Teacher, Secondary JROTC Instructor (Air Force)

Cleveland Metropolitan School District; United States; On-site; USD 50,000 - 70,000; Full time

Job summary

The Cleveland Metropolitan School District is seeking a qualified Air Force Junior ROTC Instructor to lead the JROTC program at John Marshall Campus. This role requires oversight of the program, adherence to Air Force standards, and effective teaching of leadership and citizenship skills.

The ideal candidate must hold a Bachelor’s degree, have served at least 20 years in the Air Force, and possess a strong commitment to urban education. The position offers a unique opportunity to impact students positively.

Qualifications

• Must be Air Force JROTC certified.
• At least 20 years of active duty in the Air Force, retired within the last 3 years.
• Ability to teach the prescribed curriculum.

Responsibilities

• Oversees the Air Force JROTC program at the assigned location.
• Conducts JROTC program in accordance with regulations.
• Teaches cadets and prepares them for various activities.

Skills

Teaching

Leadership

Communication

Drill Training

Adaptability to Urban Education

Education

Bachelor’s degree or higher

Air Force JROTC certification

Job description

Position Type: Teacher
Date Posted: 2026-04-27
Location: John Marshall Campus

INTRODUCTION

The Cleveland Metropolitan School District (CMSD) serves approximately 37,000 students in 100+ schools. Over the past several years, the Greater Cleveland community has united behind the collective goal of ensuring every child in Cleveland attends a high‑quality school and every neighborhood has a multitude of great schools from which families can choose. The Cleveland Plan defines CMSD’s approach to the reinvention of public education and holds our community accountable for the success of Cleveland’s schoolchildren. The Cleveland Plan is supported by Ohio House Bill 525, which provides much‑needed flexibility and autonomy for the district and its schools. Our schools have autonomy over human and financial resources in exchange for accountability for performance. The principal has primary responsibility and accountability for establishing his or her school as a high‑quality, high‑expectations academic center with a focus on personalized instruction, professional support for teachers, and school‑wide practices that lead to measurable results. The Cleveland Metropolitan School District has developed standards of excellence that the district applies to all parts of the organization inclusive of schools, principals, school leadership teams, networks, and central office. Alignment between Standards of Excellence (SoE) and the district’s Theory of Action helps ensure that principals are able to focus on scholar achievement and that central office supports are timely and effective.

OUR VISION FOR LEARNING

In our pursuit of a more fair, just, and good system of education, we want each of our learners, both each of our scholars and each of their educators, to be individually and collectively presented with academically / intellectually complex tasks that are worthy of their productive struggle and allow them authentic opportunities to demonstrate their work and their learning of academic content and transferable skills in a joyful and adventurous environment.

OPPORTUNITY

The Air Force Junior Reserve Officer Training Corps (AFJROTC) is a course of instruction taught for academic credit in high schools by retired officers. The Air Force Instructor is responsible to the Air Force and to CMSD for all aspects of the operation of the Air Force JROTC unit.

RESPONSIBILITIES

• Oversees and assumes responsibility for the Air Force JROTC program at the assigned location; reports to the school administrator and the Air Force Junior Reserve Officer Training Corps.
• Conducts the Air Force JROTC program in accordance with applicable laws and adheres to all AFJROTC regulations and policies.
• Prepares an annual operational plan; develops a schedule for the year reflecting school activities and Air Force JROTC objectives and activities; includes cadets in the planning; organizes cadets and resources toward objectives.
• Performs administrative tasks; maintains student records; provides enrollment and other student reports as specified by AFJROTC; meets school administrative requirements.
• Carries out logistics tasks, prepares requisitions; maintains arms and supply operations in accordance with Air Force security requirements and other regulations.
• Recruits new students, markets the Air Force JROTC program; conducts a public relations program in the school and community.
• Teaches Air Force JROTC cadets; achieves the curricular requirements and learning standards of the program, attains and improves proficiency in all military and other subjects taught; continuously improves Air Force JROTC instruction by staying abreast of new and alternative instructional and motivational techniques; recommends changes to the curriculum.
• Counsels students on their academic performance and as members of the Corps of Cadets; assists interested students in applying for Senior ROTC scholarships and completing service academy applications.
• Accomplishes required school tasks; participates in staff meetings, school committees and student activities, performs tasks required of all other teachers in the school.
• Plans, organizes and conducts extracurricular activities, such as color guard, orienteering, marksmanship, drill teams, adventure training, and Air Force JROTC community service activities.
• Conducts risk assessment for all activities; observes and enforces all Air Force and school safety guidelines.
• Develops professional qualifications; participates in recurring instructor conferences and other professional development opportunities; meets any continuing education requirements of the state or school district.
• Prepares the unit for official visits and formal inspections.
• Coordinates summer camp attendance by cadets, attends camp, conducts training and other activities as prescribed by the camp commander.
• Provides an outstanding personal example of professional, social and personal behavior and appearance for cadets, colleagues and the community.
• Performs other duties as assigned.

QUALIFICATIONS

• Officers must have a Bachelor’s degree or higher from an accredited university.
• Must be Air Force JROTC certified through AFJROTC, meet the administrative requirements of the certification process, have a satisfactory interview, and be determined by AFJROTC to meet the criteria outlined above.
• Must be retired from the Air Force with at least 20 years of active duty; served last year of active duty as an officer; have been retired for 3 years or less, or be retired National Guard/Reserves who meet the National Defense Authorization Act requirements for retired Guard and Reserve members.
• Must be receiving pay in the grades of E-6 through O-6.
• Have no court martial, civil convictions, or lost time.
• Meet the retention medical fitness standards and weight standards of the USACC.
• Have an excellent record of military performance.
• Have the mentality, personality, appearance and bearing to represent the Air Force well in the civilian community.
• Drill experience is preferred; must be able to train a drill team for competitions and various ceremonies such as Color Guard and Annual Inspection.
• Must be able to teach the curriculum as prescribed by Junior Reserve Officer Training Corps Program, such as Citizenship in Action, Leadership Theory and Application, Geography, Map Skills and Environmental Awareness, Citizenship in History and Government, Wellness, Fitness and First Aid, and Cadet Safety and Civilian Marksmanship (optional).
• Must possess a special commitment to helping urban students succeed, with an emphasis on urban schools representing a variety of socioeconomic levels, racial and ethnic backgrounds.
• Have good moral character, instructional ability and be able to challenge, motivate, and influence young people in a positive manner.
• Willingness to spend the additional time needed to effectively meet the challenges, objectives, and purposes of the school.
• Ability to be a hard worker dedicated to human growth and development.
• Must be able to conduct Drill practice during the number of days per week and times outside of normal school hours as required.
• Enlisted instructors are noncommissioned officers who must have at least an associate degree, but most have a bachelor’s degree or higher. All enlisted instructors have extensive experience in leadership, logistics, administration, drill and ceremony, teaching, and many have significant experience working with youth groups.

ESSENTIAL FUNCTIONS OF ALL AIR FORCE JUNIOR ROTC INSTRUCTORS

1. Conduct Academic Classes. An Air Force Junior ROTC Instructor is expected to prepare for and teach periods of instruction of 45 to 90 minutes each, for as many as 4 to 6 periods per day, depending on a particular school’s schedule. Each class period may contain 30 students (possibly more in unusual circumstances) holding a range of ages and maturity levels and coming from different socioeconomic backgrounds. Teaching academic classes involves significant organizational, interpersonal, and communication skills, as well as a high degree of patience.
2. Lead Before and/or After‑School Activities. An Air Force Junior ROTC Instructor is expected to coordinate and lead a variety of school activities, possibly held before or after each school day, both indoors and outdoors. These activities may include physical training events, academic clubs, rocketry teams, marksmanship teams, along with performing drill instruction and demonstrating drill sequences. Leading extracurricular activities involves significant organizational skills, strong teambuilding skills, and physical stamina.
3. Lead Off‑Campus Events. An Air Force Junior ROTC instructor is expected to lead field trips to historical sites, visits to local government agencies and military installations, and to march in parades with their cadets. Leading off campus events involves significant organizational skills, physical stamina, and the ability to remain calm in stressful situations.
4. Be an Ambassador of the Air Force. An Air Force Junior ROTC instructor is expected to always exemplify a positive image of the Air Force by conducting themselves in a highly professional manner in both their words and their actions. Additionally, an Air Force Junior ROTC instructor is expected to maintain a professional military appearance in uniform.
5. Complete any additional state and/or local school district mandated teacher certification or continuing education requirements. Any additional certification requirements above the basic Air Force Junior ROTC instructor certification must be accomplished at no expense to the Air Force.
6. Successfully incorporate Air Force Junior ROTC‑approved interactive learning software/hardware with classroom instruction, and have a competent knowledge of curriculum planning, Air Force educational programs, drill and ceremonies, and educational administration, including tests and measurements.
7. Academic, administrative, logistical, financial support tasks, and after‑school activities will be equally shared by all instructors as regular duties.
8. Complete all mandatory Air Force Junior ROTC instructor training.

EEO STATEMENT

We believe that equity and inclusion at CMSD is an essential call to action, a catalyst to ensure value and appreciation among all our employees, so we may be fair and welcoming now and in the future. CMSD provides equal opportunities for employment, retention and advancement of all personnel by administering all terms and conditions of employment regardless of race, color, ethnicity, ancestry, national origin, sex, disability or genetic information, age, citizenship status, military status, sexual orientation or expression, socio‑economic status, title, other dimensions of identity, or any other characteristic protected by law. The District’s Policy Prohibiting Discrimination, Discriminatory Harassment, and Sexual Harassment and the District’s TitleIX grievance procedures, including information on how to report or file a complaint of discrimination, how to report or file a formal complaint of sexual harassment, and how the District will respond, may be accessed on the District’s Civil Rights Notices webpage, available at ClevelandMetroSchools.org/domain/105. The District’s TitleIX Coordinator / Director of Equal Employment Opportunity may be reached at: 1111 Superior Avenue East, Suite 1800 Cleveland, Ohio 44114 (216)-838-0070 [e-mail] CMSD is committed to the recruitment and retention of top‑notch employees with the determination and drive to create a positive and effective 21st‑century learning environment for our students. Our departmental goal is to provide personalized support and service to each employee, school, and department. We also strive to build a foundation of employee excellence through rigorous performance standards, staff development and a diverse and dedicated work force that supports the mission and goals of the district.