Organization: John Muir Charter School/FIELD WIA Program
Job Title: Teacher - Nine (9) Positions
Location: Kern County

Posted: 5/21/09

The Farm Worker Institute for Education and Leadership Development (FIELD) WIA program is an innovative program designed to provide youth aged 18-24 that reside in the Kern County area with preparation leading to a High School diploma or GED, Life Skills and Leadership Development training concurrently with vocational and hands-on training vocational and employability skills. Program members will train extensively in academic and employability skills and have opportunities to advance into other FIELD sponsored programs.  All students will be involved in providing services to the community through special projects

About The Farm Worker Institute for Education and Leadership Development
The Farmworker Institute for Education and Leadership Development (FIELD) is a 501(c)3 nonprofit organization dedicated to strengthening America’s agricultural sector. FIELD recognizes that agricultural workers are in need of better training and educational opportunities in order to succeed in the rapidly changing American economy. FIELD helps meet this challenge.

FIELD’s goal is to foster and provide opportunities for agricultural workers and other limited English-speaking Latinos. FIELD is working to develop a well-trained workforce, through basic education and literacy training as well as cross training in crop-specific vocational skills and other advanced courses in production techniques and technology. With this combination, workers are prepared to meet the demands of today’s agricultural and other work environments. FIELD takes great pride in knowing that our graduates take with them a better sense of self-esteem and confidence in their new abilities.

About John Muir Charter School
The Nevada County (California) Superintendent of Schools approved the John Muir Charter School (Muir) charter in 1998. Muir provides high school services exclusively to participants in YouthBuild, Job Corps, Local Conservation Corps, the California Conservation Corps and WIA programs. Each of these programs serves young adults between the ages of 16 and 25, most of whom have had significant breaks in their high school education. All of these programs combine hands-on work experience, academic instruction, and individual and community development. Muir serves over 1,000 students in classrooms at over 40 sites in California.

The Teacher shall report to the FIELD Education Coordinator and Executive Director, the Muir Executive Director and the Muir Deputy Director.  The Teacher is responsible for developing, planning and implementing an appropriate curriculum and instruction for young adults which provides English Language Development and individualized functional skill development in all subjects necessary to prepare students to earn the high school diploma as well as assist in providing appropriate college preparatory information appropriate for post secondary education. 

General Duties and Responsibilities:
1. Prepare monthly and weekly lesson plans.
2.  Provide ELD courses at a variety of fluency levels.
3. Develop plans to provide well-rounded individualized and group instruction as appropriate.
4. Identify and use appropriate tools to assess, document and report student periodic and final progress.
5. Utilize a variety of appropriate instructional methods to address different learning styles.
6. Review and recommend necessary and appropriate materials and equipment.
7. Assess Members need for and provide special tutoring as necessary.
8. Work and coordinate with other staff to incorporate practical academic learning experiences related to Life Skills, Leadership, Construction and other appropriate subjects.
9. Assist in identification of outside resources related to education.
10. Identify and provide opportunities in the classroom for Members to demonstrate Leadership skills.
11. Participate in community service projects, attend retreats, workshops and conferences as required.
12. Inform Case Management and other appropriate staff of student issues that affect student progress
13. Review, evaluate, monitor, report and document student attendance and progress.
14. Maintain individual confidential student educational files including work samples, lesson plans, educational progress, attendance sheets and educational service plans.
15. Maintain student grades and grade book.
16. Establish relationships and network with peers at other Muir program sites and community-based organizations.
17. Monitor and maintain student compliance with Muir and FIELD program requirements.
18. Assist in providing supervision at FIELD education sites.
19. May assist in identifying and organizing appropriate community service projects.
20. Monitor and maintain Member progress in the attainment of the GED and High School Diploma.
21. Perform other duties as assigned.

Minimum Qualifications
- California teaching credential and CLAD/E.L. authorization are required.
- Bilingual English/Spanish.
- One year of experience in Adult academic instruction related to preparation for the high school diploma is a plus.
- Bachelors degree in Education or a related field.
- Demonstrated ability to engage young people in meaningful, interesting and creative learning experiences.
- Working knowledge of various educational assessment tools. Experience in administration of assessment tools is preferred and a plus.
- Demonstrated experience in English language instruction.
- Experience in curriculum and lesson planning and development.
- Experience in/knowledge of developing educational plans for individual students.
- Experience working with and the ability to be sensitive to a multi-cultural, multi-ethnic population.
- Excellent oral and written communication skills; ability to make group presentations and facilitate group activities.
- Ability to team-teach and work effectively as a part of a team.
- Sincere desire to assist young people to succeed, develop self-confidence and effective -leadership skills; familiarity with various challenges and issues faced by youth from low-income communities.
- Ability to work effectively with minimum supervision and manage competing priorities.
- Ability to exercise sound judgment in making effective decisions and in problem solving skills.
- Demonstrated interest in volunteerism. 

Compensation
$40,500-$55,000 (to be determined based upon experience and qualifications) and full benefits. Full-time, exempt position, 40+ hours per week.   Teachers accrue vacation time to be determined at time of hire.

For Additional Information
John Muir Charter School: www.johnmuircs.com
FIELD: www.farmworkerinstitute.org/

Applications
Please fax a letter of introduction, resume, 2 letters of recommendation, and a copy of any held credentials to Mario Nunez, Education Coordinator, at 661-836-4364. Incomplete packets will not be considered.