2026-2027 Elementary Teacher - 5th Grade, Watkins Elementary School

Watkins Elementary; Springfield (MO); On-site; USD 46,000 - 84,000; Full time

Job summary

Watkins Elementary School in Springfield, Missouri is seeking a licensed Elementary Teacher for 5th grade to support student growth in academics and daily living skills. Responsibilities include lesson planning, delivering instruction, assessing progress, collaborating with staff and parents, and contributing to school improvement efforts; immediate start and salary per the district pay scale.

This exempt, full-time position requires strong classroom management and commitment to equity.

Qualifications

• Bachelor's degree in education or closely related field.
• Missouri Elementary 1-6 Certification required.
• Experience with elementary students and aligned teaching standards.

Responsibilities

• Instructs students to improve academic, interpersonal, and daily living skills.
• Monitors and manages classroom to provide a safe, positive learning environment.
• Assess progress and communicate results to parents and administrators.
• Collaborates with staff, parents, and community resources to improve student outcomes.
• Adheres to district policies and maintains accurate records.

Skills

Classroom management

Lesson planning

Student assessment

Communication with parents

Education

Bachelor's degree in education

Missouri Elementary 1-6 Certification

Job description

2026-2027 Elementary Teacher - 5th Grade, Watkins Elementary School

Springfield Public Schools Watkins Elementary - Springfield, Missouri Open in Google Maps

Job Details

Job ID: 5963128

Application Deadline: Posted until filled

Posted: Oct 16, 2026 5:00 AM (UTC)

Starting Date: Immediately

Job Description

Job Title: Teacher - Elementary

Department: Learning - Elementary

Pay Grade: Teacher's Salary Schedule

FLSA Status: Exempt

Reports to: SchoolPrincipal

GENERAL PURPOSE

This position is responsible for providing support to the instructional process by serving as a teacher with specific responsibility for ensuring elementary age students' success in academics, interpersonal skills and activities of daily living. Supervising students within the classroom and other assigned areas; developing lesson plans and delivering group an individual student instruction within established curriculum guidelines; collaborating with other teachers, other professional staff, and administrators in addressing instructional and/or classroom issues; and responding to a wide range of inquiries from students' parents or guardians regarding instructional program and student progress.

ESSENTIAL JOB FUNCTIONS

• Instructs students improving their success in academic, interpersonal and daily living skills through a defined course of study.
• Monitors students in a variety of educational environments providing a safe and positive learning environment.
• Manages student behavior providing a safe and optimal learning environment.
• Assesses student progress towards objectives, expectations, and/or goals providingfeedback to students, parents and administration.
• Collaborates with instructional staff, other school personnel, parents and a variety of community resources improving the overall quality of student outcomes, achieving established classroom objectives in support of the school improvement plan.
• Advises parents and/or legal guardians of student progress for the purpose of communicating expectations; student's achievements; developing methods for improvement and/or reinforcing classroom goals in the home environment.
• Administers developmental testing programs, subject specific assessments, etc. for the purpose of assessing student competency levels and/or developing individual learning plans.
• Counsels students improving performance, health status, problem solving techniques and a variety of personal issues.
• Demonstrates methods required to perform classroom and/or subject specific assignments providing an effective program that address individual student requirements.
• Directs student teachers, paraprofessionals, volunteers and/or student workers providing an effective classroom program and addressing the needs of individual students.
• Facilitates student learning achieving success in academic, interpersonal and daily living skills through defined lesson plans.
• Maintains a variety of manual and electronic documents files and records providing up-to- date information and/or historical reference in accordance with established administrative guidelines and legal requirements.
• Participates in a variety of meetings and workshops conveying and/or gathering information required to perform functions.
• Prepares a variety of materials documenting student progress and meeting mandated requirements.
• Reports health and safety issues to assigned administrator and appropriate agencies
  maintaining students’ personal safety, a positive learning environment and complying with regulatory requirements and established guidelines.
• Responds to emergency situations resolving immediate safety concerns and/or directing to appropriate personnel for resolution.
• Respondsto inquiries from a variety of sources resolving issues, providing information and/or direction.
• Performs other related duties as required/assigned.

QUALIFICATIONS AND REQUIREMENTS

Education and Experience

• Bachelor's degree in job-related area, required.
• Job related experience with increasing levels of responsibility is required.

Certificates, Licenses and Other Special Requirements

• Possession of Elementary 1-6 Missouri Teacher Certification required.
• Must pass a Criminal Background Clearance, the results of which must be satisfactory to the District, required.

Knowledge, Skills, and Abilities

• Knowledge of basic math, including calculations using fractions, percentages, and/or ratios; read technical information, compose a variety of documents, and/or facilitate group discussions; and analyze situations to define issues, draw conclusions and create action plans.
• Knowledge based competencies required to satisfactorily perform the functions of the job include appropriate codes, policies, regulations and/or laws; age appropriateactivities; lesson plan requirements; stages of child development; and behavioral management strategies.
• Skill to perform multiple, technical tasks with a need to routinely upgrade skills in order to meet changing job conditions.
• Skill based competencies required to satisfactorily perform the functions of the job, including: applying assessment instruments; operating standard office equipment including using pertinent software applications; and preparing and maintaining accurate records.
• Ability to schedule a number of activities, meetings, and/or events; gather, collate, and/or classify data; and use job related equipment.
• Ability to work with others under a wide variety of circumstances; working with data utilizing defined but different processes; and operate equipment using defined methods.
• Ability to work with a significant diversity of individuals and/or groups; work with data of widely varied types and/or purposes; and utilize job-related equipment.
• Ability to collaborate and communicate effectively with internal and external stakeholders.
• Ability to apply critical thinking/problem solving to improve work processes.
• Ability to maintain confidentiality; set priorities; meet deadlines and schedules; work with detailed information; and adapt to changing priorities.
• Ability to set high expectations for self and others; set and monitor progress toward goals; and utilize and offer effective feedback for continuous improvement.
• Ability to work as part of a team; adapt to changing priorities; and apply logical processes and analytical skills.

Working Conditions and Physical Requirements

• Work environment is primarily inside, where the noise and temperature levels are moderate.
• The work is light work that requires exerting up to 20 pounds of force occasionally and/or up to 10 pounds of force to move objects.
• Must possess the physical ability to perceive the nature of sounds, make rational decisions through sound logic and deductive processes, express or exchange ideas by the spoken word, substantial movements (motions) with the hands, wrists, and/or fingers, and discern letters or numbers at a given distance.
• Additionally, the following physical abilities are required: balancing, climbing, crawling, crouching, feeling, grasping, handling, hearing, kneeling, manual dexterity, mental acuity, reaching, repetitive motion, speaking, standing, stooping, talking, visual acuity and walking.

Position Type: Full-Time

Salary: $45,917 to $83,650 Per Year

Job Categories: Special Education > Mild/Moderate Disabilities

Job Requirements

Contact Information

• Springfield Public Schools R-12 , Human Resources Department
• 1359 E. Saint Louis St.
• Springfield, Missouri 65802
• Phone: [phone]
• Email: [e-mail]

Map