Junior Cycle for Teachers Advisors (English/Business Studies) Job Description & General Notes

Transcription

1 Junior Cycle for Teachers Advisors (English/Business Studies) Job Description & General Notes 1. Introduction The Junior Cycle for Teachers (JCT) support service, directed by the Department of Education and Skills (DES), provides continuing professional development (CPD) support for school leaders and teachers as they plan and implement strategies and practices to adopt the Framework for Junior Cycle in schools. Monaghan Education Centre is now recruiting for advisors to be part of the JCT teams for English and Business Studies. Advisors will be required to undertake the CPD work of JCT. Applicants who present also with a subject due to be introduced in a later phase of the Framework for Junior Cycle, may be considered for work in that subject area as the programme evolves. The following notes will be of assistance to applicants: 2. Junior Cycle for Teachers The Junior Cycle for Teachers team offers professional development support to post-primary teachers and school leaders in the context of A Framework for Junior Cycle (the Framework). As set out in Circular Letter 20/2014, the Framework is being introduced on a phased basis which commenced with English in September JCT commenced the provision of a comprehensive and long-term programme of CPD for school leaders and teachers in October JCT currently offers CPD to teachers of English, to whole staffs, school leaders and to teachers of Short Courses and Level 2 Learning Programmes. It is intended to offer CPD to teachers of Science and Business Studies from the 2015/16 school year. Junior Cycle for Teachers aims to foster a culture of continuing professional development among teachers as part of schools ongoing programme development, encouraging reflective practice, enquiry-based practice and lifelong learning. Professional development support is provided regionally through co-operation with schools to respond to needs arising from the Framework. The education centre network plays a key role in the work of the service and Junior Cycle for Teachers works closely with the centres to support the needs of schools and teachers locally. Junior Cycle for Teachers supports schools in the following areas: interpretation and implementation of strategies in the context of junior cycle curricular and assessment components including the principles, key skills and statements of learning implementing effective evaluation and assessment practices to improve learning and teaching planning for the Junior Cycle curriculum, including timetabling practices quality assuring the curriculum 1

2 programme/curriculum development, including short courses and Level 2 Learning Programmes developing standardised testing practices information and communication technology (ICT) in the classroom 3. Job description Advisors will work as part of a multi-disciplinary professional team and will report directly to the Director of Junior Cycle for Teachers or his/her nominee. S/he will be contracted on a secondment basis to Monaghan Education Centre. Each subject specialist team will design and deliver CPD and resources, and facilitate schools development of learning, teaching and assessment in the following areas: the specification for junior cycle subjects, encompassing the key skills and statements of learning literacy, including listening, speaking, reading, writing, digital literacy and comprehension skills, as well as relevant numeracy skills learning, teaching and assessment methodologies, including differentiation and formative and summative assessment subject learning and assessment review quality assurance reporting to parents short courses instructional leadership Advisors may be required to undertake any of the following tasks: contribute to the design, development and delivery of the CPD programme and supporting resources for the implementation of their subject in the Framework provide CPD, advice and support in relation to the Framework and facilitate teachers professional development using a range of delivery modes (e.g., seminars/workshops, in-school CPD, online/phone/ support, as required) in the following areas: pedagogical approaches that support active learning the use of ICT as a tool for learning planning and implementing subject programmes building sustainable assessment practice supporting subject learning and assessment review meetings the administration and use of standardised testing to inform learning and teaching relevant digital content work with teachers and demonstrate exemplars of effective learning, teaching and assessment strategies, approaches and methodologies across a range of curricular areas support school-based collaborative continuing professional development in adopting wholeschool, group and individual approaches to the Framework contribute to the maintenance and development of web-based support support the integration of ICT into learning and teaching and identify/develop relevant digital content contribute to the monitoring and ongoing review of the CPD programme for the new Framework integrate and develop positive synergies with other national programmes of CPD compile and provide reports on an ongoing basis, and as required support the Director, or his/her nominee, as required in relation to operational matters maintain effective communication with the Director, other team members and education centre directors as appropriate train and mobilise personnel as required 2

3 co-operate, network and collaborate as required with other relevant bodies (e.g. state bodies, teacher professional networks/learning communities, third level institutions, colleges of education, school leaders and management bodies) in meeting the needs of teachers collaborate with personnel in other support services (such as NIPT, PDST, SESS, PMDT) as required participate in regional and other meetings and in Junior Cycle CPD team professional development opportunities cooperate with external evaluators of the service undertake other responsibilities as may be required from time to time in accordance with emerging needs and priorities. Advisors may also be deployed so as to ensure the Junior Cycle for Teachers team can respond proactively to meet emerging requirements/priorities for the provision of CPD including assignment to work with, or on behalf of, other DES support services. 4. Range of knowledge, experience and skills required: Ideally, the successful candidate will have a range of expertise in the following: Knowledge of subject/teaching in-depth knowledge and experience of teaching their subject at post-primary level experience and expertise in the use of active learning methodologies which foster student engagement with the curriculum and the development of literacy skills, including digital literacy and numeracy skills knowledge and experience of teaching students with special educational needs (SEN) Knowledge of Education System and Curriculum Developments including Junior Cycle knowledge and understanding of the Framework, the NCCA s draft subject specification(s), short courses, the Assessment Toolkit and the Toolkit for Level 2 Learning Programmes. knowledge of the education system generally and an in-depth knowledge of the curriculum and assessment at post-primary level knowledge and awareness of current developments in curriculum and assessment in primary schools. Knowledge and Experience in Assessment experience and expertise in the area of ongoing assessment (formative, summative, portfolio) designing valid and reliable assessment tasks working with learning outcomes organising and putting in place assessment procedures assessing using features of quality / success criteria / level descriptors working with student portfolios knowledge and experience of assessment practices Presentation and Communication Skills excellent interpersonal and communication skills Competent writing skills Strong ability to present oral and multimedia presentations to groups of teachers Good facilitation and mediation skills Ability to deliver through medium of Irish is welcome Experience of Design and/or Delivery of CPD experience in the design and/or delivery of teacher professional development including evidence of a capacity to mobilise and support teacher reflection, enquiry and classroom-based research capacity to work in specific and generic areas of support 3

4 Management and Leadership Skills experience of providing curriculum and instructional leadership knowledge and experience of change management ability to support whole-school improvement ability to pro-actively organise and coordinate the work of others an enterprising approach to tasks and the capability to undertake innovative and challenging elements of the work Organisational and ICT Skills the use of ICT in learning and teaching and supporting change excellent organisational, management and ICT skills capacity to work independently and as part of a team flexibility to meet the needs of the organisation, including a willingness to engage in travel and/or evening work as necessary 5. Location Successful candidates will be seconded to Monaghan Education Centre. However, appointments will be made on a regional basis and advisors will not be required to be based in the Centre. Advisors will, however, be expected to travel as necessary and therefore must have their own means of transport and possess and retain a full driving licence. Public service travel and subsistence rates will apply and will be calculated from an Advisor s designated Education Centre, or home, as appropriate. 6. Eligibility All applicants for the position of Advisor must: be qualified, serving post primary teachers/deputy principals/principals be fully registered with the Teaching Council currently hold a post in a recognised post primary school or be on secondment from such a position 7. Secondment arrangements Secondment to the JCT will be effective from 1st September 2015, or as soon as possible thereafter. Candidates must be eligible for full-time secondment as per circular 0107/ Appointees will be seconded for an initial period of one school year, subject to satisfactory completion of a three-month probationary period, with the possibility of further extensions in accordance with DES regulations, up to a maximum of five years. Each appointment is subject to the sanction of the DES. The secondment contract will provide for on-going performance review. Health, sick leave and general work record must be satisfactory. 8. Salary The salary for an advisor is in accordance with Category 4 as provided for by the 2003 Arbitration Award in 1 Candidates who are unsure of their eligibility for secondment should contact Geraldine Cunningham, Department of Education and Skills (Geraldine_Cunningham@education.gov.ie, ). 4

5 respect of teachers on secondment, subject to the conditions outlined below. Remuneration is at all times subject to the relevant DES or Department of Public Expenditure and Reform regulations and circulars. An advisor who was appointed as a teacher before 1/2/2012 is entitled to all of the following 2 : her/his relevant point on the Teachers Common Basic Scale, plus an honours primary degree allowance an honours Higher Diploma in Education allowance the standard Category 4 secondment allowance, which is pensionable (see table below) Seconded Category JCTPosition Post of respo nsibili ty allowances are not payable to seconded personnel who are in receipt of any or all of the above secondment allowances. 9. Selection procedure Applicants should submit a completed application form through Closing date for receipt of completed applications is 4pm on Friday, June 12 th Late applications will not be considered. A selection board will be established to carry out all aspects of the selection process. Shortlisting may apply. It is the responsibility of the candidates to make themselves available for interview, if invited to attend. Candidates should note that it may not be possible to provide an alternative date. Interviews will take place in late May and June Interviewees will be asked to make a presentation of no more than 5 minutes duration detailing the applicant s vision for the position, and the contribution s/he would make to professional development in their specific subject area. Candidates are advised that audio visual props will not be permitted for this presentation. However, each candidate may, if they wish, supply the board members with one A4 size summary page to support the presentation. A panel may be formed from which future vacancies at advisor level may be filled. 10. Release from present post Teachers Common Basic Scale Honours Degree Allowance 4 Advisor As Applicable 4,918 Honours H.D.E Allowance 1,236 1/1/2010 Standard Secondment Allowance 10,130 1/1/2010 Successful candidates will be expected to be available to take up appointment on 1st September 2015, or as soon as possible thereafter. A successful candidates must secure the agreement of his/her school authority to be released to take up the post for the period concerned. Accordingly, on receipt of an offer, each successful candidate will be asked to obtain confirmation from his/her employer that the employer is in a position to release them for secondment to the JCT. The confirmation must be signed by the Chairperson of the Board of Management/ the Principal on his/her behalf or the Chief Executive of the ETB, as appropriate. 2 The honours primary degree allowance and the honours higher diploma in education allowance are not payable to persons appointed as a teacher on or after 1/2/2012 (see DES circular 0053/2014). 5

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