Specialist Teacher

Role

The classroom teacher classification comprises two salary ranges- range 1 and range 2. The primary focus of the classroom teacher is on the planning, preparation and teaching of programs to achieve specific student outcomes. The classroom teacher engages in critical reflection and inquiry in order to improve knowledge and skills to effectively engage students and improve their learning. 

As the classroom teacher gains experience his or her contribution to the school program beyond the classroom increases. All classroom teachers may be required to undertake other duties in addition to their rostered teaching duties provided the responsibility is appropriate to the salary range, qualifications, training and experience of the teacher.

Classroom teacher Range 2
Range 2 classroom teachers play a significant role in assisting the school to improve student performance and educational outcomes determined by the school strategic plan and state-wide priorities and contributing to the development and implementation of school policies and priorities.

A critical component of this work will focus on increasing the knowledge base of staff within their school about student learning and high quality instruction to assist their school to define quality teacher practice.

Range 2 classroom teachers will be expected to:
- Have the content knowledge and pedagogical practice to meet the diverse needs of all students
- Model exemplary classroom practice and mentor/coach other teachers in the school to engage in critical reflection of their practice and to support staff to expand their capacity
- Provide expert advice about the content, processes and strategies that will shape individual and school professional learning
- Supervise and train one or more student teachers
- Assist staff to use student data to inform teaching approaches that enable targets related to improving student learning outcomes to be achieved.

Classroom teacher Range 1
The primary focus of the range 1 classroom teacher is on further developing skills and competencies to become an effective classroom practitioner with structured support and guidance from teachers at higher levels and the planning, preparation and teaching of programs to achieve specific student outcomes. These teachers teach a range of students/classes and are accountable for the effective delivery of their programs. Range 1 classroom teachers are skilled teachers who operate under general direction within clear guidelines following established work practices and documented priorities and may have responsibility for the supervision and training of one or more student teachers.

At range 1, teachers participate in the development of school policies and programs and assist in the implementation of school priorities. 
The focus of a range 1 classroom teacher is on classroom management, subject content and teaching practice. New entrants to the teaching profession in their initial teaching years receive structured support, mentoring and guidance from teachers at higher levels.

Under guidance, new entrants to the teaching profession will plan and teach student groups in one or more subjects and are expected to participate in induction programs and other professional learning activities that are designed to ensure the integration of curriculum, assessment and pedagogy across the school.

Teachers at range 1 are responsible for teaching their own classes and may also assist and participate in policy development, project teams and the organisation of co-curricula activities.

Responsibilities

The role of classroom teacher may include but is not limited to:

Direct teaching of groups of students and individual students; Contributing to the development, implementation and evaluation of a curriculum area or other curriculum program within the school; Undertaking other classroom teaching related and organisational duties as determined by the School Principal; Participating in activities such as parent/teacher meetings; staff meetings; camps and excursions; Undertaking other non-teaching supervisory duties.

Who May Apply

Teachers currently registered or eligible for registration with the Victorian Institute of Teaching and qualified to teach and/or have demonstrated experience in the curriculum area(s) specified for the position.

EEO AND OHS Commitment

The Department of Education and Training is committed to the principles of equal opportunity, and diversity and inclusion for all. We value diversity and inclusion in all forms – gender, religion, ethnicity, LGBTIQ+, disability and neurodiversity. Aboriginal and Torres Strait Islander candidates are strongly encouraged to apply for roles within the Department. The Department recognises that the provision of family friendly, supportive, safe and harassment free workplaces is essential to high performance and promotes flexible work, diversity and safety across all schools and Department workplaces.

Child Safe Standards

Victorian government schools are child safe environments. Our schools actively promote the safety and wellbeing of all students, and all school staff are committed to protecting students from abuse or harm in the school environment, in accordance with their legal obligations including child safe standards. All schools have a Child Safety Code of Conduct consistent with the Department’s exemplar available at

DE Values

The Department’s employees commit to upholding DET’s Values: Responsiveness, Integrity, Impartiality, Accountability, Respect, Leadership and Human Rights. DET’s Values complement each school’s own values and underpin the behaviours the community expects of Victorian public sector employees, including those who work in Victorian Government Schools. Information on the DET values is available at

Other Information

All staff employed by the Department and schools have access to a broad range of employment conditions and working arrangements. Appointment of successful applicants will be made subject to a satisfactory pre-employment conditions check. A probationary period may apply during the first year of employment and induction and support programs provided. Detailed information on all terms and conditions of employment is available on the Department's Human Resources website at

VIT LANTITE

To be eligible for employment, transfer or promotion in the principal or teacher class a person must have provisional or full registration from the Victorian Institute of Teaching. In addition, from 3 August 2020, to be eligible for employment in the principal class or teacher class, a person who graduated from a Victorian Initial Teacher Education program after 1 July 2016, must demonstrate that they have passed the literacy and numeracy test for initial teacher education (LANTITE) requirements. This condition is satisfied where the LANTITE requirement is part of the Victorian Initial Teacher Education program completed by the person.

For positions in special settings, a person is not eligible for employment unless they meet the on commencement in the position.

Location Profile

Context

Aitken Creek Primary School is located within the City of Hume, approximately 26 kilometres north of Melbourne. The area is under constant development and has become very urbanised over the last few years.

ACPS opened its doors at the start of the 2011 school year with a total population of 67 students from P-5. The school has attained a steady increase of enrolments since its opening and has a current enrolment of over 1000 students. Destination data shows that students come from 124 different schools, 47 of which are from interstate and 32 from overseas. Student characteristics are culturally diverse with 46 identified languages spoken at home other than English, with the majority being Arabic, Urdu, Hindi, Punjabi, Assyrian and Sinhalese. Approximately 72% of the student population is identified as English as an Additional Language (EAL) with 48% of the student population attracting EAL funding support.

The school leadership and staffing profile evolves every year to address the growth and directly link with the School Strategic Plan priorities. The staffing profile has a mix of expertise however predominantly teaching staff are in the initial graduate years of teaching. Professional learning, coaching and induction processes have been instrumental in ensuring the development of the school culture and the school wide approach to teaching and learning.

Aitken Creek Primary School is a P-6 school located on Grevillea Street Craigieburn. Built under the new Public-Private Partnership (PPP) development, Aitken Creek Primary School is an excellent state of the art learning facility that brings together the best in contemporary educational design and promotes active student-centred learning through the creation of flexible, functional spaces. All teachers work in professional learning communities, framed around the FISO inquiry cycle. They collaborate in teaching teams so that the individual needs of their students are met. We uphold high expectations of all and provide an exciting and inclusive experience for staff, students and families.

Philosophy of Teaching and Learning

Learning and development is a social, collaborative activity dependent on relationships Learning involves active participation, investigation, discovery and construction. Meaningful, authentic and relevant context is central to learning Motivation for learning is strongly dependent on the learner’s confidence in their potential Environments play a critical role in learning where ideas, values, attitudes and culture are mirrored within them.

School Vision

At Aitken Creek Primary School our students will achieve personal success in their learning and become responsible and productive citizens.

An environment that is caring, safe and supportive will be provided so that each student achieves their full potential.

Parents, students and staff are strongly encouraged to work together in partnership to ensure our students succeed.

The core beliefs that we base our work on are:

Through effort everyone can succeed and personal achievements are celebrated. Active engagement as well as positive work habits and attitudes are essential to learning. Social skills are fundamental in the way we interact with each other.

School Values

The values which underpin the actions for the whole school community are:

Respect : Showing care and concern for ourselves, other people, property and our environment. Developing a sense of pride, self-esteem and personal identity.

Teamwork : Achieving success by working cooperatively with others to achieve common and personal goals.

Achievement : Setting goals, showing persistence and taking pride in our achievements.

Responsibility : Showing commitment to our learning by being accountable for our actions.

We embed the School Wide Positive Behaviour (SWPBS) framework that structures our student management, wellbeing and engagement processes and procedures.

Intent

We aim to offer a service to our students and their carers that is responsive and forward thinking, targeting student needs.

Our core business is to offer the most effective teaching and learning program, in a caring and supportive manner which focuses on the explicit teaching of skills and behaviors so that each child can be the best that then can be.

Our facilities and resources will be aligned to our core business and our priorities so that our educators are well equipped to offer the best service possible.

We endeavour to respond to concerns in a timely manner that is solution focused and were possible with mutually agreeable outcomes.

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