Gifted Lead Teacher (District) 2026/2027 SY

Avondale Elementary School District; Avondale (AZ); On-site; USD 65,000 - 95,000; Full time

Job summary

Avondale Elementary School District invites a Gifted Lead Teacher to provide leadership for district-wide K-8 gifted services. You will supervise program development, lead professional development, and collaborate with school teams to raise achievement for gifted and high-ability students.

You will work with administrators and teachers to implement pull-out and push-in supports, analyze student data, and refine IGPs and curriculum accordingly.

Qualifications

• Valid Arizona Teaching Certificate with Gifted Endorsement.
• Meets Arizona certification requirements.
• Minimum of a Provisional SEI/ESL/Bilingual Endorsement.
• Bachelor's Degree required.
• Must pass a background check and have an IVP Fingerprint clearance card.
• Five years of successful classroom teaching experience.
• Proven ability in data analysis, mentoring and professional development.
• Master's Degree and/or Administrative Certificate preferred.

Responsibilities

• Provide specialized instruction to gifted students in K-8 via pull-out and push-in models.
• Team teach with general education teachers to support gifted learners.
• Lead design and delivery of research-based professional development.
• Present new learning in cluster meetings with evidence of impact.
• Guide growth plans and provide actionable coaching feedback.
• Develop and assess IGPs aligned to school goals.

Skills

Leadership

Data analysis

Mentoring

Communication

Education

Bachelor's Degree

Master's Degree (preferred)

Job description

Gifted Lead Teacher - District

I. General Description:

Provide leadership and support for the development and implementation of the gifted program at designated school sites for the purpose of increasing school academic achievement and assessment plans for gifted learners and high achieving students that would qualify. Provide leadership in analyzing student data to identify student learning goals that are differentiated for gifted learners. Monitor goal setting, activities, classroom follow-up and goal attainment for cluster groups and Individual Growth Plans (IGP). Participate in the development of a school within a school model with a gifted and talented focus. Attend professional development to build the capacity of teachers.

To provide quality classroom instruction guided by the Arizona State Standards and Governing Board policies and regulations. Improve instructional practice through ongoing collaboration with master and mentor teachers. Provide identified gifted and talented students with appropriate learning experiences that develop potential and lead to advanced academic achievement. Provide services for gifted and talented students in Kindergarten through 4th grade, working in collaboration with administrators and teachers to provide a supplemental support for increasing advanced student achievement for all students, specifically gifted and talented students, through staff development, instructional planning, and classroom support for teachers through both a pull-out and push-in program. Provide support services for gifted and talented students, 5th - 8th grade, working in collaboration with administrators and teachers to provide a supplemental support for increasing advanced student achievement for all students, specifically gifted and talented students, through staff development, instructional planning, and classroom support for teachers of homogeneously grouped GT classes.

II. Qualifications:

1. Valid Arizona Teaching Certificate with emphasis in Gifted Education and/or Gifted Endorsement (required)
2. Must meet all Arizona Department of Education certification requirements.
3. Meets Criteria of Appropriately Certified
4. Minimum of a Provisional SEI, ESL or Bilingual Endorsement
5. Bachelor's Degree (minimum requirement)
6. Must be able to pass a background check upon employment
7. Must possess a valid IVP Fingerprint clearance card
8. Five (5) years successful classroom teaching experience
9. Proven track record in raising student achievement and/or demonstrated expertise in content, curriculum development, student learning, data analysis, mentoring and professional development
10. Instructional expertise demonstrated through model teaching, team teaching, or video presentations
11. Demonstrated excellent communication skills and an understanding of how to facilitate growth in adults
12. Recommendation completed by current instructional administrator
13. Master's Degree and/or Administrative Certificate (preferred)

III. Duties and Responsibilities

1. Provide specialized instruction to individual and small groups of gifted students in K-8 as a pull out model to support learning the content areas.
2. Team teaching with general education teachers to support gifted students when appropriate.
3. Lead the design and delivery of research-based professional development for cluster groups.
4. Present new learning in cluster meetings supported with field-tested evidence of increased student achievement.
5. Model new learning in cluster meetings and in classrooms, demonstrating how to effectively implement the skills developed in cluster.
6. Provide access to materials and research-based instructional methods to cluster group members.
7. Work closely with cluster team members to plan instruction and assessments.
8. Guide and review cluster members' growth plans.
9. Provide specific evidence, feedback and suggestions during coaching, identifying areas of reinforcement and refinement.
10. Advance career teachers' knowledge of federal state and district content standards and the TAP Rubric.
11. Provide professional development to guide and support career teachers in the development and implementation of IEPs in the general education setting.
12. Identify resources for career and mentor teachers that enhance instructional planning, assessment design, and classroom management.
13. Develop programs that support positive behavior in the classroom and school setting.
14. Provide ongoing follow-up and support (e.g. modeling, team teaching, walk-throughs with feedback) to career teachers assigned to gifted education.
15. Work with other leadership team members in developing appropriate school and cluster plans to target student academic and teacher instructional needs.
16. Lead and support the analysis of school and student achievement data to identify strengths and weaknesses and make suggestions for improvement.
17. Communicate and reflect the visions and decisions of the TAP Leadership Team.
18. Assist the administrators in inducting teachers into the TAP school environment and processes.
19. Participate fully in TAP professional development at the regional, district and school level as scheduled.
20. Develop and work on Individual Growth Plan (IGP) including learning based on school goals, selfassessment, and feedback from walk-throughs.
21. Include activities on IGP to enhance content knowledge and pedagogical skills to increase proficiency.
22. Thoughtfully assess the effectiveness of his/her instruction, as evidenced in cluster by the new learning modeled and student work presented from field tests.
23. Consider the varied strengths and weaknesses and personal/cultural differences of adult learners through communication and actions that promote effective teaching with all cluster members.Plan, offer and implement specific alternatives to improve the quality of instruction.
24. Actively support district activities and events.
25. Follow District policies, procedures, and directives in a timely and appropriate manner
26. Perform such other tasks as may be assigned.

EVALUATION:

Performance for this position will be evaluated in accordance with the provision of Board Policy GCO - Evaluation of Professional Staff Members.

Reports to:

Building Administrator

FLSA Status:

Exempt

Compensation Range:

Per Year

Status:

Certified Teacher - Salary Schedule and District Benefits Package and Stipend for extended school year and responsibility: $3,500 per position (2 Positions)

Terms of Employment:

1.0 FTE, Full Time; Teacher Work Calendar

Application Requirements:

All applicants must complete an online application, which requires 3 professional letters of recommendation, 3 professional references, a valid AZ Teaching Certificate, a valid Fingerprint Clearance card, Transcripts, Cover Letter, and Resume.

Primary Location:

(1) Position - Michael Anderson School; (1) Position - Desert Star School

AN EQUAL OPPORTUNITY ORGANIZATION:

The Avondale Elementary School District is an Equal Employment Opportunity Employer in compliance with Title VI of the Civil Rights Act of 1964, Civil Rights Act Title VII of 1972, Title IX of the Education Amendments of 1972, Section 504 of the Rehabilitation Act of 1973 and the Americans Disabilities Act (ADA) of 1990. Avondale Elementary School District does not discriminate on the basis of race, color, ethnicity, national origin, religion, sex or gender, sexual orientation, disability, age or marital status in employment or in any of its educational programs or in the provisions of benefits and services to students.