DIVERSE LEARNING TEACHER
Position Description
ST EDWARD’S COLLEGE ASPIRATION STATEMENT
St Edward’s College aspires to provide students with a liberating education that empowers them to build a better world for all.
St Edward’s College is a faith-filled community. We are committed to growth and strive for equity and excellence.
St Edward’s College promotes a safe and inclusive learning community, committed to fostering right relationships and the well-being of students and staff.
St Edward’s College inspires students to be compassionate, curious, respectful and autonomous learners.
St Edward’s College students demonstrate resilience, discipline and perseverance on their learning journey.
THE POSITION COLLEGE ETHOS
The Diverse Learning Teacher promotes the College and EREA ethos by working to support the learning of students with diverse learning needs. This role includes assisting with the implementation of measures to identify students that may require additional support or extension to achieve learning growth. This teacher would also facilitate the development of strategies to support the learning of these students, including assisting teachers in developing strategies associated with differentiation and adjustment.
The Diverse Learning Teacher is required to work collaboratively with the Leader of Diverse Learning and subject teachers to develop appropriate and effective strategies and resources to support student learning.
The Diverse Learning teacher is an innovative practitioner with relevant qualifications and experience in developing the literacy and or numeracy skills of students with diverse learning needs
The Diverse Learning Teacher will demonstrate initiative and a commitment to innovative and engaging pedagogical practice and ensure that all strategies are aligned to the St Edward’s Learning Aspiration Statement.
The Diverse Learning Teacher models the vision and values of the College by:
• Demonstrating support for the philosophy and values of the College
• Fostering the charism of Edmund Rice
• Demonstrating active promotion of the EREA Charter and its Touchstones
• Modelling high professional standards, which accords with the EREA Code of Conduct
• Actively promotes leadership and the implementation of the Code for Learning and Teacher Role Description
• Contributing actively to College life and extracurricular programs
• Supporting, promoting and engaging in the social justice initiatives of the College
• Supporting College policies and programs
• Demonstrating loyalty to professional colleagues
• Engaging in the development, monitoring and implementation of the EREA Cultural Audit process
• Participating in the EREA Formation programs.
PROFESSIONAL LEARNING
The Diverse Learning Teacher will demonstrate outstanding modelling in relation to their own Professional Learning as outlined in their own Professional Learning Plan and through participation in the Professional Learning Partnership framework. They can actively demonstrate the seven Australian Professional Standards for teachers and support others to do so. In addition, they will attend relevant professional development opportunities related to area of responsibility and develop strategies to share their learnings with their colleagues.
STUDENT SUPPORT
• Inclusive and positive support of learning for students with specific and identified additional learning needs including students with a disability, high potential learners and Aboriginal and Torres Strait Islander students
• Maintenance and communication of data on students’ learning including data extracted from external and internal testing
• Maintenance of detailed records on individual students eg: Personal Plans and other documentation
• Assist with the identification of students transitioning into Year 7 with identified additional learning needs through consultation with primary schools and parents, with reference to learning data eg: AAS testing
• Devise, implement and evaluate strategies for student referral to Diverse Learning by teachers and parents
• Assist in the development of Personal Plans for students with identified additional learning needs, in collaboration with parents, teachers and relevant health and educational professionals
• Work with the Leader of Diverse Learning in analysing data (including AAS, NAPLAN) to inform the development and implementation of strategies to address the requirements of students with identified additional learning needs, including planning for the support of Year 7 cohorts prior to commencement
• Assist in the development and implementation of support structures for students with identified additional learning needs including targeted intervention programs, e.g. reading and comprehension programs
• Teach the Stage 5 Mentoring elective
• Encourage and challenge students to achieve their potential - including liaising with the Director of Teaching and Learning to design, implement and evaluate programs for High Potential Learners
• Promote the self-esteem of students
• Support the pastoral care policies of the College.
TEACHER PROFESSIONAL LEARNING AND COLLABORATIVE PLANNING
• To collaborate with teachers to modify classroom programs and implement teaching strategies in order to meet the diverse learning needs of students with a particular focus on developing literacy and or numeracy skills.
• To assist in the development of resources, teaching strategies and information for teachers to assist in catering for the diverse learning needs of students
• To collaborate with teachers to develop alternative assessment and reporting systems for students following special programs of study
• To collaborate with teachers to develop teamteaching practices in classes with students identified as having diverse learning
• To participate in co-teaching initiatives with teachers working to adjust and differentiate
• To participate in co-teaching initiatives with teachers working to adjust and differentiate
• Continuously evaluate the effectiveness of the programs implemented for students with diverse learning needs in collaboration with the Diverse Learning Teacher and other relevant staff.
RELATIONSHIPS WITH THE PARENT COMMUNITY
• Assist in the development of strategies to ensure clear and effective communication of information to parents
• Work collaboratively with parents of prospective students in ensuring effective transition from primary school
• Work collaboratively with parents and other relevant professionals to construct Personal Plans, including attendance at parent meetings
• Ensure evaluation of Personal Plans through regular communication with parents, students, teachers and other relevant professionals.
MEMBER OF THE DIVERSE LEARNING TEAM
• Knowledge and understanding of current pedagogy and research around best practice teaching and learning for students with specific and/or identified learning needs
• Communication of current pedagogy and research to school community
• Leadership and evaluation of Diverse Learning programs and practices to ensure consistent and effective pedagogical philosophy is applied, including Extra-Curricular support programs
• Contribute to department morale and harmony
• Promotion and modelling of high professional standards for staff.
TEACHING REQUIREMENTS
The Diverse Learning Teacher carries a teaching load to be determined annually at the discretion of the Principal.
Ultimately, the Diverse Learning Teacher is responsible to the Principal, who may vary the above duties from time to time or may ask the Diverse Learning Teacher to take on other duties or become involved in across curriculum initiatives.
ABOUT ST EDWARD’S COLLEGE
The College was founded by the Christian Brothers and has been educating boys on the Central Coast since 1953, and is governed by EREA NSW Colleges Limited. The College provides a wonderfully rich education which is authentic to the values which underpin the touchstones for schools conducted in the traditions of Blessed Edmund Rice the founder of Christian Brothers schools worldwide. These touchstones being: Liberating Education, Gospel Spirituality, Inclusive Community and Justice and Solidarity.
St Edward’s first and foremost is a Catholic School which provides students with relevant and engaging opportunities to deepen their faith and spirituality. Students are encouraged to look beyond themselves
putting their faith into action. Through involvement in our social justice program students are challenged to become socially conscious, counter-cultural in their thinking and empowered to contribute positively to society through the promotion of inclusivity, justice and solidarity.
Our Aspiration Statement articulates the type and quality of educational experiences that we offer our students. We aim to provide students with opportunities to develop skills of critical and creative thinking, problem solving, communication and collaboration, in a safe learning environment in which they are challenged, nurtured and inspired to be the best that they can be.
“A learning community in which young people are challenged, nurtured and inspired to be the best that they can be.”
info@stedwards.nsw.edu.au