Career and Technical Education Teacher, Biotechnology

Posted by School District of Philadelphia on August 6, 2019

Department: Career and Technical Education

Reports To:  School Principal

Resumes/cover letters/inquiries may be directed to Najwa Smith at nsmith3@philasd.org

Job Summary

Provide a career and technical education instructional program in which students will acquire and apply technical knowledge and skills such that they will be prepared to excel in an entry-level occupation or post-secondary educational program related to biotechnology. Qualified candidates shall maintain proper teaching certificate as required by the Pennsylvania Department of Education, maintain current industry-recognized certificate(s) and keep abreast of technological advances in the industry area for which the instructional program is being provided to students.

Essential Functions

• Implement the educational program within the standards and policies approved by the Board of Education and guidelines established by the Office of Career and Technical Education.
• Maintain a professional attitude and appearance.
• Model a sound work ethic and regular attendance.
• Attain and maintain teaching certification as required by the Pennsylvania Department of Education. Provide to the District, on an annual basis, documentation as required by the District which may include, but not be limited to transcript, semester grade report, etc. evidencing continuous enrollment in credit-bearing coursework leading toward permanent teaching certification.
• Maintain current industry-recognized certificate(s) as approved by the Pennsylvania Department of Education, including participation in technical seminars, workshops, and classes that are related to the industry area.
• Participate in regular professional development activities to keep abreast of advances in technology, curriculum and instructional delivery techniques, and remain current in all areas of the field of expertise.
• Prepare students for industry by teaching industry-recognized standards. Administer industry-recognized certification examinations approved by the District to students, as appropriate.
• Provide technical skills training to students to prepare for the appropriate PDE-approved end-of-program assessment, if applicable.
• Assist in the development, revision and implementation of the curriculum as it pertains to each instructional area in accordance with established State and District guidelines and formats.
• Develop, revise and implement instructional activities to support the curriculum.
• Utilize a diversity of instructional methods in order to motivate students and promote learning. Mentor students and provide counseling and/or refer students to appropriate school specialists.
• Provide and maintain a well-organized, safe learning environment.
• Implement and maintain a preventative safety program in lab and classroom areas consistent with related OSHA standards. Involve students in safety program.
• Prepare lesson plans weekly and provide lesson plans for short-term substitutes as required by the applicable collective bargaining agreement.
• Maintain daily attendance records and instructional plans.
• Implement and maintain a system of student discipline and encourage appropriate student behavior, in accordance with policies approved by the School Reform Commission.
• Maintain student records, including Performance Assessment Logs, and communicate student progress to parents/guardians.
• Develop and promote student leadership, civic responsibility and citizenship through the integration of Career and Technical Student Organization (CTSO) activities into the curriculum, and through membership and participation in CTSO conferences and competitions.
• Prepare students for work-based learning opportunities, as appropriate.
• Maintain and conduct Occupational Advisory Committee (OAC) meetings at least twice annually for the purpose of aligning career and technical program with current industry standards, and to seek recommendations for improvements to curriculum, facilities, equipment, and safety.
• Use, maintain, safeguard, inventory, and dispose of all instructional equipment in accordance with all applicable Federal, State, and District requirements and policies approved by the School Reform Commission.
• Participate in the development of assigned students’ Individualized Education Programs (IEPs) and utilize all accommodations as indicated on the IEPs.
• Maintain all paperwork and reports pertinent to position and as required by standards and policies approved by the School Reform Commission and guidelines established by the Office of Career and Technical Education.

Minimum Requirements

• Bachelor’s degree (or higher) preferred, in applied science-related field, from an accredited college or university.

AND

• Four years (or 8,000 hour) of recent, full-time, paid laboratory-based experience related to medical, pharmaceutical, or agricultural practices and/or products.

Knowledge, Skills and Abilities

Demonstrated knowledge of:

• Education and Training: Knowledge of principles and methods for curriculum and training design, teaching and instruction for individuals and groups, and the measurement of training effects.
• English Language: Knowledge of the structure and content of the English language including the meanings and spellings of words, rules of composition, and grammar.
• Lab skills, including (but not limited to):

Chemistry/prep techniques, including:

1. Solution preparation
2. serial dilutions

• molarity calculations,

1. isolation & transfer of pure cultures
2. use of pH and other ion-selective electrode meters
3. gravimetric & titrimetric methods of analysis

Protein techniques, including

1. differential purification
2. gel filtration chromatography

• enzyme-linked Immunosorbent assay (ELISA)

1. Immumno (Western) Blot

DNA techniques, including:

1. media preparations including selective and special indicator media
2. agarose gel electrophoresis for DNA separation/analysis

• plasmid/chromosomal DNA isolation, restriction analysis, restriction mapping

1. DNA ligation
2. staining/ de-staining/ photo-documentation & analysis of DNA gels

Cell culture techniques, including:

1. preparation of physiologically active chloroplasts and isolation of mitochondria
2. growth of various bacterial strains in liquid or semi-solid media

• Natural Science: Knowledge of plant and animal organisms, their tissues, cells, functions, interdependencies, and interactions with each other and the environment. Knowledge of the chemical composition, structure, and properties of substances and of the chemical processes and transformations that they undergo. This includes uses of chemicals and their interactions, danger signs, production techniques, and disposal methods.
• Relevance: Knowledge of a broad range of biotechnology-related careers and activities and their contexts in the local, regional, national and global economies; the ability to communicate such information effectively to a variety of constituent groups (students, parents faculty administrators and community members.)
• Technology: Good computer software skills – familiarity with Microsoft Office suite, Google platform, email and electronic calendars and experience with a variety of web or app-based teaching resources, media and technologies.

Well-developed skills in:

• effective problem solving and conflict resolution;
• taking initiative and making independent judgments/decisions while maintaining the ability to function as part of a team;
• working under pressure on a variety of projects simultaneously & successfully;
• employing flexibility in response to change and adapting to and accommodating new methods and procedures;
• planning, directing and reviewing the work of others
• communicating information and ideas in speaking so others will understand and can perform required tasks and pass related assessments at a reasonable level.
• giving full attention to what other people are saying, taking time to understand information and idea(s) being presented, and asking questions as appropriate.

Demonstrated ability to:

• develop teaching tools and assessment strategies to engage students in bioscience-related problems and inquiries.
• develop lab activities inspired by techniques and tools currently in use by research scientists.
• use a variety of relevant charts, graphs, diagrams, number lines, and other illustrations to invite and motivate students to engage in discussion, problem solving, and other high-order thinking skills.
• emphasize conceptual understandings that invite students to predict, conclude, evaluate, develop and extend ideas to support reasoning
• develop Standard Operating Procedures (SOPs) for safety precautions, for operating instruments, apparatus and other equipment, for analytical methods, and
  for the preparation of reagents.
• appropriately use laminar flow, fume hoods and biological safety cabinets, personal protective equipment and take appropriate protective measures while working around UV light 100% of the time, to ensure that students understand the risks and protocols, and enforce safe behaviors among students, without exception.
• develop a written chemical hygiene plan which addresses the policies, Standard Operating Procedures, etc. to ensure that students and staff are protected from harm due to chemicals; Maintain a binder containing Material Safety Data Sheets (MSDS) onsite.
• validate/calibrate pH meters and balances
• clean, decontaminate and sanitize production equipment

Disclaimer

The above statements are intended to describe the general nature and level of work being performed by people assigned to this classification. They are not to be construed as an exhaustive list of all responsibilities, duties, and skills required of personnel so classified.