Description

The First Academy is a ministry of the First Baptist Church of Orlando and affirms the church’s doctrinal statements, including the Baptist Faith and Message 2000, as faithful expressions of historic evangelical Christianity.

Due to anticipated enrollment growth, The First Academy is seeking a passionate and intellectually curious Upper School Social Science Teacher to help students navigate the complexities of our world through a biblical and historical lens. The successful candidate will be prepared to lead a variety of courses, from 9th-grade World Geography and World Religions to senior-level Honors Economics and American Government. We are looking for an educator who excels at teaching critical analysis of primary source documents and can foster a deep understanding of the human experience across time and culture. Whether preparing sophomores for the rigors of AP World History or guiding seniors through the scientific study of behavior in AP Psychology, the ideal candidate will emphasize civic responsibility, ethical reasoning, and the analytical skills necessary for students to become informed, participating members of a global community.

Core Instructional Competencies
Document Analysis: Equipping students with the skills to interpret primary sources and evaluate historical perspectives in Honors American History.

Geographic Literacy: Implementing the five basic geographical themes to help students master spatial skills and global literacy.

Psychological Inquiry: Introducing the scientific study of mental processes and behavior, focusing on the ethics and methods used in the major subfields of Psychology.

Economic & Political Analysis: Leading seniors in a comprehensive study of production principles, price determination, and the analysis of current political events affecting the U.S. system.

Collegiate Success: Providing high-level instruction and concurrent college credit opportunities through the AP track, ensuring students are prepared for rigorous university-level examinations.

Collegiate Preparation: Driving student success in concurrent college credit courses and AP exams by mastering the "6 Big Ideas" of chemistry and complex algebraic physics modeling.

Requirements

Required Education: Possess a Bachelor's degree from an accredited institution. A Master's degree in Education or the specific subject area is preferred.

Subject Expertise: Degree emphasis in the area of instruction or a directly related field is strongly preferred.

Communication Skills: Possess solid, professional communication skills, both written and verbal, for effective interaction with students, parents, and colleagues. This includes the ability to present complex information clearly and engage in constructive dialogue.

Organizational Skills: Exhibit strong organizational skills, including efficient time management, meticulous record-keeping, and the ability to finish tasks in a timely manner and manage multiple classroom responsibilities simultaneously.

Collaboration: Proven ability to effectively partner and collaborate with colleagues, administration, and parents to support the holistic development of students.

Confidentiality: Absolute ability to maintain confidentiality pertaining to all sensitive school, student, and personnel matters, adhering to ethical and legal standards.

Work Ethic: Demonstrate a strong work ethic, professionalism, reliability, and punctuality.
Instructional Technology: Experience with and aptitude for using current educational technology to enhance classroom instruction, student engagement, and professional tasks.

Learning Management Systems (LMS): Such as Canvas or Google Classroom.

Productivity Suites: Including Google Suite for Education and/or Apple iWork Suite.

Hardware/Equipment: Expertise in operating devices such as MacBooks, iPads, and Interactive Whiteboards, or similar classroom presentation technologies.

Certification Requirement: Hold or be eligible to obtain a valid teaching certificate:
Licensure by a regional accreditation agency (e.g., ACSI) is highly preferred.
Valid/Professional State Teacher's Certification (e.g., Florida Teacher’s Certification) 
Eligibility for a Temporary State Certificate within 30 days of employment, with the expectation that a permanent certification is secured within three (3) years.

Teaching Experience: A minimum of three (3) years of successful classroom teaching experience in the subject area is recommended.

Demonstrated Ability: Possess demonstrated expertise and ability to manage, instruct, and motivate students, or provide equivalent proven subject expertise through related professional work experience.