Middle an Upper School Spanish Teacher

The First Academy is seeking a dedicated and culturally proficient Middle and Upper School Spanish Teacher to foster a linguistic environment where students can achieve fluency by building a strong foundational mastery of the language through a Christ-centered perspective. The ideal candidate will be a dynamic educator capable of leading students through the critical early stages of language acquisition, with a focus on Spanish I and Spanish II immersion. We are looking for a teacher who can masterfully balance the technical rigors of introductory grammatical structures and foundational verb tenses with the creative execution of oral and written projects. The successful candidate will be expected to conduct honors-level courses, while preparing students for success on the National Spanish Exam and promoting a deep appreciation for the diverse literature, values, and cultural practices of the Spanish-speaking world.

Core Instructional Requirements

• Foundational Excellence: Guide students through the transition from introductory vocabulary to functional conversational proficiency.
• Immersion-Based Instruction: Create a classroom environment that encourages the use of the target language, preparing students for the linguistic rigors of future Honors-level coursework.
• Technical Rigor: Ensure a high level of accuracy in teaching essential grammar and syntax, providing students with the tools necessary for long-term fluency.
• Cultural & Spiritual Integration: Promote a deep appreciation for the diverse values and cultural practices of the Spanish-speaking world while grounding all instruction in a Biblical worldview.
• Student Achievement: Prepare students for success on the National Spanish Exam at the introductory levels and foster a lifelong interest in global mission and communication.

Professional Qualifications

• Required Education: Possess a Bachelor's degree from an accredited institution. A Master's degree in Education or the specific subject area is preferred.
• Subject Expertise: Degree emphasis in the area of instruction or a directly related field is strongly preferred.
• Communication Skills: Possess solid, professional communication skills, both written and verbal, for effective interaction with students, parents, and colleagues. This includes the ability to present complex information clearly and engage in constructive dialogue.
• Organizational Skills: Exhibit strong organizational skills, including efficient time management, meticulous record-keeping, and the ability to finish tasks in a timely manner and manage multiple classroom responsibilities simultaneously.
• Collaboration: Proven ability to effectively partner and collaborate with colleagues, administration, and parents to support the holistic development of students.
• Confidentiality: Absolute ability to maintain confidentiality pertaining to all sensitive school, student, and personnel matters, adhering to ethical and legal standards.
• Work Ethic: Demonstrate a strong work ethic, professionalism, reliability, and punctuality.
• Instructional Technology: Experience with and aptitude for using current educational technology to enhance classroom instruction, student engagement, and professional tasks.
• Learning Management Systems (LMS): Such as Canvas or Google Classroom.
• Productivity Suites: Including Google Suite for Education and/or Apple iWork Suite.
• Hardware/Equipment: Expertise in operating devices such as MacBooks, iPads, and Interactive Whiteboards, or similar classroom presentation technologies.
• Certification Requirement: Hold or be eligible to obtain a valid teaching certificate:
• Licensure by a regional accreditation agency (e.g., ACSI) is highly preferred.
• Valid/Professional State Teacher's Certification (e.g., Florida Teacher’s Certification) 
• Eligibility for a Temporary State Certificate within 30 days of employment, with the expectation that a permanent certification is secured within three (3) years.
• Teaching Experience: A minimum of three (3) years of successful classroom teaching experience in the subject area is recommended.
• Demonstrated Ability: Possess demonstrated expertise and ability to manage, instruct, and motivate students, or provide equivalent proven subject expertise through related professional work experience.