Position Summary
The Classroom Instructional Leader fostering a dynamic, engaging, and innovative learning environment. This role emphasizes creativity, collaboration, and arts integration, encouraging students to explore, think critically, and apply their learning in meaningful ways. The Instructional Leader ensures high-quality instruction through differentiated teaching practices, data-driven decision-making, and strong communication with students, families, and colleagues.
Essential Duties and Responsibilities:
- Behaves as a thought leader in upending ineffective educational models and restoring a dynamic, exciting classroom environment for both Instructional leaders and learners.
- Values working through autonomy, creativity, collaboration, innovation, reflection, and risk-taking.
- Advocates for the role of exploration in child development and learning.
- Engages in global collaborations that connect students with peers worldwide for authentic, real-world learning experiences.
- Values an arts-integrated approach to spark curiosity, increase engagement, and deepen learning.
- Differentiates between teaching students the standards versus teaching standards to students.
- Creates, implements, and documents engaging, rigorous lesson plans that integrate cross-curricular learning opportunities, giving students multiple ways to apply knowledge.
- Effectively uses formative and summative data to design differentiated activities and ensure each student receives the right support at the right time.
- Develops clear and measurable objectives.
- Designs and documents a variety of creative assessments to allow students to demonstrate their knowledge and track progress toward objectives.
- Communicates effectively with students, families, and colleagues to support student learning and growth.
- Prioritizes teaching social and emotional competencies, including practices such as the Responsive Classroom approach.
- Engages in continuous professional development and ongoing education to enhance instructional practices.
- Upholds and models all policies established by the Center for Creative Education.
- Utilize formal and informal assessment methods to evaluate student academic performance and modify instructional strategies where needed to maximize student achievement.
- Develop a classroom culture of fairness, respect, kindness, and inquiry.
- Demonstrate an understanding and value of Social Emotional Learning and Responsive Classroom approaches in your teaching.
- Create and maintain a classroom environment that is physically and emotionally safe for all students.
- Provide attentive and respectful supervision at all times, including during recess and after-school hours, to ensure student safety and promote positive, cooperative, and enriching activities.
- Address student misconduct promptly and resolve conflicts with effective intervention strategies.
- Model and reinforce sound decision-making, self-control, and accountability.
- Complete all planning and preparation needed for art integration instruction and lessons, including ordering/purchasing supplies in a timely manner.
- Document and archive lesson plans, videos/photos/artwork/writing.
- Participate in all applicable staff and program evaluations which includes program diagnostics as well as formative and summative assessments per program requirements.
- Attend all professional development workshops hosted by CCE
- Arrive promptly, properly attired, and prepared to work with students.
- Maintain professional conduct while engaging with students, staff, and families at The Foundations School (TFS), in accordance with the standards set by the Center for Creative Education (CCE) and outlined in the employee handbook.
- Model and reinforce sound decision-making, self-control, and accountability.
- Complete any additional tasks as they arise, per request of the Head of School or as needed.
Instructional Expectations & Culture
- Educational Leaders (Teachers) must hold a valid Florida teaching license/certification with a clear pathway for renewal.
- Educational Leaders (Teachers) will collaborate to build a Scope & Sequence for accreditation with FCIS (starting SY 2025–26).
- Lesson plans are recorded in Gradelink and should be practical and efficient. And the Educational Leaders (Teachers) should determine what and how much information is required in their plans.
- Educational Leaders (Teachers) control the instructional schedule beyond core start/end times, lunch/recess, specials, and pull-outs. Scheduling is flexible to accommodate arts integration, projects, experiments, and depth of study. Educational Leaders (Teachers) determine what they want to cover and when and for how long.
- Each class has an assistant teacher (non-licensed support staff). Educational Leaders (Teachers) guide assistants in classroom culture, rules, procedures, instructions, and differentiated learning.
Instructional Philosophy
- We expect differentiated instruction, ensuring students receive what they need when they need it. Students with PSSP or behavior plans are the responsibility of all Educational Leaders (Teachers), not just the ESE Coordinator. The ESE Coordinator supports by coordinating services and assisting Educational Leaders (Teachers) with requirements, interventions, and strategies.
- Educational Leaders (Teachers) should design interdisciplinary, thematic, cross-curricular units that engage multiple standards and subjects. While direct instruction (e.g., using a math book during math time) may sometimes be necessary for specific skills, the goal is to foster deeper learning and engagement through creative, interdisciplinary approaches.
- Educational Leaders (Teachers) are expected to create opportunities where students not only learn and are assessed, but also apply their knowledge and skills in meaningful, creative ways. We promote deeper learning through arts integration and project-based learning. Teaching artists collaborate with faculty during the year to co-plan and co-teach arts-integrated lessons, but Arts integration should occur regularly, not only when teaching artists are present.
- Educational Leaders (Teachers) are expected to design learning opportunities that develop and model creativity, rather than relying on routine or “lazy” questions, where classrooms should foster a creative mindset by encouraging critical thinking and higher-order questioning. Creativity is not limited to the arts; processes like the scientific method are also creative.
- We are seeking Educational Leaders (Teachers) who act as proactive leaders — educators who embrace change, foster innovation, and advance the field of teaching and learning. Those who prefer to simply repeat past practices will not find success or fulfillment in our educational program.
Professional Mindset & Leadership
- Educational Leaders (Teachers) are expected to lead classroom change and embrace modern, student-centered practices.
- Educational Leaders (Teachers) have the freedom to design meaningful instruction but are accountable for results and student growth.
- Faculty are encouraged to share best practices, support peers, and participate in professional development.
Workplace Environment
- Educational Leaders (Teachers) are not assigned drop-off, pick-up, lunch, recess, morning care, or after-school duties unless they choose to participate.
- One duty-free lunch hour daily, automatically deducted from timesheets. Teachers may leave campus during this time.
Employment & Work Schedule
- Educational Leaders (Teachers) are full-time, 12-month, exempt employees after completing a 90-day probation period. The standard work schedule is 40 hours per week for 52 weeks, minus approved CCE holidays and PTO.
- There are approximately 38 teacher workdays without students, dedicated to planning, professional development, meetings, and continuing education.
- There are no automatic Fall, Spring, or Summer breaks. PTO must be requested and approved. Teachers may request time off during spring break if PTO is available.
- The student day is currently 8:00 AM – 3:00 PM (with early release at 2:00 PM on Wednesdays). Teachers typically report between 7:00–4:00 or 7:30–4:30. Note: A possible shift to 8:00–4:00 is under consideration for Fall 2026.
Education and/or Work Experience Requirements:
- Bachelor’s Degree in Education.
- Master in Education
- Minimum of 3 years teaching experience with children K-5
- Arrive promptly, properly attired, and prepared to work with students.
- Professionally represent CCE at meetings and events.
- Have professional personal presentation including good hygiene, professional dress, and friendly attitude.
- Demonstrate reliability and consistency.
- Be aware of and comply with CCE’s policies regarding photography, videography, and social media posts.
- Must successfully pass Level II background check.
- Must be cleared through E-Verify with Homeland Security to work in the United States.
- Must complete and pass the Child Abuse Reporting Training Certificate issued by the Florida Department of Children and Families (DCF).
Certificates/Licenses:
- Florida Department of Education (FLDOE) certification in art education
- Fulfill and maintain any licensing requirements for this position as stipulated by CCE and other governing entities.
Ethical Conduct:
- Uphold all policies established by the Center for Creative Education.
- Employees are expected to maintain the highest standards of professionalism, integrity, and ethical behavior at all times. This includes respecting confidentiality, complying with all applicable laws and organizational policies, treating all individuals with dignity and respect, maintaining appropriate professional boundaries, and promptly reporting any concerns or misconduct.
Employees must also follow CCE’s expectations regarding professional dress, appropriate use of cell phones and electronic devices during work hours, and responsible use of social media. Social media activity must not compromise student privacy, organizational reputation, or professional conduct.
Violations of these standards may result in disciplinary action, up to and including termination of employment.
Dress Code & Professional Appearance:
Employees are expected to maintain a professional, neat, and appropriate appearance that reflects the educational mission, values, and standards of the organization. Professional dress supports a positive learning environment, models appropriate behavior for students, and promotes respect among colleagues, families, and the community.
Physical Demands and Work Environment:
- Must be able to sit for extended periods of time.
- Must be able to talk, listen and speak clearly in communicating effectively with adults and children.
- Ability to safely and successfully perform the essential job functions consistent with the ADA, FMLA and other federal, state and local standards, including meeting qualitative and/or quantitative productivity standards
- Ability to maintain regular, punctual attendance consistent with the ADA, FMLA and other federal, state and local standards
- Must be able to lift and carry up to 50 pounds.
Benefits:
CCE observes 10 paid holidays, including New Year’s Day, Martin Luther King Jr. Day, Good Friday, Memorial Day, Independence Day, Labor Day, Thanksgiving Day and the following Friday, and Christmas Day. Eligibility for paid holidays begins once the employee has completed the 90 days probation period. One floating holiday is available after six months of employment.
Educational Leaders (Teachers) receive 5 additional non-discretionary paid days off (usually between Christmas and New Year’s) after probation.
- 40 Paid days without students
- Health, Dental Vision, Life, LTD, STD
- SIMPLE IRA with 3% matching
- 8 hours paid planning weekly (Early release every Wednesday)
- No "duties" or committees
- 1-hour, duty-free lunch daily
- Assistant Teacher every day/all day
- Staff support including Instructional Associates, Resource Liaison/Social Worker, ESE coordinator, Curriculum & Instruction Coach, Head of School, Chief Programing Officer, and Director of Arts Integration
- 15 max. student per classroom
- Focus on developing creative mindset within the teacher and the learners
- Partnerships with Teaching Artists for team-taught, arts-integrated lessons
- Autonomy and expectation to develop units of study that are cross-curicular and multi-disciplinary
Note
This job description in no way states or implies that these are the only duties to be performed by the employee(s) incumbent in this position. Employees will be required to follow any other job-related instructions and to perform any other job-related duties requested by any person authorized to give instructions or assignments. All duties and responsibilities are essential functions and requirements and are subject to possible modification to reasonably accommodate individuals with disabilities. To perform this job successfully, the incumbents will possess the skills, aptitudes, and abilities to perform each duty proficiently. Some requirements may exclude individuals who pose a direct threat or significant risk to the health or safety of themselves or others. The requirements listed in this document are the minimum levels of knowledge, skills, or abilities. This document does not create an employment contract, implied or otherwise, other than an “at will” relationship.
Job Type: Full-time
Pay: $59,400.00 - $75,200.00 per year
Benefits:
- Dental insurance
- Health insurance
- Life insurance
- Paid time off
- Tuition reimbursement
- Vision insurance
Application Question(s):
- Do you acknowledge and agree to our reference and background check authorization statement? Note "Applicants who do not consent will not be considered" Required
- Are you willing to work 12 months/year? (We will only hire 12 month/full-time employees)
Education:
Experience:
- Teaching: 3 years (Required)
License/Certification:
- Florida Teaching Certificate (Required)
Work Location: In person
