Salary range: CI$60,060 - $69,396 per annum
The Ministry of Education and Training in the Cayman Islands invites interested candidates to join our team as a primary specialist teacher in spanish.
Knowledge and Experience
- Bachelor’s degree in a relevant subject from a recognized institution
- Formal teacher training/qualification as specified in the Department of Education Services policy on Teacher Qualifications
- Minimum of 2 years, post qualification as a trained Spanish specialist teacher with experience in delivering lessons to primary aged children.
- Having professional experience in a similar post with a demonstrated track record of successful teaching and learning.
- Prior experience of teaching in a child-centered learning environment with an emphasis on an activity-based approach with differentiation for individual abilities is essential.
- Experience of IB would be an advantage
Skills
- Proven ability to successfully teach all subject areas within the curriculum across the whole age and ability range at primary level
- Proven ability to effectively integrate literacy, numeracy and ICT; evidence of ICT skills sufficient to support integration of ICT in the classroom is required
- Enthusiasm, creativity, organizational skills and patience when dealing with differing abilities and cultures
- Excellent time management skills
- Ability to adapt to a changing education environment and new approaches to pedagogy.
- Ability to resolve conflict and a positive approach to behaviour management
- Ability to communicate simply and clearly
- Good interpersonal skills and the ability to relate well to students, parents, colleagues, and other education stakeholders
- Experience of using formation and summative assessment and proven ability to interpret and act on pupil progress data
- A commitment to supporting and promoting whole school initiatives and activities
- A commitment to on-going professional development
Background Information
The Department of Education Services (DES) is the operational arm of the Ministry of Education, Youth, Sports, Agriculture and Lands, relating to the provision of compulsory education. It is responsible for supporting school improvement and raising standards through the implementation of ministerial policy, the development and implementation of operational level policies and the provision of a range of centralised services to support the effective management and day to day operation of schools.
The DES provides services to some 2,300 Secondary and 2,600 Primary students through a Further Education College, three High Schools, eleven Primary Schools and a Special School, on Grand Cayman and Cayman Brac, with a satellite school site provided for students in Little Cayman. Over 800 teachers, specialist and administrative support staff are employed by the DES.
Senior School Improvement Officers (SSIO) form the link between the DES and the individual School Principals who are responsible for the management of a school and teaching and learning outputs delivered by the school.
The education system has evolved out of a British/Caribbean model and has undergone, and continues to undergo, major reform with the implementation of a new national curriculum, the development of new teacher standards and performance management system, the re-implementation of reception provision, the implementation of IB in a number of primary schools and the building of new schools. The compulsory school ages are from four years and nine months to seventeen. In an increasing number of schools reception is offered prior to Key Stage 1. Key Stage 1 consists of years 1 through 2, Key Stage 2 consists of years 3 through 6, Key Stage 3 consists of years 7 through 9, Key Stage 4 consists of years 10 and 11, and Key Stage 5 consists of a year 12 of post 16 education introduced in 2010.
The education philosophy is one of inclusion with an emphasis on differentiation and child-centered learning. The Special Educational Needs (SEN) Code of Practice outlines three levels of interventions which serve students who may experience learning, social, emotional, and/or behavioural challenges to their learning. Classroom teachers are expected to provide the management and support for students at stage one and collaboratively work with specialist colleagues with students at the higher stages.
Primary schools range in size from less than seventy to more than five hundred students. Primary Specialist Teachers are administered through the DES as they are assigned to deliver services to one or a range of primary schools across the system, which may be varied from term to term or year to year.
Dimensions
Primary Specialist Teachers (PSTs) must develop schemes of work and lesson plans for their specialist subject. They facilitate learning by establishing an effective relationship with all students and by their organization of learning resources such as textbooks and other print media, computer equipment, interactive whiteboards and other specialized IT equipment, support staff and the overall classroom learning environment.
The PST will have responsibility for a mixed ability class of up to 28 students and must differentiate to meet the needs of students with a range of abilities and diverse backgrounds.
The PST fosters the appropriate academic and social skills to enable the optimum development of all students. They link students’ knowledge to earlier learning, develop ways to encourage it further and assess and record progress. Primary school teachers challenge and inspire all students to help them deepen their knowledge and understanding.