Gifted Issues Discussion homepage Forums General Discussion What would you add? Job posting for TAG teacher.

NOTICE OF VACANCY
Elementary Teacher of the Gifted

2012-13 school year

JOB DESCRIPTION

The teacher of the gifted is a classroom teacher responsible for the learning of gifted students.

DUTIES AND RESPONSIBILITIES

1. Work with an identified group of gifted children in implementation of their curriculum. Emphasis will be on:

a. Providing students with opportunities for greater mastery of expanded content and skills.
b. Providing students with diverse opportunities for creative expression.
c. Enabling students to acquire an increased acceptance of self and others.
d. Assisting students in exploring a variety of career opportunities.
e. Assisting students in the use of resources from the school and community.
f. Increasing students’ ability to think both convergently and divergently.
g. Improving students’ cognitive skills, particularly the higher level skills of application, analysis,
synthesis, and evaluation.
h. Assisting students to work independently by setting priorities, planning for the use of their time, and
Evaluating their own decisions and performance.

2. Enhance parents’ awareness of their children’s strengths, needs and interests by parent-teacher conferences,
report cards, involvement in the classroom, and other appropriate means.

3. Make arrangements for members of the community to serve as resources to the youngsters.

4. Provide opportunities for gifted students to be integrated into the regular program of the school.

5. Assist in the identification of gifted students for theclass.

6. Maintain student classroom records using current district technology.

7. Support school improvement/NCA accreditation initiatives at the district level and school level as needed.

8. Integrate the school improvement goals into the classroom.

9. The applicant must be able to work cooperatively in grade level or building teams.

10. Execute other duties as assigned by the building administrator(s).


QUALIFICATIONS

1. A valid teaching certificate and bachelor’s degree.

2. Previous teaching experience preferred.

3. Demonstrated interest and ability in providing for the needs of gifted children.

4. Demonstrated ability in the use and application of a variety of methodological approaches, including
process and inquiry strategies, individualized instruction, techniques of group discussion, and effective
use of multi-media and community resources.

5. Course work in the areas of differentiated instruction, teaching of the gifted, and/or related topics is preferred.

6. Course work in content areas beyond that normally required to meet the requirements of a bachelor’s
degree is preferred.

CONDITIONS OF EMPLOYMENT

The work year, salary and other benefits will be in accordance with the provisions of the current contract with the Education Association.

APPLICATIONS:

Deadline: By August 24, 2012 at 4:00 p.m., or until filled.

Just asking because I saw this posted today and thought it was fabulous. It made me wonder what other parents would want in their childs' teachers duties and responsibilities.

I'd want high SAT or ACT scores, and ideally some 4s and 5s on AP Exams. I want to know if the applicant is smart, and I think SAT scores are an indication of that. Ideally, someone who teaches high-IQ students should have a high IQ herself. Therefore I'd like a candidate with a high score on an IQ test. I'm not saying test scores should be the sole criterion. I realize that my criteria may be politically unacceptable. If I can't get the test scores, I'd favor graduates of universities where the students have high scores. I want good grades in college, achieved in an actual academic discipline, not "education".

What I would add....

Add to qualifications:

1. Certification in gifted and talented education.(Course work isn't enough nor is "preferred")
2. Understanding of the social and emotional needs of gifted and talented students.
3. Ability to write create curriculum based on special needs and interests of students.

Add to duties:

Assist with grade / subject acceleration readiness assessments and implementation of grade / subject acceleration.

I agree that some kind of filter to determine whether or not the person is at least HG+ is probably in order.

Not sure how to (legally) do so, however.

Also not sure that what you're actually seeking there is a high achiever, either.

In fact, for a teacher who works with gifted students, I'd want someone who has experience with the darker side of being gifted. In other words, the IDEAL candidate is someone who has personally battled:

a) anxiety,
b) social problems related to giftedness,
c) underachievement, and
d) perfectionism.


Because only with that kind of background can a teacher truly help HG+ kids with some of their most common difficulties.

Agree. That would make a great interview question, actually:
"What are some of the most common emotional difficulties associated with giftedness, and what experience do you have of overcoming them, either in yourself or in your students?"

In particular, alongside
- Providing students with opportunities for greater mastery of expanded content and skills.
I'd want
- Encouraging students to relish challenge, and helping them to overcome any reluctance to do so.

Politically correct is the tough part yeah!

While you can't ask for it I'd prefer someone who has gifted children of their own they're currently raising or have raised, which often equates to the parent being so themselves. This most often equates to some empathy that is often otherwise painfully missing.