Department: Instructional

Evaluator: Building Principal

FLSA Exempt Status: Exempt

Summary 

The Social-Emotional Learning Teacher is responsible for planning, developing, and delivering age-appropriate instruction and learning experiences that promote students' social, emotional, interpersonal, and intrapersonal development. The Social-Emotional Learning Teacher supports the District's mission of developing successful, responsible, resilient, and productive students by providing direct instruction in skills such as self-awareness, self-management, responsible decision-making, social awareness, relationship skills, problem-solving, coping strategies, goal setting, communication, conflict resolution, and positive relationship development.

The Social-Emotional Learning Teacher collaborates with classroom teachers, school counselors, administrators, families, and other student-support personnel to integrate social-emotional learning throughout the school environment. The position supports a positive, safe, inclusive, and supportive school climate and contributes to the academic and personal success of students.

The Social-Emotional Learning Teacher shall perform all duties in accordance with Diamond R-IV Board of Education policies, administrative procedures, applicable Missouri statutes and regulations, professional standards, and other applicable local, state, and federal requirements.

Essential Duties

Social-Emotional Learning Instruction

• Develops and delivers developmentally appropriate social-emotional learning instruction for assigned students and grade levels.
• Plans and implements lessons on social-emotional competencies, including self-awareness, self-management, social awareness, relationship skills, and responsible decision-making.
• Provides instruction in positive goal setting, coping strategies, problem-solving, communication, conflict resolution, empathy, resilience, teamwork, and social connectedness.
• Teaches students practical strategies for recognizing, communicating, and appropriately managing emotions and responding to challenges.
• Helps students develop skills for successful participation in the school and community.
• Aligns instruction with applicable Missouri Learning Standards, District curriculum, District goals, and established social-emotional learning frameworks and resources.

Curriculum, Planning, and Assessment

• Develops, implements, and evaluates standards-aligned SEL curriculum, lessons, activities, and instructional resources.
• Utilizes appropriate instructional strategies, materials, technology, and assessment practices to meet the developmental needs of students.
• Differentiates instruction and learning activities to address varied developmental, academic, behavioral, social-emotional, and individual student needs.
• Monitors student participation, engagement, and progress toward identified social-emotional learning objectives.
• Maintains appropriate instructional and student records as required by the District.

Student Support and School Climate

• Establishes and maintains a safe, respectful, supportive, and inclusive learning environment.
• Reinforces positive behaviors and promotes students' development of self-management, responsible decision-making, and interpersonal skills.
• Supports school-wide efforts to promote belonging, connectedness, respect, responsibility, resilience, and student success.
• Recognizes student concerns that may require additional support and follows District procedures for referral to counselors, administrators, Special Services, or appropriate community resources.
• Supports implementation of District and building initiatives related to student well-being, positive behavior, school climate, and social-emotional development.
• Follows District procedures regarding student safety, suicide awareness and prevention, child abuse and neglect reporting, crisis response, bullying, harassment, discrimination, and other student welfare concerns.

Collaboration and Communication

• Collaborates with classroom teachers to reinforce social-emotional skills across academic and school settings.
• Works collaboratively with school counselors, administrators, Special Services personnel, and other student-support professionals to coordinate appropriate student supports.
• Communicates appropriately with parents/guardians regarding student participation and progress in the SEL program, consistent with District procedures and confidentiality requirements.
• Participates in problem-solving and collaborative planning related to students' academic, behavioral, social, and emotional needs.
• Maintains professional and ethical relationships with students, families, staff, administrators, and community partners.

Professional Responsibilities

• Participates in professional development related to social-emotional learning, student development, trauma-informed practices, classroom management, behavior support, suicide awareness, crisis response, and other areas relevant to assigned responsibilities.
• Maintains professional competence and remains current with research and effective practices related to social-emotional learning and student development.
• Protects the confidentiality of student information and complies with applicable federal and state privacy requirements and District policy.
• Performs assigned supervisory duties, school duties, committee assignments, and other responsibilities as directed by the building principal or Superintendent.
• Performs other duties as assigned by the appropriate administrator.

Scope of Practice and Student Safety

• Provides instruction and student support within the employee's professional qualifications, certification, training, and assigned responsibilities.
• Does not provide clinical mental-health diagnosis, psychotherapy, or other services outside the employee's professional qualifications, licensure, or scope of practice.
• Follows District policies and procedures for identifying and responding to student safety concerns and making appropriate referrals to qualified professionals.
• Responds appropriately to emergency situations and follows established District and building safety procedures.

• Other duties as assigned by Building Principals or Superintendent.

Supervisory Assignments

• May supervise paraprofessionals, instructional aides, volunteers, practicum students, and student teachers assigned to the program. 
• Assist administrators in evaluating the effectiveness of support services provided to students.

Qualifications 

• Valid Missouri teaching certificate issued by DESE in elementary education, counselling, health education, psychology, social work, or a related field. 

Physical Demands 

• Frequent standing, walking, sitting, bending, kneeling, reaching, and movement throughout instructional settings.
• Ability to lift, carry, push, or pull up to 50 pounds and assist students with mobility, positioning, and personal care when required.
• Ability to physically intervene or respond appropriately during student behavioral crises in accordance with District training and procedures.
• Ability to operate instructional technology, communication devices, and office equipment.
• Sufficient vision, hearing, and verbal communication skills to supervise students and maintain a safe educational environment.

Working Conditions

• Work is performed primarily in a school environment with frequent interaction with students, staff, parents, and community members.
• The position may involve exposure to student behavioral issues, emergency situations, communicable illnesses, and varying weather conditions during supervision duties.
• May require attendance at evening meetings, Board meetings, IEP meetings, due process proceedings, professional development activities, and community events.
• Work may involve managing sensitive, confidential, and legally complex matters requiring independent judgment and discretion.
• Occasionally required to work outside in inclement weather including rain, snow and temperatures below freezing or in excess of 100 degrees.
• Frequent interruptions and multiple concurrent demands are inherent in the position.
• Expected to maintain a visible presence throughout the school and actively participate in school and District activities.

The Diamond R-IV School District Board of Education is committed to maintaining a workplace and educational environment that is free from illegal discrimination, harassment and retaliation in admission or access to, or treatment or employment in, its programs, services, activities and facilities. In accordance with law, the district strictly prohibits discrimination and harassment against employees, students or others on the basis of race, color, religion, sex, national origin, ancestry, disability, age, genetic information or any other characteristic protected by law. The Diamond R-IV School District is an equal opportunity employer.