High School Social Studies Teacher – Washington Connections Academy

School Summary

At Connections Academy, helping students maximize their potential and meet the highest performance standards through a uniquely individualized learning program is at the core of our mission. Connections Academy was founded in 2001 to deliver high-quality, highly accountable online education to students in grades K-12. Hallmarks of Connections Academy-supported online schools include personalized learning, an award-winning curriculum and Education Management System (EMS), dedicated state-certified teachers, and a supportive school community. Parents of enrolled students consistently share their satisfaction with Connections Academy: 92% “would recommend the schools to other families” and 95% say the curriculum is “high quality.” In 2017, Connections Academy-supported public schools serve students in 27 states, while the private online school, International Connections Academy meets the online school needs of students worldwide. Recognized for its outstanding curriculum and leadership, Connections Academy is committed to expanding quality education through technology, and helping students achieve both academic and personal success. Connections Academy is part of the global learning company, Pearson, and its Online & Blended Learning group. For more information, visit www.ConnectionsAcademy.com.

Washington Connections Academy (WACA) is a tuition-free, virtual public school serving students in grades K-12 statewide. WACA has two schools under its umbrella of the shared-services model.  It operates in partnerships with the Mary M. Knight School District and Goldendale School District and is under contract with Connections Academy to provide its educational program and other services. Both Washington Connections Academy schools are accredited by Cognia and were recognized as Cognia Schools of Distinction in 2022. 

Position Summary

This position is a remote, full-time position with regular hours between 8:00 am to 4:00 pm. Applicants may live in Washington, Oregon, or Idaho. The Certified High Social Studies Teacher will manage instructional programs. Through the use of the telephone, Internet, and various curriculum tools they will consult regularly with caretakers, Learning Coaches, and students to ensure that each student successfully completes their instructional program.

The High School Social Studies Teacher will be responsible for the successful completion of the following tasks:

Homeroom Roles:

• Hosting a homeroom of students, acting as a role model and mentor for them throughout the school year. Key duties include, but are not limited to: 
• Hosting weekly homeroom LiveLessons;
• Supporting students and families through key school year cycle tasks, including, but not limited to, Welcome Calls, Intent to Return, and monthly WSLP Progress Checks;
• Encouraging students to be engaged in their lessons and LiveLessons;
• Welcome any assigned homeroom students and their families to our school within their first week of enrollment, helping them start off on the right foot;
• Frequently checking in with students and families related to academics, academic skill building, and graduation/promotion, especially if off-track;
• Content Roles:
• Supplement and enhance the asynchronous content by delivering at least one synchronous LiveLesson per course, or a combination of synchronous LiveLesson and office hours as appropriate, each week, as well as delivering asynchronous support videos to students as appropriate;
• Operate within the school’s Multi-Tiered System of Supports model, use data and evidence to provide Tier 1 differentiated instruction to all students while working with a team of teachers to develop and implement Tier 2 and 3 interventions, including monitoring student progress in supplemental instructional programs and providing small group synchronous instruction;
• Consistently grade all submitted assignments within 8 days of submission, providing clear, constructive, and consistent feedback for all student work;
• Review curriculum and devise alternate approaches to presenting lessons to increase student understanding (working directly with students and caretakers);
• Develop a general knowledge of the entire program’s 9-12 curriculum and a very detailed knowledge of the course(s) for which they are responsible; 
• Support students and caretakers with alternate lessons, assessments, and strategies, and provide additional assistance with daily assignments and projects in order to meet individual learning goals;
• Consult with instructional staff and learning specialists (IEP/504/EL case managers, advisory staff, intervention specialists) to develop alternate enrichment activities and modifications to students’ programs to increase student understanding;
• Contact Roles:
• Communicate regularly with caretakers, students, and instructional staff through use of computer and telephone;
• Connect with each content area student individually at least once each semester to discuss content, course progress, and individual needs within the course;
• Log all contacts - successful and unsuccessful - within 24 hours of the attempted or completed contact;
• Meet weekly student contact requirements as determined by school, division, and PVS leadership;
• Community Roles:
• Work with school staff to coordinate and attend social activities and relevant field trips for students and families, as required within school policy. When possible, integrate field trips and social activities into the curriculum;
• Devise and implement virtual methods of creating and maintaining a “school community”;
• Participate in the administration of the state testing, including in-person proctoring of WIDA and/or SBAC/WCAS testing at various locations around the state of Washington;
• Participate in student recruiting sessions and other marketing efforts that require staff representation;
• Behind-The-Scenes Roles:
• Be a collaborative member of IEP and 504 teams, as assigned, sharing course progress insights about students and providing feedback on goals and accommodations;
• Work collaboratively and often within a professional learning community of grade- or content-level instructional staff to review student progress data related to a team-determined SMART goal, with the goal of data driving instruction, and improving teaching practices
• Work with Advisory Teachers and School Counselors to ensure students and families are receiving appropriate communications, students are making adequate progress, and established goals are being met within WSLP, promotion, and/or graduation frameworks;
• Attend and participate in in-person training sessions and team-building activities scheduled throughout the school year and throughout the state of Washington;
• Report and refer critical incidents that jeopardize student well-being as obligated by law, administrative regulations, or ethical standards.  Stay abreast of all state regulations relating to incident reporting and documentation;
• Be an active participant in all assigned professional development and training, synchronous or asynchronous, including state-required training in SEL and DEI, and actively seek additional opportunities to grow and learn in the role;
• Complete the duties of an assigned or volunteered-for representative or Career Ladder position that has a school-wide focus (examples include, and are not exclusive to, Attendance Rep, Communication Rep, or Elective Rep);
• Other duties as assigned. 

Requirements:

• Washington teacher certification in Social Studies
• Residence in Washington preferred
• Team player track record, highly flexible, and with a demonstrated ability to work well in a fast-paced environment
• Demonstrated strong technology skills (especially Microsoft Office and Google Suite products, synchronous classroom programs such as Zoom, third-party educational software such as Nearpod, and data collection and examination tools, including spreadsheets and databases)
• Excellent communication skills, both oral and written, with the ability to communicate (listen and speak) effectively and appropriately with staff, students, and families from a wide range of cultural, ethnic, and linguistic backgrounds.
• Excellent attention to detail, with proven time management and organizational skills, especially when working independently
• Demonstrated ability to work with colleagues to foster and encourage an inclusive work and school environment that is supportive of different groups of individuals, including people of different races, ethnicities, religions, abilities, genders, and sexual orientations.
• Student- and family-focused approach, with demonstrated ability to create an inclusive and culturally responsive classroom environment that supports and recognizes students of diverse backgrounds and identities. 
• Ability to travel for one, possibly two, weeks at a time for key school events, including overnight travel (including, but not limited to: back-to-school training, state testing, graduation ceremony, marketing events, and field trips)
• Must be able to use a personal electronic device and email address for 2-step authentication.

Based on Experience and Education, the salary starts at $44,500 per year. 

Washington Connections Academy strives to create an inclusive environment that welcomes and values the diversity of the people we serve. We foster fairness, equity, and inclusion to create a workplace environment where everyone is treated with respect and dignity. 

We are most interested in finding the best candidate for the job, and that candidate may be one who comes from a less traditional background. We would encourage you to apply, even if you don’t meet every one of our qualifications listed. If you are unsure whether you meet the qualifications of this position, please feel free to contact us to discuss your application.

Washington Connections Academy acknowledges that its school operations span the state of Washington and that we have families and staff who live and work on the traditional homelands of Washington's Indigenous Peoples who have lived on these lands since time immemorial. We wish to express deep respect and gratitude for the land itself and to the people whose history and lives are here.