STEM Teacher
Ojai Valley School is a pre-kindergarten to grade 12 boarding and day school located on two campuses in Ojai, California. The Lower Campus serves students in grades PK-8 and the Upper Campus serves students in grades 9-12.
Summary of Position
The STEM Teacher, under the supervision of the Head of School, Upper Campus, is responsible for creating and delivering the High School robotics and coding program in conjunction with the science department faculty and the Middle School technology instructor. The goal for the robotics/coding curriculum is to create and submit a University of California approved lab science course. Additionally the person selected for this position will instruct a computer science course with a strong focus on coding and programming, and may be asked to teach an AP Computer Science course in the future.
The ideal candidate has a degree in engineering and/or physics, computer science or another related field, and has experience as a high school classroom teacher delivering a computer science curriculum rich with robotics, remote sensing, and data collection projects. The candidate should also have experience developing and documenting new curriculum.
Ojai Valley School welcomes your interest in our employment opportunities. The school is an equal opportunity employer that values diversity and seeks individuals with exemplary character and skills. Preference will be given to individuals who have worked in or attended independent schools for at least two years, particularly in a boarding school environment, and who understand the independent school philosophy of educating the whole child in a homelike environment.
Essential Duties and Responsibilities of STEM Teacher:
1. Instructs students (according to the requirements outlined in the job description for teachers in our Faculty Training Manual), in the coding, designing applications, building robots, and creating remote sensing equipment.
2. Develops a written High School Robotics, Coding and STEM program and aligns the curriculum with the Middle School.
3. Collaborates with Industrial Arts teacher to provide students, teachers, parents, OVS staff and prospective students and visitors a welcoming and inviting creative arts hub in which to convene, engage and exchange ideas.
4. Generates and engages community enthusiasm for STEM programs at OVS.
5. Acts as designated spokesperson/advocate for promoting the role of technology in educating the whole child by creating partnerships within the school community and community-at-large generating on-going valuable donor resources.
6. Coordinates with the Development Office to generate grant ideas and applications for STEM.
7. Coordinates the High School STEM curriculum with other school departments; for example: Mathematics, Fine and Performing Arts, and Science.
8. Supports the school and its leadership.
9. Leads children, by example and otherwise, adhering to the guidelines of the school Course of Study and Faculty Training Manual.
10. Communicates with the administration, parents, and dorm parents regarding student progress.
11. Maintains a warm and positive environment in the classroom, while establishing and managing classroom rules and regulations.
12. Cares for and protects the safety of the students and is versed in emergency and disaster procedures.
13. Prepares course objectives and outlines for the Course of Study following curriculum guidelines, satisfying state and local requirements.
14. Accompanies classes to special events and school functions.
15. Communicates with parents, dorm parents, and administration on a regular basis.
16. Displays student work and progress.
17. Orients new students.
18. Teaches rules of conduct.
19. Prepares a presentation for an All-school assembly.
20. Maintains order and discipline in the classroom.
21. Counsels students and reviews grades on a continual basis.
22. Coordinates and contributes to class field trips.
23. Contributes to parent newsletters and/or publications.
24. Provides leadership with emergency and disaster procedures; is thoroughly advised and clear about role during emergency and disaster procedures.
25. Is a member of a weekend supervising team.
26. Gives instructions to children regarding desirable health and personal habits.
27. Provides after-school tutoring for students as needed.
28. Participate, as needed, in athletics, outdoor experiences with students and student advising.
QUALIFICATION REQUIREMENTS:
To perform this job successfully, an individual must be able to perform each essential duty satisfactorily. The requirements listed below are representative of the knowledge, skill, and/or ability required. Reasonable accommodations may be made to enable individuals with disabilities to perform the essential functions.
EDUCATION and/or EXPERIENCE:
Candidates for this position should hold at least a Bachelor’s degree (B.A.) from four-year college or university in the relevant subject area and have previous teaching experience in the relevant subject area is required. Teaching credential and experience with curriculum planning is preferred.
LANGUAGE SKILLS:
Ability to read and interpret documents such as safety rules, operating and maintenance instructions, and procedure manuals. Ability to write routine reports and correspondence. Ability to speak effectively before groups of parents, students, or employees of organization.
MATHEMATICAL SKILLS:
Ability to add, subtract, multiply, and divide in all units of measure, using whole numbers, common fractions, and decimals. Ability to calculate grades, and possesses basic skills to work with budgets.
REASONING ABILITY:
Ability to apply common sense understanding to carry out instructions furnished in written, oral, or diagram form. Ability to deal with problems involving several concrete variables in standardized situations.
CERTIFICATES, LICENSES, REGISTRATIONS:
1. Current CPR and First Aid preferred.
2. California Driver's License preferred.
OTHER SKILLS and ABILITIES:
1. Ability to use training and experience to teach children of all ages.
2. Enthusiasm, sense of humor, patience, and self-control.
3. Good character, integrity, and adaptability.
4. Ability to supervise children of all ages.
5. Ability to relate to one's peers.
PHYSICAL DEMANDS:
The physical demands described here are representative of those that must be met by an 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.
While performing the duties of this job, the employee is regularly required to stand; walk; use hands to finger, handle, or feel objects, tools, or controls; reach with hands and arms; stoop, kneel, crouch, or crawl; and talk or hear. The employee is occasionally required to climb or balance.
The employee must frequently lift and/or move up to 10 pounds, and occasionally lift and/or move up to 50 pounds. Specific vision abilities required by this job include close vision, distance vision, color vision, peripheral vision, depth perception, and the ability to adjust focus.
WORK ENVIRONMENT:
The work environment characteristics described here are representative of those an employee encounters while performing the essential functions of this job. Reasonable accommodations may be made to enable individuals with disabilities to perform the essential functions.
While performing the duties of this job, the employee regularly works in outside weather conditions. The employee occasionally works near moving mechanical parts and is occasionally exposed to wet and/or humid conditions and toxic or caustic chemicals.
The noise level in the work environment is usually moderate.
Ojai Valley School is an equal opportunity employer. All qualified applicants will receive consideration for employment and will not be discriminated against on the basis of race, color, religions, sex, national origin, disability or veteran status.
To submit your resume or for further assistance or information, please visit our website at www.ovs.org or contact Sandy Bowers at ovsjobs@ovs.org.