Teacher - Pre Kindergarten

(1) School rules and policies are designed to promote learning and to maintain a Christ-centered atmosphere on the campus. Teachers should enforce school rules and policies.

(2) Learning goals are provided by the Consensus Curriculum of the Diocese of Richmond. Teachers provide the impetus for conveying the curriculum. Utilizing personal strengths and varied teaching styles, teachers are responsible for student learning. Through yearly analysis of the standardized test scores and benchmark testing, teachers implement learning goals specific to their classes.

(3) Teachers are responsible for supervising and maintaining a safe environment.

o Has working knowledge of all policies and procedures in the Parent and Student Handbook, Faculty and Staff Handbook, and Called to Work in Harmony, Personnel Policies for Lay and Religious Employees.

• Attends meetings as requested
• Other duties as assigned (for example, recess and lunch duty and dismissal

Curriculum:

• All teachers are required to follow the Diocesan Consensus Curriculum for the position they are teaching. The curriculum should be referred to when writing lesson plans and making long term calendars for the class. Lesson plans are submitted weekly to the principal or her designee.

Professionalism and Communications:

• GENERAL: Faculty members must be professional in dealing with students, parents, faculty and staff. As representatives of the school, it is essential that faculty support the school community in word and deed
• DRESS/APPEARANCE: Faculty members are to be models for students at St. Mary Star of the Sea. For this reason, faculty attire should match the spirit of the student dress code. Faculty should not wear items that are not in keeping with the school dress code. Failure of faculty to present a well-groomed personal appearance is grounds for immediate termination of employment
• ARRIVAL TIME AND REQUIRED NUMBER OF DAYS: Teachers are required to be in their classrooms prior to 7:45 a.m., when students begin to arrive. Teachers are required to work 190 days including 5 days of in-service before and 5 days of in-service after the end of the school year. Part time positions are required to work the number of hours and days on their contract.
• CERTIFICATION: Teachers are required to be certified by the Commonwealth of Virginia. It is the teacher’s responsibility to obtain and maintain teaching certification. Failure to be certified can result in termination of employment. Assistance is available from the Office of Catholic Schools, Diocese of Richmond (804) 359-5661. All actions regarding teacher certification must be coordinated with the Office of Catholic Schools. All religion teachers must maintain religion certification by participating in 10 hours of professional development in religion each year, either arranged by the school or approved by the principal.
• ILLNESS/ABSENCE: In the event of an unscheduled absence due to illness or personal matters, teachers must acquire a substitute from the recommended list and then complete a “Request for Leave” form and submit it to the principal. They are to notify the office as far in advance as possible.
• CLASSROOM RECORDS: Homeroom teachers are required to keep an accurate attendance record that includes all absences and tardiness. Attendance should be taken at the beginning of the day. A record of daily attendance is required by the laws of the Commonwealth of Virginia. (VA Code Ann. 22.1 - 259). Such records shall, at times, be open to any officer authorized to enforce the provisions of this article who may inspect or copy the same and shall be admissible in evidence in any prosecution for a violation of this article as evidence of the facts stated therein. All teachers are required to maintain grades either in electronic form or written in a grade book.
• EXTRACURRICULAR DUTIES: All teachers are called upon to contribute to the well-being of the school through leadership in various capacities including (but not limited to) mentoring new teachers, moderating clubs, being the “lead teacher” in a building, coaching, performing duties of curriculum chairs, etc. Time considerations are taken into account for part-time teachers.

School Functions:

• Sometimes school functions/activities are scheduled at times other than during normal school hours. This is necessary to accommodate parent work schedules. Examples of such functions/activities as shown on the school calendar include: Open House, Back to School Night, Report Card Conferences, Graduation, etc. Teachers are required to be present for such “after school” events as well as for professional development conferences, faculty meetings, faculty retreats, etc.