Professional Educator / Teacher

Reports to the Principal or Assistant Principal
FLSA Status: Exempt

To learn more about Harwood Unified Union School District and our schools, visit https://huusd.org/our-schools

Position Objective

The Professional Educator/Teacher helps all students learn subject matter and skills that contribute to their development as mature, responsible, and capable individuals. This role integrates best practices, research, and education laws into daily instruction, while supporting student growth academically, socially, and emotionally. Teachers collaborate with colleagues, families, and administrators to provide high-quality instruction aligned with Vermont learning standards.

Teacher Assignment

Students are assigned based on grade level, subject area, and course placement.

Essential Duties and Responsibilities

Planning and Preparation

• Integrate content knowledge into curricula, making connections across topics and concepts.
• Apply current best practices, research, and legal requirements to instructional planning.
• Understand student characteristics, learning approaches, skills, interests, cultural backgrounds, and community context.
• Select and integrate measurable, clearly stated instructional goals suitable for diverse learners.
• Utilize school and district resources to enhance instruction.
• Design coherent lessons and units, including learning activities, instructional materials, groupings, pacing, and assessments.
• Assess student learning accurately, communicate assessment criteria, and use results to guide individual and group instruction.
• Support Special Educators in developing standards-based IEPs for eligible students.

Learning Environment

• Maintain a respectful, inclusive, and safe classroom environment.
• Establish a culture of learning with high expectations and student pride in work.
• Manage classroom procedures, transitions, materials, and non-instructional duties efficiently.
• Supervise and effectively utilize paraeducators and volunteers.
• Monitor and manage student behavior using clear expectations and respectful interventions.
• Develop and implement behavior support plans as needed.
• Organize classroom resources to promote accessibility, safety, and learning.

Instruction

• Communicate directions and procedures clearly in both oral and written formats.
• Use questioning, discussion, and engagement strategies to promote student participation and comprehension.
• Adapt lessons flexibly to respond to student needs, questions, and interests.
• Provide accurate, timely feedback to students, families, and colleagues on performance and progress.

Other Professional Responsibilities

• Evaluate lessons and modify instructional plans for improved effectiveness.
• Assist in curriculum planning, program evaluation, and identification of instructional needs.
• Maintain accurate, confidential student records and submit reports as required by law and district policy.
• Collaborate with parents, colleagues, and outside agencies to support student learning.
• Participate in EST/MTSS processes, including referrals, screenings, and supplemental supports.
• Engage in professional development and district initiatives to enhance content knowledge and instructional skills.
• Demonstrate professionalism and prioritize student-centered decision-making.
• Follow and support school rules, administrative regulations, and HUUSD policies.

Supervision

• Reports to, evaluated by, and receives general administrative and technical direction from the School Principal and/or Assistant Principal.
• Grades 9–12: Reports to Department Chair with evaluation input from Principal and/or designee.
• May receive technical guidance from the Director of Curriculum, Instruction, and Assessment.

Supervisory Responsibilities

• Assist in training, planning, and directing activities of assigned paraeducators.
• Provide input on paraeducator evaluation, hiring, and continued employment decisions.

Qualifications

Education & Experience

• Bachelor’s degree required; knowledge of Vermont Framework of Standards preferred.
• Recent experience working in a Vermont school district preferred.

Certifications & Licenses

• Holds or is eligible for a Vermont Teaching License.
• Holds appropriate endorsement(s) and meets basic competencies for the endorsement(s).

Skills and Abilities

• Language: Interpret journals, regulations, and technical materials; write reports and correspondence; present information effectively.
• Mathematics/Reasoning: Interpret and use test data including standard scores, percentiles, confidence bands; solve practical problems.
• Technology: Competent with word processing, Microsoft Office, and instructional software.
• Communication/Interpersonal: Communicate and collaborate effectively with students, families, peers, supervisors, and external partners; resolve conflicts and handle stress professionally.

Physical Effort and Stress

• Frequently: Sitting, standing, walking, using hands/fingers, managing stress, resolving conflicts.
• Constantly: Seeing, talking, hearing.
• Occasionally: Reaching, climbing, bending/stooping, kneeling, crouching, lifting/carrying school-aged students.
• Employees must maintain the physical ability to perform essential functions and respond appropriately to student behaviors or emergency situations.
• Vision requirements include close, distance, peripheral vision, color vision, depth perception, and focus adjustment for instructional and supervisory tasks.

Working Conditions / Environmental Factors

• Occasionally exposed to outdoor weather conditions.
• The work environment is typically quiet to moderate in noise.
• Generally performed in classrooms, offices, hallways, and other school areas.

This role emphasizes effective lesson planning, high-quality instruction, classroom management, collaboration, and student-centered decision-making in alignment with Vermont learning standards and HUUSD policies.