2025-2026 Teacher, Gifted - Grades 1-8, Phelps Center for Gifted Education

Job Title: Teacher Gifted Grades 18

Department: Learning Support and Community Partnership Gifted Education

Pay Grade: Teachers Salary Schedule

FLSA Status: Exempt

Reports to: Principal

Purpose Statement

The Springfield Missouri Public School District is currently seeking qualified applicants for the position of Gifted Educator at Phelps Center for Gifted Education.

The Springfield School District is Missouris largest public school district and has built a reputation of academic excellence based on the outstanding performance of our students and schools. About 24000 students attend 36 elementary schools an intermediate school 9 middle schools 5 high schools and a variety of alternative education and choice programs.

The Gifted Educator will provide support to the instructional program with specific responsibility for developing students cognitive and affective abilities and critical and creative thinking skills;developing lesson plans and delivering group and/or individual student instruction;writing challenging curriculum to meet the exceptional needs of gifted learners within established curriculum guidelines; supervising students within the classroom and other assigned areas; collaborating with other educators other professional staff and administrators in addressing instructional and/or classroom issues; and responding to a wide range of inquiries from students parents or guardians regarding instructional program and student progress.

Essential Functions Teaching

• Administers subject specific assignments for the purpose of assessing student competency levels and/or developing individual learning plans.
• Advises parents and/or legal guardians of student progress for the purpose of communicating expectations; students achievements; developing methods for improvement; and/or reinforcing classroom goals in the home.
• Analyzes test data for the purpose of enhancing student achievement.
• Assesses student progress towards objectives expectations and/or goals for the purpose of providing feedback to students parents and administration.
• Collaborates with instructional staff other school personnel parents and a variety of community resources for the purpose of improving the overall quality of student outcomes achieving established classroom objectives in support of the school improvement.
• Counsels students for the purpose of improving performance problem solving techniques and a variety of personal goals.
• Demonstrates methods required to perform classroom and/or subject specific assignments for the purpose of providing an effective program that addresses individual student requirements.
• Directs student teachers paraprofessionals volunteers and/or student workers for the purpose of providing an effective classroom program and addressing the needs of individual students.
• Facilitates student learning (e.g. creating a learning environment integrating technology arranging field trips organizing age appropriate activities) for the purpose of achieving success in academic interpersonal and daily living skills through defined lesson plans.
• Instructs students for the purpose of improving their success in academics and/or skills through a defined course of study.
• Maintains a variety of confidential and nonconfidential files and records (e.g. grades test scores etc.) for the purposes of providing uptodate information and/or historical reference in accordance with established guidelines and legal requirements.
• Manages student behavior for the purpose of providing a safe and optimal learningenvironment.
• Monitors students in a variety of educational environments (e.g. classroom field trips dances sporting events school grounds etc.) for the purpose of providing a safe and positive learning environment.
• Participates in a variety of meetings (e.g. Professional Learning department meetings Whole Faculty Groups IEPs etc.) for the purpose of conveying and/or gathering information required to perform functions.
• Prepares a variety of written materials (e.g. grades attendance anecdotal records lesson plans ) for the purpose of documenting student progress and meeting mandatory requirements.
• Provides social and emotional curriculum for the purpose of meeting the affective needs of gifted learners.
• Provides gifted learners with practical realworld learning opportunities through the use of appropriate curriculum differentiated instruction technology and innovative educational experiences for the purpose of meeting the cognitive needs of gifted
• Reports health and safety issues to administrative personnel and/or appropriate agencies (e.g. fights suspected child or substance abuse inappropriate social behaviors ) for the purpose of maintaining students personal safety a positive learning environment and complying with regulatory requirements and established guidelines.
• Responds to emergency situations for the purpose of resolving immediate safety concerns and/or directing to appropriate personnel for resolution.
• Responds to inquiries from a variety of sources (e.g. other educators parents administrators ) for the purpose of resolving issues providing information and/or direction.
• Uses a variety of ongoing curricular assessments to measure student achievement for the purpose of guiding student efforts for improvement.

Other Functions

• Performs other related duties as assigned for the purpose of ensuring the efficient and effective functioning of the work unit.
• Administers subject specific assignments for the purpose of assessing student competency levels and/or developing individual learning plans.
• Advises parents and/or legal guardians of student progress for the purpose of communicating expectations; students achievements; developing methods for improvement; and/or reinforcing classroom goals in the home environment.
• Analyzes test data for the purpose of enhancing student achievement.

Knowledge is required to perform basic math including calculations using fractions percents and/or ratios; read a variety of manuals; write documents following prescribed formats and/or present information to others; and solve practical problems. Specific knowledge based competencies required to satisfactorily perform the functions of the job include: appropriate codes policies regulations and/or laws; age appropriate activities; lesson plan requirements; stages of child development and behavioral management strategies.

Skills are required to perform multiple highly complex technical tasks with a potential need to upgrade skills in order to meet changing job conditions. Specific skill based competencies required to satisfactorily perform the functions of the job include: applying assessment instruments; and operating standard office equipment.

Ability is required to schedule activities meetings and/or events; gather collate and/or classify data; and use jobrelated equipment. Flexibility is required to work with others in a wide variety of circumstances; work with data utilizing defined but different processes; and operate equipment using standardized methods. Ability is also required to work with a diversity of individuals and/or groups; work with a variety of data; and utilize jobrelated equipment. Problem solving is required to analyze issues and create action plans. Problem solving with data frequently requires independent interpretation of guidelines; and problem solving with equipment is moderate. Specific ability based competencies required to satisfactorily perform the functions of the job include: developing and maintaining positive relationships with all stakeholders; setting high expectations for self and others; setting and monitoring progress toward goals; utilizing and offering effective feedback to continuously improve; collaborating and communicating effectively with internal and external stakeholders; applying critical thinking/problem solving to improve work processes; adapting to changing work priorities; maintaining confidentiality; exhibiting tact and patience; and working flexible hours.

Responsibility

Responsibilities include: working under limited supervision using standardized practices and/or methods; directing other persons within a small work unit; and utilization of resources from other work units is often required to perform the jobs functions. There is some opportunity to significantly impact the organizations services.

Terms of Employment

This position is treated as fulltime exempt certified position. The terms of employment will be governed by applicable state laws regulating employment or teaching in a Missouri public school and Board of Education policy as those laws and policies may change from time to time and the Teacher Contract. If your position is represented by Collective Bargaining representative then your employment will also be governed by a negotiated agreement between SPS and that Collective Bargaining representative.

Experience

Job related experience required

Education

• Bachelors degree in jobrelated area required

Miscellaneous Requirements

Background clearance the results of which must be satisfactory to the District required

Certificates and Licenses

• Gifted Educator Grades 18 certificate required.
• Ability to gain and maintain Highly Qualified status as defined by Missouris Department of Elementary and Secondary Education required

Work Environment & Physical Requirements

The usual and customary methods of performing the jobs functions require the following physical demands: frequent lifting carrying pushing and/or pulling some climbing and balancing frequent stooping kneeling crouching and/or crawling and significant fine finger dexterity. Generally the job requires 20% sitting 20% walking and 60% standing. This job is performed in a generally clean and healthy environment.