SUMMARY: Under the supervision of the Director of Innovation and in coordination with Program Administrators, the Innovation and Design Specialist is responsible for technology and design instruction for Kindergarten through 5th-grade students. This position also manages the daily operations of the Innovation Center and provides students with foundational skills while also aiding in the exploration of new technology. Applicants should possess a growth mindset, innate curiosity, and commitment to student-driven learning and collaboration with fellow teachers.

ESSENTIAL DUTIES AND RESPONSIBILITIES include, but are not limited to:

Teaching and Learning

Facilitates developmentally appropriate learning in design and technology for Kindergarten through 5th grade that utilizes traditional and new tools to promote student agency and responsibility. The curriculum includes, but is not limited to, digital citizenship, robotics, coding, media creation, digital fabrication, information literacy, and hands-on design projects.
Manages the daily operations of the school’s maker space, the Innovation Center, including organization, ordering, equipment operation, and facilitating student projects with faculty.
Demonstrates a high degree of digital literacy including safety, ethical use, troubleshooting, and research.
Provides one-on-one guidance and support for students pursuing individualized design and technology projects that may include the use of digital fabrication, electric, and hand tools.
Works with the Director of Innovation to create and deliver faculty training on the topic of technology, innovation, and design integration into the curriculum.
Provide parent education events as needed with the Director of Innovation to communicate and cultivate an understanding of technology and innovation curriculum and best practices.
Works on an 11-month schedule that includes teaching in the summer program.
Additional Professional Responsibilities

Meets as needed with the entire Technology Team in order to report classroom technology issues, discuss technology products and trends relevant to CEE, and help coordinate improvements in technology instruction.
Stays abreast of current trends in educational technology and participates in regular professional development opportunities.
Communicates with children in a positive manner. Communicates clearly and honestly with parents, administrators, and colleagues about curriculum, children, and child development issues, both verbally and in writing.
Provides for the physical safety of children through anticipation and removal of hazards, visual observation of children, and appropriately responding to injuries as well as unexpected circumstances.
TECHNICAL SKILL REQUIREMENTS

High proficiency with Apple computers and mobile devices, and familiarity with other operating systems.
Demonstrates proficiency in office productivity software including Google Drive, Apple Productivity Suite, and Microsoft Office.
Experience with digital media creation and publishing including editing video, photography, graphics, and basic web design.
Familiarity with coding and robotics systems and software such as Scratch, Micro:bit, LEGO EV3, LEGO WeDo, and Hummingbird Robotics.
Ability to learn new software and hardware in a timely fashion and troubleshoot when necessary.
Experience using LMS and SIS solutions.
Experience with digital fabrication including 3D modeling software, additive 3D printing, and laser cutting.
Comfortable with a variety of hand and power tools, and can model safe and careful use.
QUALIFICATION REQUIREMENTS: To perform this job successfully, an individual must be able to perform each essential duty to the satisfaction of the administration. The requirements listed below represent the knowledge, skill, and/or ability required. Reasonable accommodations may be made to enable individuals with disabilities to perform essential functions.

EDUCATION AND EXPERIENCE: BA, preferably an MA, in related technology or educational technology field. Elementary teaching experience is required.

BEHAVIORAL SKILLS: Demonstrates personal integrity, friendliness, patience, fairness, openness, non-defensiveness, sensitivity, flexibility, and enthusiasm. Demonstrates professionalism through reliability, punctuality, cooperation, organization, flexibility, and participation in meetings and staff development opportunities, as well as personal appearance and self-care.

LANGUAGE SKILLS AND MATHEMATICAL: Ability to read, analyze, and interpret written documents pertinent to technology. Ability to write reports, keep records, and communicate with faculty, students, administration, and parents. Ability to verbally present information clearly and respond to questions from children, parents, colleagues, administrators, and visitors. Ability to add, subtract, multiply, and divide; create and interpret graphs, compute ratio and percent and use a calculator.

REASONING ABILITY: Ability to solve practical problems and apply common sense in dealing with everyday and emergency situations. Ability to listen and respond to technical problems presented by colleagues. Ability to interpret a variety of instructions in written, oral, diagram, and schedule form.

PHYSICAL DEMANDS: The physical demands described here are representative of those that must be met to successfully perform the essential functions of this job. Reasonable accommodations may be made to enable individuals with disabilities to perform essential functions. While performing the duties of this job, the employee is regularly required to talk and hear. The employee is required to stand, walk, sit, climb, use hands, or crouch. The employee must occasionally lift and/or move children and classroom equipment of all sizes and up to 40 pounds in the classrooms. Specific vision abilities required include close vision, distance vision, peripheral vision, and the ability to adjust focus.

WORK ENVIRONMENT: The work environment characteristics described here are representative of those a teacher encounters while performing the essential functions of the job. The noise level in the work environment varies from quiet to moderate to noisy.