Open Doors Instructor

Renton Technical College; Renton (WA); On-site; USD 97,000 - 116,000; Full time

Job summary

Renton Technical College seeks an Open Doors Instructor to support youth and young adults pursuing GED or high school diploma. The role blends instruction, program coordination, and student support, with external partnership leadership.

You will ensure Open Doors, college, and state reporting compliance while fostering equity and cultural responsiveness in academic settings across on-campus, online, hybrid, and partner sites.

Qualifications

• Bachelor's degree in education or three years related, full-time higher education experience.
• Experience in curriculum development, instruction design, and assessments.
• Three years teaching experience preferred.
• Experience with diverse youth in alternative education settings preferred.
• Ability to work with faculty, administrators and staff; strong record-keeping.
• Attention to detail and ability to manage multiple priorities and deadlines.
• Promote universal design and accessibility; learn accessible content production.
• Strong communication with internal and external partners; relationship-building.
• Spanish, Vietnamese, Russian, Somali, or Chinese language skills preferred.

Responsibilities

• Provide instruction supporting students toward diploma or GED completion.
• Monitor attendance, participation, and academic progress per program rules.
• Maintain accurate enrollment, attendance, progress, testing, withdrawals, exits, and completion records.
• Meet with students regularly to set goals, monitor progress, and address barriers.
• Collaborate with navigators, advisors, faculty, and student services staff to support persistence.
• Participate in case management and student support meetings.
• Engage with community partners and school districts to coordinate services.
• Contribute to program planning, continuous improvement, and compliance activities.

Skills

Cultural responsiveness

Student advocacy

Relationship-building

Attention to detail

Collaboration

Communication

Organizational skills

Microsoft Office

Analytical thinking

Education

Bachelor's degree in education

Three years related higher education experience

Tools

Microsoft Office

Job description

Renton Technical College (RTC) is seeking a student-centered and equity-minded Open Doors Instructor to support youth and young adults in orientation to the program, completing their GED and/or high school diploma.

Open Doors is a Washington State reengagement program that serves youth and young adults, generally ages 16–21, who have experienced barriers to educational success and are seeking an alternative pathway to complete high school while preparing for college, careers, and long-term self-sufficiency. Students may participate through a combination of high school completion (diploma or GED), college coursework, career exploration, and individualized support services.

The Open Doors Instructor serves a multifaceted role that combines instruction, program coordination, student support, and partnership development. In addition to providing classroom and individualized instruction, this instructor will represent the program in communication and leadership with internal and external partners. The instructor will ensure compliance with Open Doors, college, and state reporting requirements as a matter of this coordination.

This position requires a strong commitment to cultural responsiveness, student advocacy, relationship-building, and attention to detail. Successful candidates will be comfortable working both independently and collaboratively in classroom, community-based, and college settings while managing multiple priorities in support of student success.

Teaching assignments and student support activities may occur in face-to-face, online, hybrid, and community-based environments. Work may take place on campus as well as at partner locations throughout the service area.

This is a full-time faculty position represented by the Renton Federations of Teachers (RFT) Employees Association. The salary for this position is $96,960 - $115,800 annually. New hires are initially placed at step one on the salary schedule. For more information on the RFT contract, please visit our website. This position is scheduled to begin January 2027, and continuation is contingent on enrollment and ongoing funding. The priority consideration date for applications is November 22, 2026.

Renton Technical College, located southeast of Seattle, has provided quality education in a variety of occupations for over 75 years. Our professional-technical certificate and degree programs offer entry and mid-level training in the areas of allied health, trades and industry, culinary, business, technology, and automotive. Our outstanding college & career pathways program with classes in adult basic education, English as a second language, and GED preparation is available to those who need additional preparation before entering a training program and for those who simply wish to improve their math and English skills. Career Education and apprenticeships degrees round out our offerings.

• Provide instruction that supports students in progressing toward a high school diploma and/or GED completion.
• Monitor student attendance, participation, academic progress, and completion milestones in accordance with Open Doors requirements.
• Maintain accurate records and documentation related to enrollment, attendance, academic progress, testing, withdrawals, exits, and program completion.
• Meet regularly with students to establish goals, monitor progress, and address barriers to educational success.
• Collaborate with navigators, advisors, faculty, and student services staff to support student persistence and completion.
• Participate in case management and student support meetings as appropriate.
• Meet regularly with community partners, school districts, and other organizations serving Open Doors students to coordinate services and support student success.
• Participate in program planning, continuous improvement efforts, and activities required to maintain compliance with Open Doors, college, and state requirements.

Student Learning and Development

• Offer class-based, group-based and individualized instruction.
• Support the Renton Technical College Mission, Vision, and Values by creating a learning environment of mutual respect and fairness, while encouraging creative and critical thinking.
• Develop and maintain a classroom environment conducive to learning and student development.
• Complete grades as required based on the academic calendar.
• Post and hold office hours in designated work area.
• Create a place that embraces positive experiences for student success.
• Perform other related duties as assigned.

• Experience with persons from diverse backgrounds such as sexual orientation, racial, ethnic, religious, linguistic, gender, age, socio-economic, physical and learning abilities, and a commitment to an inclusive and equitable working / learning environment.
• Bachelor's degree in education or a closely related field or three years of closely related, full-time, paid work experience in a higher education setting.
• Experience in curriculum development, instruction design, and assessments.
• Three years of teaching experience is preferred.
• Background and experience teaching youth and young adults in alternative education settings is preferred.
• Ability to work successfully with faculty, academic administrators, and staff in both individual and group settings.
• Demonstrated attention to detail and experience maintaining accurate records, managing multiple tasks, and planning and organizing work to meet changing priorities and deadlines.
• Ability to establish rapport and build professional relationships with students from diverse backgrounds.
• Excellent computer skills with Microsoft Office applications.
• Strong analytical and problem-solving abilities.
• Demonstrated ability to promote universal design and accessibility. Proficiency in (or ability to learn within 6 month of hire) the production of accessible content, whether print or electronic.
• Ability to represent the college in a positive and professional manner, while using tact, discretion and courtesy.
• Ability to speak a regionally top spoken language other than English is preferred (Spanish, Vietnamese, Russian, Somali, and Chinese).

Working Conditions

Working hours are generally aligned to business hours, Monday – Friday. Occasional evening and weekend work is required. Work is mostly sedentary in nature, performed in an office environment. Frequent use of a computer and exposure to terminal screens is required.

Teaching assignments and student support activities may occur in face-to-face, online, hybrid, and community-based environments. Work may take place on campus as well as at partner locations throughout the service area.

In the interest of providing a healthy, safe and secure educational and work environment, and in order to meet the requirements of federal legislation, it is the policy of Renton Technical College to maintain an alcohol and drug-free workplace for our employees and students.

Degree Stipend

• Master's $967
• Doctorate's $1,935

The person hired is required to provide authorization for employment in the United States. All offers of employment are contingent to background checks, including employment and required degree/credential verification. Information from the background check will not necessarily preclude employment but will be considered in determining the applicant's suitability and competence to perform successfully in the position. Finalists are required to complete the Sexual Misconduct Disclosure form as required under RCW 288.112.080. Post offer, pre-employment criminal background checks are also required.

For questions regarding this position contact [e-mail].

EEO STATEMENT: Renton Technical College provides equal opportunity in education and employment and does not discriminate on the basis of race, color national origin, age, perceived or actual physical or mental disability, pregnancy, genetic information, sex, sexual orientation, gender identity, marital status, creed, religion, honorably discharged veterans or military status, or use of a trained guide dog or service animal, as required by Title VI of the Civil Rights Act of 1964, Title VII of the Civil Rights Act of 1964, Title IX of the Educational Amendments of 1972, Sections 504 and 508 of the Rehabilitation Act of 1973, the Americans with Disabilities Act and ADA Amendment Act, the Age Discrimination Act of 1975, the Violence Against Women Re-authorization Act and Washington State Law Against Discrimination, Chapter 49.60 RCW and their implementing regulations. The following college official has been designated to handle inquiries regarding the nondiscrimination policies: Title IX / EEO Coordinator, Lesley Hogan, Vice President of Human Resources 3000 NE 4th Street Renton, WA 98056 [phone], [e-mail].

Jeanne Clery statement: Notice of Availability of Annual Security and Fire Safety Report: In compliance with Jeanne Clery Disclosure of Campus Security Policy and Crime Statistics Act of 1998, and as a part of the College's commitment to safety and security on campus, Renton Technical College reports the mandate information about current campus policies concerning safety and security issues, the required statistics, and other related information for the past three (3) calendar years. Renton Technical College's Annual Safety and Fire Report is available online at: https://rtc.edu/about-rtc/campus-resources/campus-security/annual-security-report.php. For information on how to access the RTC Daily Crime Log follow this link: https://rtc.edu/about-rtc/campus-resources/campus-security/daily-crime-log.php

We acknowledge that RTC sits uninvited on the ancestral land of the Puget Salish people, including the Duwamish, Suquamish, Snoqualmie, Tulalip, and Muckleshoot Nations. We are grateful to the original inhabitants of this land, upon which we gather and dialogue. We also acknowledge our increasingly virtual world, in which RTC’s work is done across multiple indigenous lands, in some cases, away from Puget Salish territories. We thank the original caretakers of our local lands and waters, who are still here.

Beyond acknowledgment, we each have an obligation to learn about and support our local tribes. Find out how on our resources page, which includes scholarships for Indigenous students.