hire Experience:
$500 for each full-time year of certified teaching or verified like experience beyond the five year requirement
New Hire Education:
$65/hour of graduate level credits: BA 45 hours max, MA 60 hours max $1000 for advanced degrees
Job Summary:
The International Baccalaureate Specialist will coordinate efforts under the direction of the International Baccalaureate district Director and site leader for the strategic design, planning, and implementation of inquiry-based learning and pedagogy through science, technology, engineering, and mathematics.
Key Responsibilities:
This section outlines the primary duties and key responsibilities required for this role, detailing the essential tasks and functions necessary to perform the job successfully, with or without reasonable accommodations.
Student Guidance and Support (Academic & Post-Secondary)
- Assist students in planning and scheduling their DP/CP course of study, including choices for DP courses and all elements of the CP/DP core.
- Promote preparation and participation in college and career assessments and facilitate students’ understanding of results.
- Connect students to school and community resources to help ensure the successful transition from high school and enrollment in post-secondary education.
- Inform DP students about the Extended Essay guidelines and deadlines.
- Ensure that each DP student completes the required forms and reflections for the Extended Essay throughout the two-year program.
- Coordinate Extended Essay work time and meetings with mentors through the personal and Professional Skills teacher.
- Support service learning by ensuring DP students complete the IB’s CAS requirements.
- Assist students in crisis situations and refer to district or community resources when appropriate.
- Support the 504 referral, evaluation, and accommodation processes for students in one’s caseload.
- Oversee all core components of the IB DP program.
- Organize and direct procedures for DP authorization and the 5-year DP program evaluation.
- Maintain copies of all DP correspondence with the IBO, including forms, documents, and reports.
- Set and inform all staff of assessment deadlines and the procedures for the DP.
- Ensure that all DP faculty have access to MYIB and understand how to use the resources.
- Ensure that appropriate textbooks, resources, and facilities are available.
- Participate in the selection of DP staff.
- Create and implement orientation programs for students and parents, outlining expectations, procedures, policies, and criteria for students’ successful completion of the IB Programme.
- Collaborate with the school on program data to assess student progress and make recommendations to improve student achievement.
- Contribute to and support school improvement efforts.
- Help promote a better understanding of the IB DP school-wide and throughout the community.
- Keep teachers and administrators informed of current DP developments.
- Provide advice and support to teachers regarding best IB practices and the DP.
- Arrange for new teacher induction into DP, providing information and resources of all relevant aspects of the program including the Approaches to teaching and learning.
- Organize regular meetings for discussion, planning, and collaboration for DP teachers.
- Meet with DP faculty to ensure that the program is well implemented and monitored.
- Inform EE supervisors (teachers) about their responsibilities as DP EE supervisors.
- Remain current with federal, state and district law/policies related to guidance functions, including, but not limited to, FERPA, child abuse reporting and graduation requirements.
- Remain current with postsecondary career and college opportunities.
- Attend IB workshops and professional development activities.
- Assists with other assigned duties as appropriate to the area of assignment and Mesa Public Schools.
To be eligible for this position, an applicant must meet the following required qualifications. Verification of these required qualifications is necessary.
Education:
- Bachelor's degree in IB curriculum (e.g., Mathematics, Science, Literature, Humanities), or Educational Leadership.
- Masters in Education, Curriculum and Instruction, Educational Leadership, or IB Education preferred
- Recommended: State of Arizona School Guidance Counselor certification
- Five years of successful teaching experience
- Three years in a leadership or supervisory role preferred
- Experience as an IB Coordinator, Examiner, or Workshop Leader preferred
This section outlines the critical skills and competencies required to excel in this role, enabling effective performance, adaptability, and consistent achievement of job responsibilities.
- Models the attributes and skills of the MPS Portrait of a Graduate.
- Demonstrates commitment to the MPS Promise that every student is known by name, served by strength and need, and graduates ready for college, career and community.
- Knowledge of best practices for dropout prevention, credit recovery and increasing graduation rate
- Ability to develop and successfully implement school-level efforts to increase the graduation rate, decrease the dropout rate and increase postsecondary enrollment
- Develop and maintain effective professional relationships with all stakeholders
- Ability to prioritize and manage a variety of responsibilities
- Skill in effective decision making
- Ability to communicate effectively with faculty, students, parents/guardians and outside agencies
- Willingness to accept and effectively manage change
- Knowledge of CTE programs, postsecondary options, financial aid, and scholarship opportunities
- Thorough understanding of high school graduation requirements and ability to evaluate transcripts
This section outlines the work environment and physical conditions associated with this role. It includes information on whether the job involves working in an office, classroom, or other settings, and if there are physical activities like standing, walking, or lifting.
- Working in classrooms, teacher training rooms, and administrative offices
- Regular interaction with teachers, students, and school leadership
- Engaging with teachers to align the curriculum with IB standards
- IB Specialists may need to travel for IB training workshops, conferences, or accreditation visits.
- Prolonged sitting & computer work reviewing lesson plans, assessments documents, and IB reports
- Observing and evaluating IB classrooms
- Carrying books, training materials, or presentation equipment up to 20lbs
Mesa Public Schools is an equal opportunity employer and complies with all applicable federal, state, and local laws regarding equal employment opportunity and anti-discrimination. The District strictly prohibits and does not tolerate discrimination against employees, applicants, or any other covered persons because of race, color, religion, creed, national origin or ancestry, ethnicity, sex (including gender, pregnancy, sexual orientation, and gender identity), age, physical or mental disability, citizenship, past, current, or prospective service in the uniformed services, genetic information, or any other characteristic protected under applicable federal, state, or local law.
Applicants and employees may contact Human Resources to request reasonable accommodations needed to perform the essential functions of this position.
Salary : $70,491
