Mediabistro logo
job logo

Spanish Language Arts Teacher

Young World Physical Education, Harvard, IL, United States


Job Title
Spanish Language Arts Teacher

Location: Harvard Junior High School, Harvard, Illinois

Starting Date: Aug 3, 2026

Job Summary
The Dual Language Spanish Teacher is responsible for creating an engaging and supportive classroom environment aligned with the Illinois Learning Standards. They design and implement rigorous, student‑centered lessons incorporating Writing, Inquiry, Collaboration, Organization, and Reading (WICOR) while using diverse instructional strategies to meet the needs of all learners. Teachers must be familiar with WIDA standards and how to align them to student learning while demonstrating an understanding of second language acquisition to support multilingual learners effectively. The role includes assessing student progress, supporting social‑emotional development through the MTSS framework, and collaborating with colleagues, parents, and the community. Teachers integrate technology, cultural diversity, and differentiated instruction to ensure equitable learning experiences. Additionally, they participate in professional learning communities and school improvement initiatives to enhance student achievement.

Qualifications

Professional Educator License (PEL) or eligible for an appropriate license

Bilingual Education endorsement or equivalent

Bilingual: must be able to demonstrate verbal and written proficiency in Spanish.

Evaluation
This job's performance will be evaluated per provisions of the Board’s policy on the Evaluation of Staff.

Reports to
Building Principal

Terms of Employment
This is a 9‑month position—salary and benefits as established by the Board of Education. The position retains the Harvard Education Association membership and is part of the Collective Bargaining Unit.

Compensation and Benefits
The details of employee compensation and benefits are comprehensively outlined in the Collective Bargaining Agreement (CBA) and are available at https://www.cusd50.org/page/careers.

FLSA Status
Exempt

Duties and Responsibilities

Facilitates students’ learning in correlation with the Illinois Learning Standards

Communicates the essential questions to clarify the learning goals for each lesson.

Configures lessons and selects instructional strategies to ensure that all students can answer a lesson’s essential question by its conclusion.

Designs daily lessons incorporating Writing, Inquiry, Collaboration, Organization, and/or Reading (WICOR) to ensure authentically rigorous learning experiences for all students.

Designs lessons to include three or more unique learning tasks for students, at least one of which includes whole‑class verbal participation.

Assesses student progress toward objectives, expectations, and/or goals to provide feedback to students, parents, and administration.

Demonstrates the ability to individually assess and monitor the students’ skills in their native language and English.

Creates and nurtures supportive, student‑centered classroom communities that promote personal empowerment, academic growth, and the social‑emotional well‑being of all learners.

Manages student behavior to provide a safe and optimal learning environment.

Provides students with regular opportunities to collaborate with peers, move with purpose, and experience diverse instructional strategies so that they are physically and intellectually engaged as learners.

Provides students time to interact with instructional resources and materials thoughtfully and actively to support their comprehension and long‑term retention of information.

Allows students to actively participate in their learning by setting and monitoring individualized goals, processing, and reflecting deliberately within lessons.

Implements each student’s Individual Education Plan (IEP) as written and collaborates with colleagues to ensure appropriate modifications or accommodations.

Assists and supports students struggling with social‑emotional and behavioral concerns through the MTSS framework.

Incorporates cultural diversity and appreciation within the curriculum.

Uses technologies appropriately in the teaching/learning process.

Participates in a professional learning community with various stakeholders, including but not limited to instructional staff, other school personnel, parents, and a variety of community resources to improve the overall quality of student outcomes, achieving established classroom objectives supporting the school improvement plan.

Participates in various meetings and professional development activities to convey and/or gather information required to perform functions.

Assists with the transition from one grade level to the next.

Demonstrates the ability to work collaboratively with parents and the community to promote second language acquisition.

Assists with written and verbal translation when needed.

Performs other duties and responsibilities as determined by the principal or designee or as needs arise.

Required Knowledge, Skills, and Abilities

Must be familiar with the WIDA standards and how to align them to student learning

Must understand Second Language Acquisition

Must demonstrate a record of effectiveness in their teaching

Must have excellent planning and organization skills

Must have the ability to work collaboratively with others

Must have strong verbal communication skills

Must model a desire and willingness to learn continually

Physical Demands
The physical demands of this position include frequent sitting and standing for extended periods. Repetitive bending at the waist and kneeling, stooping, and crouching to assist students are also required. Regularly walk, talk, hear, operate a computer, hand‑held learning devices, and other office equipment, reach with hands and arms, and occasionally lift and/or move up to 10 pounds.

ADA
The employer will make reasonable accommodations in compliance with the Americans with Disabilities Act of 1990. This job description will be reviewed periodically as duties and responsibilities change with business necessity. Essential and marginal job functions are subject to modification.

Job Requirements

Citizenship, residency or work visa required

Contact Information

Patrick Podgorski, Principal

Harvard Junior High School

Phone: 815‑943‑4022

Email: ppodgorski@cusd50.org

Job Details
Position Type: Full‑Time

Salary: $43,500 to $77,850

#J-18808-Ljbffr