STEM Elementary Teacher

Newport News Public Schools; Newport News (VA); On-site; USD 50,000 - 70,000; Full time

Job summary

Newport News Public Schools is seeking a STEM Teacher responsible for creating an engaging K–5 iSTEM learning environment. The role includes delivering STEM instruction, coordinating with professionals to connect studies with career pathways, and evaluating student growth. Candidates must possess a Bachelor's or Master's degree in education or a related field, along with or eligibility for a Virginia teaching license. The position emphasizes effective communication, teamwork, and a passion for fostering critical thinking in students. Teachers are expected to maintain an organized classroom and integrate diverse instructional strategies.

Qualifications

• Must have a Bachelor's or Master's degree in education or a related field.
• Ability to communicate effectively verbally and in writing.
• Ability to establish and maintain effective working relationships with students, staff, and the public.

Responsibilities

• Deliver STEM instruction across K–5 grades utilizing the provided curriculum.
• Integrate essential workplace readiness skills into daily instruction.
• Evaluate student growth using rubric-based assessments.

Skills

Effective communication

Classroom management

Problem-solving

Team collaboration

Education

Bachelor's or Master's degree in education or related field

Virginia Provisional License or equivalent

Tools

STEM instructional technologies

Robotics

Online instructional programs

Job description

Job Summary
The position is responsible for creating an innovative K–5 iSTEM learning environment that develops students’ ability to apply problem-solving and core content knowledge to real-world challenges. The role delivers STEM instruction on a rotating related arts schedule and coordinates with local career professionals to connect units of study to career pathways.

Minimum Qualifications (Knowledge, Skills And/or Abilities Required)
Must possess a Bachelor's or Master's degree in education or a related field. Must possess or be eligible for a Virginia Provisional, Collegiate Professional, or Postgraduate Professional License with an appropriate endorsement to teach elementary school. Must possess the ability to communicate effectively verbally and in writing. Must possess the ability to establish and maintain effective working relationships with students, staff, parents, and the public.

Essential Duties

• Delivers instruction in STEM, STEAM, and Computer Science across all K–5 grade levels utilizing a provided curriculum and aligned instructional resources.
• Instructs students in the basic tenets of engineering design, design thinking, and computational thinking.
• Works cooperatively with core and iSTEM teachers in a professional learning community to ensure alignment to the Virginia Standards of Learning and to meet individual students’ needs.
• Utilizes a variety of instructional technologies, tools, and techniques identified as best practices in STEM teaching to promote student growth, creativity, and collaboration when facilitating challenge‑based learning experiences that integrate multiple disciplines.
• Demonstrates self-reliance in mastering new technologies such as robotics, online instructional programs, and basic coding.
• Teaches the K–5 Computer Science Standards of Learning as defined by the NNPS curriculum and the Virginia Department of Education.
• Maintains familiarity with K–5 English, math, and science Virginia Standards of Learning to teach content through integration as defined by the NNPS iSTEM curriculum.
• Integrates essential workplace readiness skills, including collaboration, communication, critical thinking, and problem‑solving, into daily instruction.
• Engages community partners aligned to the career component outlined in each unit of study.
• Selects age‑appropriate tools and materials when facilitating project‑based learning.
• Provides appropriate safety instruction and maintains a copy of the NNPS STEM Safety Contract on file for each student to ensure overall safety.
• Maintains an organized and orderly classroom that includes accessible storage for ongoing student projects, consumable materials, technology, and STEM tools.
• Utilizes differentiation strategies within standards‑aligned STEM learning experiences, including flexible grouping and targeted supports, to meet the diverse needs of all learners.
• Establishes and maintains standards of student behavior to provide an orderly, productive environment for project‑based learning.
• Evaluates student growth using rubric‑based assessments provided by the NNPS iSTEM curriculum, maintains accurate records of performance and progress, and completes required reporting including report cards and attendance.
• Communicates with parents and appropriate school staff on student progress.
• Supervises students in out‑of‑classroom activities during the assigned working day.
• Administers testing in accordance with division testing practices.
• Models nondiscriminatory practices in all activities.

(These are intended only as illustrations of the various types of work performed. The omission of specific duties does not exclude them from the position if the work is similar, related, or a logical assignment to the position.)

Other Duties

• Maintains professional knowledge by attending staff development programs, curriculum development meetings, and other professional activities.
• Participates in various student and parent activities that occur in school including PTA, student clubs, and after‑school activities.
• Creates an effective learning environment through functional and attractive displays, bulletin boards, and activity/learning centers.
• Performs any other related duties as assigned by the Principal or other appropriate administrator.

Job Specifications
To perform this job successfully, an individual must be able to perform each essential duty satisfactorily. The requirements listed below are representative of the knowledge, skill and/or ability required. Reasonable accommodation may be made to enable individuals with disabilities, who are otherwise qualified, to perform the essential functions.

Working Conditions and Physical Requirements

The physical demands described here are representative of those that must be met by an employee to successfully perform the essential functions of this job. Reasonable accommodation may be made to enable individuals with disabilities to perform essential functions. Must have the ability to sit and stand for extended periods of time; exhibit manual dexterity to dial a telephone, to enter data into a computer; to see and read a computer screen and printed material with or without vision aids; hear and understand speech at normal classroom levels, outdoors and on the telephone; speak in audible tones so that others may understand clearly in normal classrooms, outdoors and on the telephone; physical agility to lift up to 25 pounds to shoulder height and 50 pounds to waist height; and to bend, stoop, sit on the floor, climb stairs, walk and reach overhead.

Work Environment

The work environment characteristics described here are representative of those an employee encounters while performing the essential functions of this job. Reasonable accommodations may be made to enable individuals with disabilities to perform essential functions. Duties are normally performed in a school/classroom environment. Duties may be occasionally performed on field trips away from school. The noise level in the work environment is usually moderate.

Supervision Exercised None

Supervision Received Principal

Newport News Public Schools reserves the right to update, revise or change this job description and related duties at any time.