Grammar School Teacher

Position Description

The Grammar School Teacher is a full-time, 10-month position with responsibilities for teaching. The ideal candidate will bring a history of collaborative, self-directed work as well as experience teaching in a classical Christian school.

The ideal candidate deeply understands and appreciates the benefits of a classical Christian education, particularly one taught through a Biblical worldview. This role is based in Chisago City, MN. In our busiest seasons, the candidate may have to work longer than normal hours to be successful in the role. Position reports to Veritas Academy’s President.

Essential Duties and Responsibilities

1. Spiritual Leadership – The teacher is expected to consistently exhibit love, joy, peace, and spiritual maturity before his or her students and the rest of the school. The teacher is expected to be a student and lover of the Bible, God’s only written Word. He is to use the school’s curriculum guide and the Bible in constructing his or her daily classes. Active, joyful participation in any school events, staff meetings and school assemblies are expected.
2. Classroom Management/Environment – The teacher is expected to maintain a neat, organized, clean, and stimulating classroom environment for his or her students. This implies that the students will take an active part in cleaning and maintaining their room’s appearance. The teacher should set up simple, manageable class routines to accomplish basic tasks, e.g., taking attendance, homework collection, daily cleaning schedules, materials storage, and distribution, etc.
3. Lesson Preparation and Presentation – The teacher should have a thorough knowledge of and interest in the subjects he or she is assigned to teach. These will normally include Bible, reading, mathematics, science, grammar, composition, spelling, handwriting, history and geography. Also, in most grammar grades a working knowledge and interest in Latin, art, music, and physical education is necessary, though these may be taught by other specially trained teachers. All subjects should be taught utilizing the objectives, materials, priorities, and methods prescribed in the Veritas Academy Grammar Curriculum Guide. The teacher is expected to encourage the students to see how all subjects are interrelated, as parts of God’s integrated universe. Clear language and appropriate vocabulary are also expected.
4. Classroom Decorum and Discipline – The teacher should be very familiar with and able to apply the spirit, as well as the letter, of the school rules. An orderly (not necessarily silent) working atmosphere is to be the norm. Students should be aware of the class and school rules and be encouraged to exercise self-discipline. When administrative discipline is necessary, the teacher is expected to accompany the student to the office and give the administrator an accurate accounting of the student’s offense. The teacher is expected to diffuse and deal with corrective discipline situations within his classroom.
   1. Comprehension checks
   2. Rephrasing of concepts by students
   3. Inductive questioning (Questions designed to help the student move toward the correct conclusions)
   4. Recitations, chants, songs, acronyms, summaries, and reviews
   5. Illustrations, applications, demonstrations
5. Student Learning – The teacher should seek to stimulate and maintain the students’ interest in the material. Recognition and reasonable compensation for individual needs is also necessary. A variety of techniques (in addition to testing) should be used to measure the students’ progress (see the Lost Tools Chart). The grammar school curriculum guide is to be used as the basis for measuring the overall progress of the class and individual students.
6. Planning and Communications – The teacher’s weekly and quarterly plans should reflect creativity and a good use of class time. Copies of the weekly lesson plans are to be turned in each Friday to the administrator. The Curriculum Guide should be used to establish weekly, quarterly, and semester plans. The teacher is to regularly (at least twice each month) communicate with the parents in his class. Emphasis should be placed on getting to know the families well, as well as letting them know what is happening in the class. The parents should feel welcome to visit and assist in the classroom.
7. Professionalism – The teacher is to demonstrate pride consistently and joyfully in Veritas Academy by his or her work, punctuality, speech, attitude, dress, and attention to duties.
8. The Seven Laws of Teaching, as set forth in the work of John Gregory by the same title, must be regularly and thoroughly implemented into lesson plans, and should be evident in the classroom.
9. Work environment/dynamics: Teacher works in a classroom environment, but also oversee students during recess and lunch.
10. Work year: This position is a full-time position that works 10 months a year.
11. Schedule for evaluation: Teachers will be evaluated annually by the appropriate principal. A new teacher will have a 60-day evaluation during the first semester of employment.

Qualifications

1. Teaching experience in a classical Christian school desirable.
2. Bachelor’s degree required; Master’s degree in content area preferred.
3. Ability to demonstrate growth mindset, optimism, and belief that all students are created in the image of God, and they can learn.
4. Ability to innovate and think creatively about education.
5. Ability to use and adapt to a wide array of technological tools to support and deepen student learning and instruction.
6. Ability to work as part of a team with collegiality and humility.
7. Dedication to personal and professional growth, especially in classical education methodologies.