Middle School Religious Specialist **

Job Description:
Join the St. Joseph Montessori School team as a Religion Specialist in our Middle School (7th and 8th Grade) environment.

Position Overview:

The Religion Specialist fulfills the mission of the Catholic school by planning guiding and evaluating the learning process of the students in the Catholic school for whom the teacher is responsible within the framework of the schools philosophy organization and curriculum. At. St. Joseph Montessori School the curriculum follows the Sophia Institute and Ruah Woods Textbooks.

The Religion Specialist provides the appropriate learning atmosphere and activities designed to maximize student competencies and skills for intellectual emotional physical social and spiritual growth toward a successful future. The teacher has decision-making responsibilities within essential job functions in keeping with school policies. The position is hired and evaluated by the Head of School.

Key Responsibilities:

• Supports and upholds the philosophy of Catholic education and the mission of the school

• Acts as a witness to Gospel values by modeling the teachings of the Catholic Church

• Supports and adheres to the Code of Conduct and policies and procedures of the school and Diocese

• Maintains confidentiality regarding school matters

• Plans for instruction with logically sequenced objectives based on adopted curriculum and submitted according to the local school policy

• Provides appropriate material and resources for students to engage in learning

• Uses effective instructional methods/models according to professional standard practice

• Uses varied assessment tools to perform both formative and summative assessments

• Provides instruction and assessment for understanding

• Maintains current and accurate records according to school policy

• Practices positive consistent discipline in the management of the classroom

• Communicates with parents regarding academic behavioral or safety concerns

• Meets staff development guidelines as set forth by the Diocese/local administration and attends weekly staff meetings

• Demonstrates professionalism in conduct demeanor and work habits.

• Collaborates with level teachers and specialists to enhance and support instructional planning

• Conferences with parents upon request and responds to messages in a timely manner

• Demonstrates gains in student performance that are in keeping with school goals

• Demonstrates a willingness to respond to individual learning needs

• Collaborates with content area teachers on cross-curricular assignments

Minimum qualifications:

Education/Certification:

• Must be Catholic

• Certification in Religion/Theology

• State of Ohio Teachers License (Resident Educator 5-year professional license or Permanent Non-Tax Certificate) in area/level of teaching

• CPR/First Aid certification (SJMS will provide if not already completed)

• Willingness to complete professional development on an ongoing basis. This includes any additional safety training required for the position.

• For those with a 5-year or Permanent Non-Tax they will submit an individual professional development plan (IPDP) to the Diocesan Local Professional Development Committee (LPDC). Those individuals who are Resident Educators will gain their hours from their work and time spent with their mentors.

Preferred Knowledge abilities and skills:

• Full knowledge of the teachings of the Catholic Church

• Knowledge of subjects taught instructional methods/strategies and curriculum differentiation

• Knowledge of child development learning and behavior

• Able to manage student behavior in classroom setting

• Able to communicate effectively in both written and verbal form

• Able to work well with others in the school community

• Skilled in handling multiple tasks simultaneously

• Skilled in pacing and differentiating instruction

• Skilled in motivating and engaging students in the learning process

• Skilled in organizing and relating information in an understandable format

• Skilled in job appropriate technology

• Skilled in critical thinking and planning

Position Requirements

• Ability to support and promote a team environment

• Enthusiasm initiative high energy level sense of humor and flexibility

• Physical ability to work around children including sitting on the floor standing crouching and climbing stairs

• Must be able to lift and carry or otherwise move 25 pounds on an occasional basis

• Enthusiasm when working with children and adolescents

• Required to complete FBI/BCI Background Check Protecting Gods Children 3-hour workshop FEMA Training CPR/First Aid Certification Religion I course of study (Diocese of Columbus requirement) State of Ohio Science of Reading and other professional development as assigned.

Diversity and Inclusion:

St. Joseph Montessori School is committed to fostering a workplace that celebrates diversity and inclusion. We believe that a diverse and inclusive environment not only enriches our company culture but also drives innovation creativity and success. We value and respect the unique perspectives experiences and backgrounds that each individual brings to our team.

In our pursuit of diversity we actively seek to create a workplace that is representative of different races ethnicities genders abilities ages and socio-economic backgrounds. We recognize that diversity goes beyond visible differences and encompasses a wide range of identities and life experiences. We are dedicated to building a workforce that reflects the diversity of the communities in which we operate.

Our commitment to inclusion means fostering a workplace where every employee feels valued heard and empowered to contribute their best work. We strive to create an atmosphere that encourages collaboration open communication and mutual respect. We understand that embracing differences leads to a stronger more dynamic team that can tackle challenges with a variety of perspectives and solutions.

We actively work to eliminate biases and barriers that may hinder equal opportunities for all employees. Our policies and practices are designed to create a fair and inclusive environment ensuring that everyone has the chance to thrive and advance within the organization.

By embracing diversity and inclusion we believe we can build a stronger more innovative company that reflects the world we live in. We invite individuals from all backgrounds and walks of life to join us in our mission knowing that their unique contributions will help us achieve our goals and create a workplace that truly values and respects diversity.

Equal Employment Opportunity

At St. Joseph Montessori School we are committed to creating an inclusive and diverse learning environment. We value the unique perspectives and backgrounds each teacher brings to our team. We believe that a diverse faculty enriches the educational experience for all students and promotes a culture of understanding and respect. We are committed to a policy of equal employment opportunity. We will recruit select promote train compensate and discipline individuals in full compliance with applicable laws prohibiting discrimination based on race color religion national origin age sex sexual orientation marital status veteran status or disability to provide fair and equal treatment to all employees and job applicants.

To Apply:
Email Resume Cover Letter and a list of 3 References to Brian Lower at

**SJMS is also hiring for a Upper School Spanish Specialist if a well qualified candidate is interested in both positions there is an opportunity to employ one individual to teach both positions with full-time employment.