Science Teacher

Incumbent works under the direction of the Lead Teacher or designee, providing science and educational services for the Douglas County Youth Center, complying with applicable state statutes and policies of the Youth Center.

 Essential Functions:

• Develop and implement curriculum to continue basic educational instruction.
• Establish and maintain effective work relationships with clients, supervisors, County employees, elected officials, attorneys, law enforcement, judges, other agencies, and the public.
• Comply with Civil Service policies and regulations, collective bargaining agreements, County policies, department policies and laws to create a cooperative, safe, respectful and quality work environment.
• Conduct an academic assessment of new detainees and create/update an Individual Education Plan (IEP) accordingly.
• Communicate with schools, juvenile justice agencies, and other outside agencies providing detainees’ current academic standing.
• Select teaching materials and methods, adapting to student’s needs and the limited period of instruction.
• Review and evaluate individual student’s progress and document.
• Maintain individual student files (e.g. initial evaluation, progress, grades), and State of Nebraska Department of Education required reports/records.
• Enhance curriculum with appropriate teaching materials and methods, visual aids, and guest speakers and other available resources.
• Manage classroom (e.g. participation, control, discipline), interact with students, and advise designated staff of rule and/or conduct violations.
• Adhere and enforce security protocols, alerting staff of violent behavior indications or escape attempts.
• Conduct parent/teacher conferences.
• Provide/promote a positive image of DCYC (e.g. professionalism, cooperation, trust).
• Adhere to budgetary constraints and advise designated staff of supply and material needs.
• Submit recommendations regarding annual program budget.
• Report to work with regular, consistent attendance.
• Perform other related duties as assigned and directed.

 Education and Work Experience and Other Requirements:

• Bachelor’s degree from an accredited college or university in Education required.
• Valid Nebraska Elementary or Secondary Education (K-9, K-12, 7-12) certification upon hire and maintained throughout employment required.
• Two (2) years of teaching experience required.
• Completion of a pre-employment criminal record check and conditional offer drug screen required.

 Physical Requirements & Working Conditions:

The physical demands and work environment characteristics described here are representative of those that must be met by an employee to successfully perform the essential functions of this job. Reasonable accommodations may be made to enable individuals with disabilities to perform the essential functions.

Work is generally performed in a secure detention facility, classroom and dormitory setting.  Noise level is usually moderate to moderately loud. Work hours are typically standard day-shift hours; however, schedule may vary (e.g. weekend, overtime/extra hours, emergency call-in,). Work involves potential exposure to biohazards. Work may be stressful when dealing with time constraints, multiple/changing priorities, limited resources and uncooperative/irate or verbally abusive detainees and family members.

Work requires occasional physical activity, including extended periods of walking, standing, frequent reaching, and occasional climbing, carrying, balancing, kneeling, crouching and bending. Work requires the ability to frequently lift and/or carry objects weighing up to 10 pounds and occasionally up to 30 pounds. Incumbent may be required to subdue and restrain one or more detainees who may have weapons. Incumbent must have the strength, endurance, agility and coordination for self-defense and detainee restraint.

Required sensory abilities include vision, hearing, and touch. Visual abilities, correctable to normal ranges, include close, distance and color vision, depth perception, and the ability to adjust focus. Communication abilities include the ability to talk and hear within normal ranges. Incumbent must possess the hand-eye coordination and manual dexterity necessary to operate computers and other equipment.