9-12 English & Language Arts
Description The Weston School District is a small, rural PreK-12 public district located in Cazenovia, Wisconsin. Serving approximately 230 students across Sauk and Richland counties, it features one elementary, one middle, and one high school. The district provides a personalized learning environment and hands-on career planning. Recently the community invested in the district, approving a three year operational referendum. The district provides a competitive salary, extensive benefit package and professional development opportunities. Weston is a hub of community engagement, acting as a gathering place for local towns including Cazenovia, Lime Ridge and Hillpoint. The district is committed to learning for all, supporting traditions like the school's annual Hidden Treasures art and music showcase, Earth Day and Badger Honor Flight sponsorships. The district boasts a Sheep Dairy project that is operated by students and produces Gelato. The High School English Teacher will design and implement a dynamic, responsive curriculum using the Readers and Writers Workshop model. The primary focus is on "teaching the writer and the reader, not just the text". Through targeted modeling, authentic choice, and consistent conferring, this educator will empower students to take ownership of their literacy growth, hone their critical analysis skills, and produce a variety of high-quality writing. Key Responsibilities Instructional Delivery & Lesson DesignMini-Lessons: Deliver concise, 10-15 minute whole-group mini-lessons focused on specific reading strategies or writing craft techniques.Mentor Texts: Select and analyze diverse exemplar and mentor texts to model professional reading and writing behaviors.Gradual Release: Ensure students apply modeled strategies directly to independent reading, drafting, and revising during extended work periods. Individualized Coaching & DifferentiationStudent Conferring: Conduct frequent, 5-minute, one-on-one conferences to assess progress, provide immediate targeted feedback, and set individualized reading/writing goals.Small Group Instruction: Form and lead flexible, data-driven small groups based on shared needs, skill gaps, or enrichment goals during independent work time.Responsive Support: Modify pacing and scaffolding to ensure all learners-from striving readers to advanced writers-can access and master grade-level standards. Classroom Culture & CommunityChoice and Agency: Manage and maintain a robust, inclusive classroom library that offers a wide range of genres, reading levels, and topics.Peer Collaboration: Facilitate reading book clubs, writing partnerships, and peer-revision groups to build a collaborative, communicative learning community.Author Celebrations: Organize periodic "publication" celebrations, author shares, or Socratic seminars to provide authentic audiences for student work. Assessment & Record-KeepingFormative Assessment: Utilize observational checklists, conferring notes, and reading logs rather than traditional whole-class testing to measure ongoing growth.Portfolio Management: Guide students in curating portfolios of their writing drafts and revisions, evaluating them based on both the process and the final published product.Standards Alignment: Ensure that workshop units align with state ELA and Common Core standards while allowing students to pursue personalized topics and inquiries. Qualifications & Requirements Education: Bachelor's Degree in English, Secondary Education, or a related field (Master's Degree preferred). Certification: Valid State Teaching License/Certification for Secondary English Language Arts (Grades 9-12). Pedagogical Knowledge: Documented training or demonstrated experience in Readers/Writers Workshop pedagogy (e.g., Columbia University Teachers College Reading and Writing Project or similar frameworks). Literacy Advocate: Must actively model a "readerly" and "writerly" life, frequently engaging with literature and writing alongside students. Communication: Strong ability to communicate ongoing progress, goals, and strategies with students, parents, and administrative staff.