2025-2026, Teacher - Springfield Scholars Program

Description Job Title: 2025-2026 Teacher - Scholars Science Grades 6-8

Department: Learning

Work Schedule/FLSA Status: Exempt per contract agreement

Salary: Teachers Salary Schedule

Reports to: Gifted Education Director - Phelps Center for Gifted Education

Purpose Statement

The Springfield Missouri Public School District is currently seeking qualified applicants for the position of Gifted Educator at Central High School.

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.

This position is responsible for providing support to the instructional process by serving as a teacher with specific responsibility for ensuring students success in academics interpersonal skills and activities of daily living; supervising students within the classroom and other assigned areas; developing lesson plans and delivering group an individual student instruction within established curriculum guidelines; collaborating with other teachers 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 developmental testing programs subject specific assessments etc. 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.
• Assesses student progress towards objectives expectations and/or goals (e.g. behavioral motor development and communication skills academic needs vocational abilities etc.) 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 plan.
• Counsels students for the purpose of improving performance health status problem solving techniques and a variety of personal issues.
• Demonstrates methods required to perform classroom and/or subject specific assignments for the purpose of providing an effective program that addressing 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 etc.) 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 academic interpersonal and daily living skills through a defined course of study.
• Maintains a variety of manual and electronic documents files and records (e.g. test scores student evaluations etc.) for the purpose of providing up-to-date information and/or historical reference in accordance with established administrative guidelines and legal requirements.
• Manages student behavior for the purpose of providing a safe and optimal learning environment.
• Monitors students in a variety of educational environments (e.g. classroom playground field trips etc.) for the purpose of providing a safe and positive learning environment.
• Participates in a variety of meetings and workshops (e.g. Professional Development IEPs team leadership meetings etc.) for the purpose of conveying and/or gathering information required to perform functions.
• Prepares a variety of written materials (e.g. attendance anecdotal records lesson plans IEPs etc.) for the purpose of documenting student progress and meeting mandated requirements.
• Reports health and safety issues to assigned administrator and appropriate agencies (e.g. fights suspected child or substance abuse contagious diseases etc.) 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 teachers parents administrators etc.) for the purpose of resolving issues providing information and/or direction.
• Performs other related duties as required/assigned.

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.

Job Requirements(Minimum Qualifications)

Knowledgeis required to perform basic math including calculations using fractions percent 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.

Skillsare 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.

Abilityis required to schedule activities meetings and/or events; gather collate and/or classify data; and use job-related 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 job-related 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 full-time 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.

Education and Experience

• Bachelors Degree from an accredited college or university.
• Job related experience with increasing levels of responsibility is required.

Certificates Licenses and Other Special Requirements

• Must have a Tuberculosis Clearance.
• Must pass a Criminal Background Clearance.

Certificates and Licenses

• Gifted Missouri Teaching Certificate (K-12) required

  Missouri Teaching Certificate (5-9 or 9-12) Science required

  Ability to gain and maintain Highly Qualified status as defined by Missouris Department of Elementary and Secondary Education required

Work Environment & Physical Requirements

• Work environment is primarily inside where the noise and temperature levels are moderate.
• The work is light work which requires exerting up to 20 pounds of force occasionally and/or up to 10 pounds of force to move objects.
• Must possess the physical ability to work primarily with fingers perceive the nature of sounds make rational decisions through sound logic and deductive processes express or exchange ideas by the spoken word substantial movements (motions) with the hands wrists and/or fingers and discern letters or numbers at a given distance.

Additionally the following physical abilities are required: balancing grasping hearing manual dexterity mental acuity reaching repetitive motion speaking talking visual acuity and walking.