Kindergarten - Dual Language Teachers (Hard to Fill Position)

Zion Elementary School District 6 - Zion, IL

Full-time - Entry Level

Zion, IL

Educational Services

About the position

The Dual Language Teacher at Zion Elementary School District 6 plays a crucial role in fostering the academic, social, and psychological growth of students in a bilingual classroom setting. This position is designed for educators who are passionate about teaching and facilitating student learning through effective dual language instruction. The teacher will work under the immediate direction of the Building Principal and will be responsible for implementing quality instructional programs that align with the goals of the dual language program. The ideal candidate will demonstrate a commitment to the principles of bilingual education and the research supporting its effectiveness. In this role, the teacher will provide explicit language arts instruction in both English and Spanish, ensuring that the curriculum meets language-specific standards. The teacher will also deliver standards-based academic content instruction in both languages, utilizing appropriate strategies to promote high levels of language acquisition among students. This includes the use of sheltered instruction and various pedagogical strategies tailored for bilingual learners, aimed at enhancing comprehension and promoting language and literacy development. The Dual Language Teacher will collaborate with school personnel, parents, and community agencies to create a supportive learning environment that respects and values cultural, racial, and linguistic diversity. The teacher will coordinate instruction with support service personnel and will be responsible for developing lesson plans and instructional materials that cater to the individual needs of students. Additionally, the teacher will assess student progress using multiple measures in both languages and will communicate effectively with parents regarding their children's academic and social growth. Professional development is a key component of this position, as the teacher will be expected to maintain professional competence through participation in faculty meetings, educational conferences, and self-selected growth activities. The teacher will also be involved in district-wide and building committees related to educational matters, contributing to the overall improvement of the educational environment.

Responsibilities

• Provides explicit language arts instruction in both program languages, based on language-specific standards.
• Provides standards-based academic content instruction in both program languages.
• Utilizes appropriate separation of languages to promote high levels of language acquisition.
• Uses sheltered instruction and other pedagogical strategies for bilingual learners to facilitate comprehension and promote language and literacy development.
• Uses a variety of strategies to ensure equitable participation among all students.
• Uses a variety of strategies to promote the sociocultural competence of all students.
• Promotes metalinguistic awareness and metacognitive skills and leverages students' bilingualism by strategically incorporating cross-linguistic strategies.
• Collaborates in the development, articulation, implementation, and stewardship of the dual language program.
• Works cooperatively with students and their parents who are culturally, racially and linguistically diverse.
• Coordinates instruction with support service personnel.
• Provides planned learning experiences in order to motivate students and best utilizes the available time for instruction.
• Uses multiple measures of assessments in both languages of instruction to collect and analyze data and inform instruction.
• Incorporates effective use of technology to enhance instructional resources in both languages.
• Develops lesson plans and instructional materials for the class including individualized and small group instruction in order to adapt the curriculum performance standards to the needs of each student.
• Establishes and maintains standards of student behavior needed to achieve a functional learning atmosphere in the classroom.
• Evaluates academic and social growth of students, keeps appropriate records, prepares progress reports, and communicates with parents on individual student progress.
• Creates with assistance from students, a functional and attractive learning environment in both languages such as displays, bulletin boards and interest centers.
• Maintains professional competence through participation in faculty and professional meetings, educational conferences, and teacher training workshops provided by the District and self-selected professional growth activities.
• Administers examinations as mandated by the Board of Education and the state.
• Performs basic attendance accounting and business services as required.
• Communicates and interacts with students, parents, staff and community.
• Works cooperatively with the administration and staff to schedule meetings.
• Demonstrates knowledge of educational research, trends, and best practices.
• Participates in district-wide and building committees related to educational and employment matters.

Requirements

• Valid Illinois PEL with general education (K-9) and/or early childhood and bilingual endorsement (Spanish)
• High oral and written fluency in the target language (Spanish)
• Knowledge of bilingual education programs and teaching strategies/techniques
• Knowledge and experience with curriculum design, planning, and instruction
• Demonstrated commitment to fostering an academically rigorous dual language education program
• Demonstrated knowledge of data driven instruction

Benefits

• Competitive salary
• Professional development opportunities
• Supportive work environment
• Collaboration with diverse community
• Access to educational resources and technology