Reports to: Assistant Principal of Learning Services

Effective Date: November 2024

PURPOSE AND SCOPE:

Under the supervision of the Principal and the Assistant Principal for Learning Services, the Notre Dame Preparatory teacher is a person of faith who strives to achieve the goals of Catholic education; assumes responsibility for the leadership and management of the grades or classes assigned; develops and implements an instructional program according to the needs of the students and the established Diocesan Curriculum Standards; maintains detailed and accurate records as required by the school; establishes positive school-community relationships; continues professional development to remain current with religious and academic certi?cations; performs any other job-related tasks deemed necessary and/or assigned by the principal.

The teacher assists the Church and the school in the mission of evangelizing.   The teacher contributes to fostering the Catholic School culture by serving as a witness to students and to the community.  By bearing witness to Christ, His Church and the teachings of our Catholic faith, the teacher cooperates with Christ in the academic, spiritual, and social education of our high school students.  The teacher leads, instructs, and utilizes effective pedagogy; obtains necessary academic certificates; participates in continual professional development; maintains detailed and accurate records as required by the school; and imparts a Catholic worldview through the curriculum.  In addition to academic preparation, record-keeping and accountability,  the teacher, as a member of a “house” within Notre Dame Preparatory High School, serves as a mentor and campus minister to all students.   

NDP provides an inclusive Catholic school environment for high school students with varying degrees of abilities and backgrounds.  Teachers work in collaboration with several programs to differentiate instruction, modify curriculum and assessments as needed, and partner with parents to support all students.  The teaching position is at the heart of our school for evangelization, academic rigor, and personal growth of our students.

This position requires the ability to effectively communicate via phone and email; ensure that all duties are completed accurately and delivered with high quality and in a timely manner; flexibility, forward thinking and managing deadlines; willingness to seek the latest educational practices and implement; and rely on experience and judgment to plan and accomplish goals and a wide degree of creativity and latitude are expected. New teachers are provided with a 3-year mentoring program.

ESSENTIAL JOB FUNCTIONS:

Strives to achieve the goals of Catholic education:

• Embraces and models the Catholic philosophy of education.
• Promotes and lives gospel values and Catholic moral teaching. Upholds the doctrinal teachings of the Catholic Church.
• Provides opportunities for faith development of students in the classroom to prepare them for life in today’s Church and society.
• Can articulate and give evidence of Catholic living by the example of their lives.
• Integrates Church's teachings throughout the curriculum.
• Participates in faith development activities provided by the school

Assumes responsibility for the leadership and management of the classes assigned:

• Develops schemes of work and lesson plans
• Is clear in daily and unit objectives
• Prepares classroom for class activities
• Manages student behavior in the classroom by establishing and enforcing rules in accordance with the school’s policies and procedures
• Apply appropriate disciplinary measures where necessary in accordance with the school’s policies and procedures

Develops and implements an instructional program according to the needs of the students and the established Diocesan Curriculum Standards:

• Plans, prepares, and delivers instructional activities that facilitate active learning experiences
• Provide a variety of learning materials and resources for use in educational activities
• Identify and select different instructional resources and methods to meet students’ varying needs
• Instruct and monitor students in the use of learning materials and equipment
• Use relevant technology to support instruction

Evaluates student progress e?ectively:

• Observe and evaluate students’ performances and development
• Uses a variety of ongoing formative and summative assessments to assess proficiency.
• Aligns assessments with goals, objectives, information taught, and instructional guidelines and Curriculum Standards of the Diocese and school.
• Provides prompt, appropriate constructive feedback on student work and performance.
• Maintains and updates a proper grading and/or reporting system for each student as required by the principal.
• Meets deadlines with o?cial classroom reports, attendance, and statistics as required by the principal
• Prepares and delivers required reports on students to appropriate director on their progress and activities in the classroom
• Apply certain pastoral duties including student support, counseling students with academic problems and providing student encouragement
• Communicates necessary information regularly to students, colleagues, and parents regarding student progress and needs

Establishes positive school-community relationships:

• Maintains cooperative relations with all in the school community. Promotes respectful and positive school relationships.
• Maintains awareness of his/her role as a Catholic teacher and minister of the faith and its impact on the community.
• Provides regular conferences and meetings with parents.
• Cooperates with and helps promote various curricular and co-curricular programs within the school.
• Attends and actively participates in school faculty meetings and in-services.
• Performs additional duties as assigned or required by the administration

Continues professional development to remain current with religious and academic certi?cations:

• Keeps informed of current instructional practices through professional reading and educational opportunities and makes relevant changes to instructional plans and activities
• Participates in professional activities and joins appropriate professional organizations. Attends diocesan sponsored in-services.
• Willingly seeks to improve educational practices both inside the classroom and inside the community
• Attends and actively participates in school faculty meetings and in-services. Actively participates in the process of continuous school improvement.
• Maintains personal professional development records.

Performs any other job-related tasks deemed necessary and/or assigned by the principal.

KNOWLEDGE, SKILLS, AND ABILITIES REQUIRED

• Must demonstrate personal self-discipline, be adaptable and ?exible in routine and unexpected situations.
• Must use good judgment in daily encounters. Must use verbal and written language correctly.
• Must demonstrate an appropriate sense of humor.
• Must demonstrate knowledge and understanding of good teaching techniques and child psychology.
• Must maintain appropriate grooming and dress as stated in the faculty handbook.

PHYSICAL DEMANDS

The physical demands described here are representative of those that must be met by an employee to successfully perform the essential functions of the job. Reasonable accommodation may be made to enable individuals with disabilities to perform essential functions. While performing the duties of this job, the employee is regularly required to stand; sit; walk; use hands to finger, handle, or feel; reach with hands and arms; talk or hear. The employee must regularly lift and/or move up to 30 pounds. Specific vision abilities required by this job include close vision, distance vision, and ability to adjust focus. The employee must be able to stand for periods of time outside in the heat and cold. The noise level in the work environment is usually moderate. The position will require some evening and weekend hours.

The information contained in this job description is for compliance with the Americans with Disabilities Act (A.D.A.) and is not an exhaustive list of the duties performed for this position.  Additional duties are performed by the individuals currently holding this position and additional duties may be assigned.

EVALUATION

The performance of this position will be evaluated in accordance with the procedures developed by the Diocese of Phoenix and Notre Dame Preparatory under the direction of the Chaplain, Principal, Assistant Principals and Dean of Faculty.

TERMS OF EMPLOYMENT

Ten-month employee (paid in 12-month contract), full-time, salaried. The Executive Committee under the guidance of the Diocese of Phoenix establishes base salaries and stipends. A schedule of mandatory days and extra responsibilities is provided prior to the start of a new school year.

MINIMUM QUALIFICATION

• Must be a bona fide practicing Catholic and be willing to make a public Profession of Faith if Catholic
• Must hold a bachelor's degree; preference given to concentration in Theology or Religious Studies or equivalent. Masters’ Degree in subject area preferred. Please note, some positions require a master's degree and/or experience teaching Dual Enrollment or college courses or experience in specific programming.
• Must be certi?ed by the Arizona State Department of Education as a teacher and meet applicable NCA requirements.
• Received Safe Environment Training and signed the Code of Conduct. AZ Fingerprint clearance completed.