Classroom Teacher - Special Education / Mathematics

Location Profile

Lyndhurst Secondary College (Years 7-12) is situated just north of Cranbourne in the south-western corner of the City of Casey – one of the fastest growing municipalities in Australia. Our College is projected to have an enrolment of 700 students in 2021 and is projected to rise further. Over recent years the cultural mix of the College has changed dramatically with approximately 35 per cent of our students now having a Language Background Other Than English.

With regard to facilities, the College has a large, double-court Gymnasium, a well-resourced Drama Theatre, a large Library, as well as significant facilities in specialist areas: Music, Food Technology, the Visual Arts, a Trade Training Centre (Automotive), separate Wood and Metal technology rooms, as well as extensive Science based classrooms. The College also has a dedicated `English/Literacy Centre’ to support the Workshop Model approach to teaching English as well as our literacy program; we have a Senior School area set aside for VCE and VCAL classes. The College also supports a one to one student netbook program.

The Lyndhurst Secondary College community is committed to providing a safe, challenging and stimulating learning environment which champions individual differences, excellence and integrity in order to develop open-minded citizens capable of contributing confidently and responsibly to an ever-changing world. We aim to be a progressive learning community whereby we are, ‘Empowering students for learning and life’. Our core values are excellence, commitment, integrity and respect, with an overarching belief in high expectations for all.

The College has a clear focus on maintaining an orderly environment. We recognise that positive student behaviours are most effectively supported through relationship-based, whole-school and classroom practices. Lyndhurst Secondary College has firmly embedded a practice of ‘Routine and Respect’, as an approach to the maintenance and consistency of order. Our award winning ‘Multipride’ program celebrates cultural diversity and also promotes harmony within the school. In addition to this we have a highly effective Wellbeing Team, and are now recognised as a ‘White Ribbon’ School.

Presently the major focus for staff is to develop classroom pedagogy through a range of evidence-based teaching and learning strategies, in an effort to further improve outcomes for students. In addition, teachers meet regularly and work collaboratively in smaller Professional Learning Teams. These teams collect and analyse student assessment data in order to inform teaching practice. The objective is to teach to each student’s point of need, regardless of where they on the learning continuum.

To meet the individual needs of our students we offer a range of flexible learning options and support programs. We also have a wide range of co-curricular programs. As a smaller school, we believe in getting to know our students well and we use these programs as just one of the ways to engage and learn more about the young people with whom we work. We understand the importance of ‘student voice’ in relation to school connectedness. As result, there are extensive leadership opportunities available to students across a range of areas within the College community.

The current College Leadership Team profile consists of the Principal, two Assistant Principals, one Teaching and Learning Leader, three Sub-School Leaders (aligned to Junior, Middle and Senior School), one Community and Innovations Leader, a Student Voice Leader and the College Business Manager.

Selection Criteria

SC1 Demonstrated knowledge of the relevant curriculum, including the ability to incorporate the teaching of literacy and numeracy skills. Demonstrated experience in responding to student learning needs.

SC2 Demonstrated experience in planning for and implementing high impact teaching strategies, guided by how students learn, and evaluating the impact of learning and teaching programs on student learning growth.

SC3 Demonstrated experience in monitoring and assessing student learning. Demonstrated experience in using data to inform teaching practice and providing feedback on student learning growth and achievement to students and parents.

SC4 Demonstrated interpersonal and communication skills. Demonstrated experience in establishing and maintaining collaborative relationships with students, parents, colleagues and the broader school community to support student learning, agency, wellbeing and engagement.

SC5 Demonstrated behaviours and attitudes consistent with Department values. Demonstrated experience in reflecting upon practice and engaging in professional learning to continually improve the quality of teaching.

SC6 Demonstrated ability to actively promote the safety and wellbeing of all students in line with the Child Safe Standards.

Role

The classroom teacher classification comprises two salary ranges- range 1 and range 2. The primary focus of the classroom teacher is on the planning, preparation and teaching of programs to achieve specific student outcomes. The classroom teacher engages in critical reflection and inquiry in order to improve knowledge and skills to effectively engage students and improve their learning.

As the classroom teacher gains experience his or her contribution to the school program beyond the classroom increases. All classroom teachers may be required to undertake other duties in addition to their rostered teaching duties provided the responsibility is appropriate to the salary range, qualifications, training and experience of the teacher.

Classroom teacher Range 2

Range 2 classroom teachers play a significant role in assisting the school to improve student performance and educational outcomes determined by the school strategic plan and state-wide priorities and contributing to the development and implementation of school policies and priorities.

A critical component of this work will focus on increasing the knowledge base of staff within their school about student learning and high quality instruction to assist their school to define quality teacher practice.

Range 2 classroom teachers will be expected to:

• Have the content knowledge and pedagogical practice to meet the diverse needs of all students
• Model exemplary classroom practice and mentor/coach other teachers in the school to engage in critical reflection of their practice and to support staff to expand their capacity
• Provide expert advice about the content, processes and strategies that will shape individual and school professional learning
• Supervise and train one or more student teachers
• Assist staff to use student data to inform teaching approaches that enable targets related to improving student learning outcomes to be achieved.

Classroom teacher Range 1

The primary focus of the range 1 classroom teacher is on further developing skills and competencies to become an effective classroom practitioner with structured support and guidance from teachers at higher levels and the planning, preparation and teaching of programs to achieve specific student outcomes. These teachers teach a range of students/classes and are accountable for the effective delivery of their programs. Range 1 classroom teachers are skilled teachers who operate under general direction within clear guidelines following established work practices and documented priorities and may have responsibility for the supervision and training of one or more student teachers.

At range 1, teachers participate in the development of school policies and programs and assist in the implementation of school priorities.
The focus of a range 1 classroom teacher is on classroom management, subject content and teaching practice. New entrants to the teaching profession in their initial teaching years receive structured support, mentoring and guidance from teachers at higher levels.

Under guidance, new entrants to the teaching profession will plan and teach student groups in one or more subjects and are expected to participate in induction programs and other professional learning activities that are designed to ensure the integration of curriculum, assessment and pedagogy across the school.

Teachers at range 1 are responsible for teaching their own classes and may also assist and participate in policy development, project teams and the organisation of co-curricula activities.

Responsibilities

The role of classroom teacher may include but is not limited to:

• Direct teaching of groups of students and individual students;
• Contributing to the development, implementation and evaluation of a curriculum area or other curriculum program within the school;
• Undertaking other classroom teaching related and organisational duties as determined by the School Principal;
• Participating in activities such as parent/teacher meetings; staff meetings; camps and excursions;
• Undertaking other non-teaching supervisory duties.

Who May Apply

Teachers currently registered or eligible for registration with the Victorian Institute of Teaching and qualified to teach and/or have demonstrated experience in the curriculum area(s) specified for the position.

EEO AND OHS Commitment

The Department values diversity and is committed to workforce diversity and equal opportunity in schools and all education workplaces. The Department recognises that the provision of family friendly, supportive, safe and harassment free workplaces is essential to high performance and promotes flexible work, diversity and safety across all schools and Department workplaces.

Child Safe Standards

Victorian government schools are child safe environments. Our schools actively promote the safety and wellbeing of all students, and all school staff are committed to protecting students from abuse or harm in the school environment, in accordance with their legal obligations including child safe standards. All schools have a Child Safety Code of Conduct consistent with the Department’s exemplar available at http://www.education.vic.gov.au/about/programs/health/protect/Pages/childsafestandards.aspx

DET Values

The Department’s employees commit to upholding DET’s Values: Responsiveness, Integrity, Impartiality, Accountability, Respect, Leadership and Human Rights. DET’s Values complement each school’s own values and underpin the behaviours the community expects of Victorian public sector employees, including those who work in Victorian Government Schools. Information on the DET values is available at http://www.education.vic.gov.au/hrweb/workm/Pages/Public-Sector-Values.aspx

Other Information

• All staff employed by the Department and schools have access to a broad range of employment conditions and working arrangements.
• Appointment of successful applicants will be made subject to a satisfactory pre-employment conditions check.
• A probationary period may apply during the first year of employment and induction and support programs provided.
• Detailed information on all terms and conditions of employment is available on the Department's Human Resources website at http://www.education.vic.gov.au/hrweb/Pages/default.aspx

Conditions of Employment

• All staff employed by the Department and schools have access to a broad range of employment conditions and working arrangements.
• Appointment of successful applicants will be made subject to a satisfactory pre-employment conditions check.
• A probationary period may apply during the first year of employment and induction and support programs provided.
• Detailed information on all terms and conditions of employment is available on the Department's Human Resources website at http://www.education.vic.gov.au/hrweb/Pages/default.aspx

VIT LANTITE

To be eligible for employment, transfer or promotion in the principal or teacher class a person must have provisional or full registration from the Victorian Institute of Teaching. In addition, from 3 August 2020, to be eligible for employment in the principal class or teacher class, a person who graduated from a Victorian Initial Teacher Education program after 1 July 2016, must demonstrate that they have passed the literacy and numeracy test for initial teacher education (LANTITE) requirements. This condition is satisfied where the LANTITE requirement is part of the Victorian Initial Teacher Education program completed by the person.