Job type: Full time / From 15/01/2025 - 15/01/2029Organisation: Schools (Government)Salary: Salary not specifiedOccupation: Education and TrainingReference: 1441974Location ProfileBallarat Specialist School caters for students aged from 3 to 18 years who have a diagnosed intellectual disability ranging from mild to profound. Ballarat Specialist School is a dual-campus K-12 school organised around four stages of learning - Early Learning (Ages 3-5), Primary School (Ages 5-12), Middle School (Ages 12-15) and Senior School (Ages 15-18). Our Early Learning to Middle School students are accommodated at our main Gillies Street Campus. Our Senior School students are located at our 8.09 hectare FARM Campus in Norman Street. Our current enrollment is approximately 430 students.Our school's mission is "Achieving Personal Success Together". We strive to enable our students and staff to reach their full potential in a safe, stimulating and flexible learning environment. Our educational programs provide a balanced and personalised curriculum where student achievement is acknowledged and celebrated.Ballarat Specialist School provides an inclusive and rigorous learning program that challenges and engages students to grow as passionate learners. The school's teaching and learning programs are underpinned by the Victorian Early Years Learning and Development Framework and The Victorian Pathways Certificate. A comprehensive curriculum, with a strong focus on Literacy and Numeracy, is embedded into curriculum maps for each of the mini schools within the school. Each curriculum map is designed to meet the learning needs of students at their individual stages of learning. This is supported by Individual Education Plans for all students. Communication is a keystone of all learning and curriculums within the school. The school's pedagogy reflects current research, and best practice is enacted to maximise student learning outcomes. Our teaching and learning programs are anchored in a gradual release of responsibility model to enable our students to become independent and lifelong learners.Our specialist programs include: Science, Performing Arts, Visual Arts, Physical Education (PE) and Hospitality. The school also operates the Vintage Soul Op Shop and a café at our Norman Street FARM campus. Through these enterprises, we can offer students pathways to future employment as these school-based work areas and programs are connected to the specific delivery of Certificate I in Life Skills and Certificate II Courses through local TAFE institutes. The courses conducted onsite are Kitchen Operations, Retail, Horticulture, Visual Arts, Sport & Recreation, Music Industry and Work skills.Individual Educational Plans (IEP's) are developed by the Student Support Group, which comprises parents and carers, outside agencies, and school staff. The IEPs are then implemented by school staff, including Classroom Staff and Education Assistants and supported by the Integrated Service Team.Selection CriteriaSC1Demonstrated expert knowledge of the relevant curriculum. Demonstrated ability to model exemplary teaching practice, including the teaching of literacy and numeracy skills across the curriculum, and implement school priorities.SC2Demonstrated expertise in the implementation and modelling of Victorian teaching and learning model that responds to student learning needs. Demonstrated ability to support teachers to evaluate the impact of learning and teaching programs on student learning growth.SC3Demonstrated exemplary ability to model the monitoring and assessment of student learning. Demonstrated ability to support others in using data to inform teaching practice and to provide feedback on student learning growth and achievement to students and parents.SC4Demonstrated exemplary interpersonal and communication skills. Demonstrated ability to engage in collaborative relationships with students, colleagues, parents and the broader school community to support student learning, agency, wellbeing and engagement.SC5Demonstrated ability to model behaviours and attitudes consistent with Department values. Demonstrated ability to support others to reflect on their practice and facilitate school-based professional learning.SC6Demonstrated ability to support applied learning throughout Senior School classrooms utilising the Victorian Pathways Certificate or VET (Vocational Education and Training).RoleLearning Specialists are highly skilled classroom practitioners who spend time in the classroom delivering high-quality teaching and learning and have a range of responsibilities related to their expertise, including teaching demonstration lessons, observing and providing feedback to other teachers and facilitating school-based professional learning.Learning Specialists are expected to have deep knowledge and expertise in high quality teaching and learning in delivering improved achievement, engagement and wellbeing for students.The role of the Learning Specialist will be to model excellence in teaching and learning through demonstration lessons, and mentoring and coaching teachers in improving the skill, knowledge and effectiveness of the teaching workforce. The Learning Specialist role is aimed at building excellence in teaching and learning within the Teaching Service.ResponsibilitiesIn recognition of the importance of exemplary practice for improved student learning outcomes, the key roles of the Learning Specialists may include but are not limited to:Demonstrate high-level expertise in teaching and learning practice.Model exemplary classroom practice including through teaching demonstration lessons.Lead and model the implementation of whole-school improvement strategies related to curriculum planning and delivery in alignment with the AIP.Lead and manage the development of the school's assessment and reporting policies and practices.Lead the development of curriculum in a major learning area and participate in curriculum development in other areas.Play a key role in the provision of professional learning, including through developing processes and protocols for observation and feedback of teacher practice and peer collaboration.Provide expert advice about the content, processes and strategies that will shape individual and school professional learning.Supervise and train one or more pre-service teachers, and mentoring and/or coaching teachers.Model exemplary use of student data to inform teaching approaches.Develop and promote school-wide professional learning structures, processes and protocols through Professional Learning Communities.Model exemplary professional learning practice including through seeking feedback from other teachers and leaders on their own classroom practice as part of critical reflection and inquiry to improve practice.Collaborate with leaders to build relational trust, self-awareness and leadership skills that develop collective efficacy through a culture of high expectations for all.Communicate relevant information to teams after meetings.Provide teachers non face-to-face teaching time by teaching classes throughout the week when applicable.Support teachers and PLC leaders with planning ensuring fidelity to Ballarat Specialist School guidelines and requirements.Support the Disability Inclusion process when appropriate.Through the MTSS framework, work with the Integrated Services Team, deepen understanding of how to implement effective classroom observation and feedback.Delegate administrative tasks and upskill teachers, through distributive leadership across the team to maintain professional learning.Learning Specialists display the following skills and capabilities:Excellent organisational skillsHighly developed interpersonal skillsSelf reflect and learnTo model and follow the school and DE valuesWho May ApplyTeachers currently registered or eligible for registration with the Victorian Institute of Teaching and qualified to teach and/or have demonstrated experience in the curriculum area(s) specified for the position.EEO AND OHS CommitmentApplicants seeking part-time employment are encouraged to apply for any teaching service position and, if they are the successful candidate, request a reduced time fraction. Such requests will be negotiated on a case-by-case basis and will be subject to the operational requirements of the school.The Department of Education is committed to the principles of equal opportunity, and diversity and inclusion for all. We value diversity and inclusion in all forms - gender, religion, ethnicity, LGBTIQ+, disability and neurodiversity. Aboriginal and Torres Strait Islander candidates are strongly encouraged to apply for roles within the Department. The Department recognises that the provision of family friendly, supportive, safe and harassment free workplaces is essential to high performance and promotes flexible work, diversity and safety across all schools and Department workplaces.Child Safe StandardsVictorian government schools are child safe environments. Our schools actively promote the safety and wellbeing of all students, and all school staff are committed to protecting students from abuse or harm in the school environment, in accordance with their legal obligations including child safe standards.Preparing Your Application:Your application should persuade us that you are the best person for this position. It does not need to be long but should help us to decide if you would fit easily into our school philosophy and learning and teaching team. Your application should clearly state any history that you have working with children. If you are submitting hardcopies of your application, please provide the school with three copies.Applicants must respond to the Key Selection Criteria for this position in their application. If you do not address the selection criteria you will not be offered an interview.You are also requested to name two confidential referees that we can contact for further information regarding your suitability for employment and who can verify your child-safe bona-fides.Conditions of EmploymentAll staff employed by the Department and schools have access to a broad range of employment conditions and working arrangements.Appointment of successful applicants will be made subject to a satisfactory pre-employment conditions check.A probationary period may apply during the first year of employment and induction and support programs provided.Detailed information on all terms and conditions of employment is available on the Department's Human Resources website atDepartment HR .VIT LANTITETo be eligible for employment, transfer or promotion in the principal or teacher class a person must have provisional or full registration from the Victorian Institute of Teaching. In addition, from 3 August 2020, to be eligible for employment in the principal class or teacher class, a person who graduated from a Victorian Initial Teacher Education program after 1 July 2016, must demonstrate that they have passed the literacy and numeracy test for initial teacher education (LANTITE) requirements.#J-18808-Ljbffr