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Teachers and Instructional Staff
UPA has a high-specified set of qualities it will require of its teaching faculty. UPA
will adhere to all “highly qualified” requirements of the No Child
Left Behind Act (NCLB) with respect to teachers. As such, teachers in all
of our core subjects – English/language arts, mathematics, science, social
science, and foreign language – will meet NCLB’s highly qualified
standards. Teachers will also meet the following credentialing requirements for
employment as stipulated by California Education Code section 47605(l), “Teachers
in charter schools shall be required to hold a Commission on Teacher Credentialing
certificate, or permit, or other document equivalent to that which a teacher
in other public schools would be required to hold…It is the intent of
the legislature that charter schools be given flexibility with regard to non
core, non college preparatory courses.” Teachers of core, college
preparatory subjects (i.e. English language arts, math, science, history/social
science, and foreign language) and special education will be required to hold
a Commission on Teacher Credentialing certificate, permit, or other document
equivalent to that which a teacher in a non-charter public school would be required
to hold. In order to ensure implementation of the school’s mission
and educational philosophy, hiring preference will be given to teachers who have
experience designing and implementing curriculum aligned to the state content
standards and our educational program. Applicants to teach in our program
will be evaluated based on the following qualifications:
- Demonstrated expertise in subject area and the ability
to communicate the appropriate knowledge to each student.
- Possession of a CLAD credential.
- Knowledge and experience with standards-based instruction:
ability to align curriculum and standards and willingness
to adopt grading practices that can be used in standards-based
grading.
- Knowledge of assessment strategies and the desire to
use data to drive teaching, and to modify curriculum
and instruction in order to ensure continuous improvement
of student achievement.
- Ability to effectively use a broad range of instructional
strategies, including providing a guaranteed curriculum,
challenging goals and effective feedback, differentiated
instruction, and backward mapping, among others.
- Demonstrated competence using advanced technology as
a learning tool: willing and able to integrate technology
into teaching, student learning, parent communication,
and professional growth.
- Outstanding classroom management skills.
- Belief in our mission that all students will learn
and successfully master the content and skills necessary
for advanced post-secondary education.
- Willingness to work as a vital part of the UPA
team in developing and improving curricula and instruction,
prepare and promote Advance Placement classes and school
programs in order to seek continuous improvement for
students, staff and the UPA Community as a whole.
- Willingness and ability to work with students and parents
on an ongoing basis to monitor student achievement.
- Love for students, enthusiasm for teaching, the belief
that each student can and will succeed and the willingness
to do what it takes to make it happen.
- Desire and ability to engage in continuing education,
staff development and skill upgrading.
- Ability to be effective in the Teacher/Advisory Program.
- Positive references from most recent employment and/or
college or graduate school.
These characteristics are found in the research of Robert
J. Marzano and many others. Marzano, “What Works
in Schools” and “Classroom Instruction
that Works” by Robert J. Marzano, Debra J. Pickering,
and Jane E. Pollock. Based on the research showing
that the teacher has the most impact on student learning,
UPA will seek to find the most effective teachers based
on the above factors. All teachers will be required
to teach a sample lesson in their major area of study. UPA
will use a rubric in the evaluation and interview process
so candidates are each evaluated against a common set of
standards.
Teachers will be responsible for overseeing the students’ academic
progress and for monitoring grading and matriculation decisions
as specified in the school’s operation policies. UPA
may also employ or retain non-certificated instructional
support staff in any case where a credential is not required
and a prospective staff member has an appropriate mix of
subject matter expertise, professional experience, and
the demonstrated capacity to work successfully in an instructional
capacity. Instructional support staff will not assign
grades or approve student work assignments without the
approval of a teacher unless they are instructing non-core
or non-college preparatory courses and activities.
