Virtual School Team Leader - Intermediate Phase at SPARK Schools

Description
About SPARK Schools

• SPARK Schools is a social impact disruptor and is leading change in the education space through its network of affordable private schools. The SPARK Schools network provides transformational education innovation through Africa’s first blended learning model, which elevates student achievement and provides the tools teachers need to serve their students effectively.
• The blended learning model, which combines classroom teaching and online instruction, allows teachers to anticipate student needs and equips schools to provide personalized education at an affordable cost. SPARK Schools is pioneering this transformative education model to ensure the accessibility of university and careers for all.
• SPARK Schools has a culture of collaboration, because getting South Africa to lead global education takes a team effort. We are innovators who strive for excellence through persistence and a sense of urgency to achieve SPARK Schools’ vision, mission and social transformational objectives. Our work environment is vibrant/cheerful, fast-paced/dynamic, engaging/stimulating, tech-enabled and data driven.
• SPARK Schools is a high growth, mission and values-driven entrepreneurial organisation, operating 17 primary schools and 1 high school and serving over 13,500 families. We are looking for dynamic people to join our team.
• Virtual School Team Leader

Purpose of Role:

• The Virtual School Team Leader drives student achievement as an instructional leader by providing excellent instructional coaching and professional development to benefit virtual classroom instruction and online learning programmes. The Virtual School Team Leader provides virtual educators and customer service agents with the training and support necessary to be highly effective in service to SPARK scholars enrolled in remote learning. This position provides staff with support to uphold high expectations for school culture, student achievement, and professional development, aligned with the practices and core values of our larger network of schools.
• The Virtual School Team Leader will support the drive to decision ­making within the SPARK Schools model in terms of the virtual instructional program and school operations to ensure that every SPARK scholar engaged in remote learning is academically successful and an excellent representative of the SPARK core values.
• Virtual School Team Leaders are integral to the SPARK Schools “culture” and our commitment to rigorous, engaging learning experiences for our scholars.

Reports To: Primary Curriculum and Assessment Lead

Requirements
Responsibilities:

• Implement a highly rigorous and engaging virtual instructional curriculum program that promotes content mastery, creative problem solving, and character development, which is consistent with SPARK Schools’ mission and vision.
• Support student achievement by setting clear and high expectations for excellent virtual teaching in all content areas. Maintain a regular schedule of observations in all virtual learning spaces and observation review meetings with educators to ensure that they can successfully plan instruction, execute instruction.
• Implement SPARK Schools’ culture and behaviour management techniques. Create and maintain a virtual school culture that values high achievement, strong character, and love for learning.
• Set ambitious goals, academically and otherwise, and hold staff and scholars accountable for achieving those results.
• Implement and monitor the online curriculum and guided groups that align to and extends what is taught by virtual teachers.
• Facilitate an assessment and data analysis cycle that allows instructional staff to analyse student performance and identify areas for targeted instruction.
• Promote a culture of self -reflection and continual improvement of effectiveness in staff.
• Facilitate the professional development of SPARK virtual school staff by keeping a consistent weekly observation and coaching cycle and collaborating with SPARK Support staff to provide relevant professional development sessions. This includes designing and facilitating weekly professional development sessions for the whole faculty, as well as arranging for individual professional growth opportunities.
• Conduct termly evaluations of SPARK staff to nurture their professional growth and leadership capacities.
• Ensure the continual professional development of educators by coaching members of staff to the successful completion of the goals set in their individualised professional growth plans.
• Facilitate a high-­achieving work environment where staff feel genuinely valued and supported.
• Build relationships with all relevant stakeholders, including parents, families, and the greater community, and leverage these relationships to increase student achievement.
• Assist in the preparation and management of budgets with the Primary School Curriculum & Assessment Lead.
• Participate in the selection of new school-based personnel.
• Responsible for the onboarding of staff members.
• Define and share information about network-wide policies and procedures to parents, students, staff and community.
• Implement disciplinary policies and procedures.
• Participate actively in staff development opportunities as a member of the SPARK Schools Team.
• Conduct self in a professional manner at all SPARK Schools events and to all stakeholders.

Qualifications and Criteria:

The ideal candidate will possess the following qualifications and criteria:

• English language fluency
• Clear criminal record
• Completed B.Ed or PGCE degree
• SACE registration

Experience

• Previous experience managing or working with primary school-aged children
• At least 2 years of excellent classroom instruction
• Previous experience leading a team, preferably in a school context
• Experience and practice with labour laws

Qualities:

• Grit: Persistence through challenges
• Excellence: A track record of high expectations personally and professionally
• Mission and Vision Alignment: Understanding of and passion for the SPARK Schools mission to provide excellent education at an affordable cost
• Self­ Reflection: Finding the capacity to bring your best self to challenges and opportunities
• Values: Service, Persistence, Achievement, Responsibility, Kindness

Benefits
SPARK offers:

• fair market linked remuneration
• performance-based annual bonuses and increases
• above average/good annual leave
• life, disability and funeral cover
• employee wellness support
• educational support & study leave
• individualised professional development, support and mentorship
• employee discount on school fees
• opportunities for career growth
• Compensation: Commensurate with experience

Position Type: Limited Duration Contract until end of Term 4 2021

Location: SPARK Support, Rosebank or other school-based location, as coordinated with line manager. This is an in-person working position, though delivery to scholars is virtual.

SPARK Schools may expire the posting of this advertisement at their own discretion.

Kindly note that should you have not heard from us within two weeks of the closing date please consider your application unsuccessful.