Digital Media Teacher

The Middle School Digital Media Teacher is directly responsible for delivering a multi-level approach to technology instruction, which is focused on Design Thinking, the fundamentals of digital media and photography, 3D animation video editing and design, basic coding, programmatic thinking, 3D scanning, and prototyping.

ESSENTIAL DUTIES AND RESPONSIBILITIES include the following. Other duties may be assigned.

Essential Functions

• Work within a highly collaborative instructional team of teachers, building instructional connections with colleagues at the elementary, middle and high schools.

• Understand and communicate effective technology instruction.

• Promotes the effective use of middle school instructional practices as it relates to technology and project-based learning.

• Encourages students to become aware of and successfully navigate the complexities of the digital environment.

• To communicate with parents and essential school personnel as it relates to student success.

• Assist students in the development of a digital portfolio that demonstrates an understanding of digital media.

• Make him/herself available to work with parents and students when appropriate and the need presents itself.

• Assess students’ academic growth and maintain appropriate records and prepare progress reports.

• Keeps abreast of all new curricular developments, participates in student-related activities leading to professional growth and disseminates information regularly to content team members.

• Effectively works with school administration to meet the needs of students.

• Cultivate working relationship between students and community to deepen their understanding of technology and its practical applications.

• Introduce students to immersive virtual reality environments and applications including the integration of LiDAR scans into 3D game/virtual environments, capturing and editing of 360-degree fully-immersive video, and other future applications of this technology. 

Essential Characteristics

• The ability to teach students to manage their own learning by identifying options, evaluating opportunities, and organizing educational experiences that will enable them to work within a problem-based collaborative environment.

• The ability to anticipate potential shifts in technology that might be effectively applied to the instructional environment in ways that are relevant to students.

• Able to translate knowledge learned by developing critical thinking student-centered real- world activities.

• Must be able to work in a highly collaborative open lab environment.

• Understands that meaningful instruction is not always confined to a classroom environment.

• A demonstrated openness and responsiveness to constructive feedback and a strong commitment to continuous improvement and professional growth.

• Strong interpersonal skills with students, parents, colleagues, and community members.

• The ability to challenge students with open-ended questions for the purpose of guiding them through self-discovery.

• A proven record of making an effort to build a network of professional colleagues beyond the current school environment—a well established Professional Learning Network (PLN).

• Approaches the profession with maturity, gravitas, humility, versatility—solutions-mindedness with a strong work ethic, and sense of humor.

• A desire to support students as they take part in various extracurricular school activities.

EDUCATION and/or EXPERIENCE

• A Bachelor’s degree in Science, Technology, or a related field is required.

• A minimum of three years of middle-level teaching experience is strongly preferred.

• Must have an understanding of OSX, Windows-based operating systems and iOS devices.

• Must be intimately familiar with instructional methodologies that require students to apply their knowledge of technology to a problem-based learning environment.

• Must be knowledgeable of digital media and photography and their applications as they relate to middle school technology instruction.

• Must be able to create learning opportunities that enable students to have the experience of achieving expertise by researching, understanding, and developing new knowledge about technology, their environment and drawing meaningful connections between the two.

• Must be intimately aware of multiple forms of assessment to evaluate student learning, and provide ongoing feedback to students to empower them to manage and accelerate their own learning. 

• Must be comfortable with planning and delivering instruction within a collaborative environment.

• Must possess a systematic approach to managing a classroom environment that affords students the opportunity to work in a collaborative environment that often extends beyond the classroom.

PHYSICAL DEMANDS

Our campus consists of multiple buildings on 44 hilly acres that requires walking including uphill, stairs and to fields for fire drills. May sit for prolonged periods of time in a normal seated position and reach by extending a hand(s) or arm(s) in any direction throughout the day. May need to bend; lift, and carry items. Finger dexterity required to manipulate objects with fingers rather than with whole hand(s) or arm(s), for example, using a keyboard and mouse. It is important to see and hear within normal parameters and possess the ability to move about with little to no difficulty.

LANGUAGE SKILLS

Ability to read, write and interpret documents such as budgets, reports, operating and maintenance instructions, procedure manuals, and policies. A qualified person will possess the ability to write routine reports, memos, letters, and correspondence. Knowledge of and ability to apply accepted English usage, grammar, spelling, and punctuation.

MENTAL DEMANDS

On a daily basis must frequently problem solve, make decisions, interpret data, organize, plan, and clearly communicate.

EQUIPMENT USE

Telephone, computer, iPad, copier, printers, and other hardware – frequently

WORKING CONDITIONS

Indoor – frequently
Outdoor, Loud Noise, Cold and Hot Temperatures – occasionally

WORKING ENVIRONMENT

Reasonable accommodations may be made to enable individuals with disabilities to perform the essential functions.