What Deerfield Public Schools District 109 is All About...

The Role of the Middle School Language Arts Teacher in Deerfield 109

DEERFIELD 109 - MISSION
Where challenging experiences foster confidence, collaborative relationships build community, and creative environments ignite curiosity.

DEERFIELD 109 - VISION
We will develop each student to be emotionally resilient, socially skilled, and academically prepared by forging connections within, across, and beyond our classrooms, and by embracing each student's uniqueness.

GENERAL INFORMATION
TITLE:  Middle School - 7th Grade Language Arts Teacher - LONG-TERM SUBSTITUTE
DEPARTMENT:  Classroom Teachers
LICENSURE:  Professional Educator License (PEL), Substitute License (SUB)
ENDORSEMENT:  Language Arts (6-8) or Equivalent PREFERRED
CLASSIFICATION:  At Will - Substitute
FLSA STATUS:  Non-exempt
REPORTS TO:  Building administration
SUPERVISORY RESPONSIBILITIES:  N/A
PRIOR EXPERIENCE:  Successful completion of student teaching and/or internship
EVALUATION:  N/A
DATES: 8/13/2026 to 12/17/2026
AVAILABILITY:  One (1.0) Position(s)/Full-Time
PLACEMENT:  Shepard Middle School
WORK CALENDAR:  Teacher
RATE OF PAY: $300 per day

JOB GOAL(S)

Under general supervision, the employee will:

Guide pupil progress toward established district standards; implement best-practice instructional techniques and strategies; adhere to curricular objectives; sustain an engaging and supportive learning environment; and demonstrate professional responsibilities.

MAJOR DUTIES & PERFORMANCE RESPONSIBILITIES
The criterion indicated below are intended to describe various types of work that may be performed. The exclusion of specific responsibilities does not prohibit them if the work is similar, related, or a logical task of the position.

Planning, Preparation and Instruction

Aligns content of lessons to common curriculum goals, content standards, and benchmark standards.
Lessons include authentic, real world applications of knowledge and understanding.
Works in collaboration with all staff to problem solve and to identify innovative, practical, and effective differentiation and remediation strategies to meet student learning needs.
Plans for assessment of student learning, both formative and summative and communicates results via written and oral methods.
Utilizes student data to inform instruction.
Honors and ensures that legal mandates are integrated effectively into the classroom setting wherever applicable as laid forth by both 504 and IEP plans.
Maintains accurate records of critical student information such as allergies, behaviors, and medical conditions and is aware of the care required.
Prepares clear, detailed, and organized lesson plans for substitute teachers including student emergency medical information.

Classroom Environment/Management

Maintains a safe, student centered classroom, which supports students’ learning, collaboration and choice.
Develops a positive classroom culture that emphasizes respect for individual differences and expects all students to achieve at high levels.
Develops effective classroom procedures and routines.
Establishes classroom standards of conduct and clear consequences.

Communication

Timely and informative communication with parents regarding curriculum and classroom expectations.
Responds to parent inquiries that come in a variety of formats in a timely manner in line with district expectations.
Establishes age appropriate, respectful dialogue with students which includes, but is not limited to, various forms of both written and oral communication.
Effectively and collaboratively communicates with colleagues and engages in respectful discourse.
Where applicable, ensures community stakeholder access to general information regarding classroom events, performance, and progress via appropriate traditional and social media formats.
Responsible for maintaining dialogue with specialty and special education staff to address a variety student needs including but not limited to behavior, academic, and social/emotional learning.

Technology

Appropriately integrates prescribed technology/instructional media to enhance instruction and learning.
Understands legal, ethical and social issues as they apply to responsible and acceptable use of the Internet and other digital resources.
Provides for safe storage and proper use of technology materials, equipment and tools.
Keeping current and up-to-date as technology evolves.
Use of resources for adaptive/assistive devices that provide access for all students.

Accountability

Involved in ongoing self-assessment and refinement of practice in the classroom as well as collaborative professional growth.
Attends staff, department, mentor/mentee and inservice meetings as required by contract.
Communicates and works collaboratively to support and create partnerships with colleagues.
Maintain organized data of students’ growth including academic and social/emotional development.

MENTAL DEMANDS

Knowledge

The teacher possesses a working knowledge of curriculum, subject content and the developmental needs of students. Examples include, but are not limited to, address appropriate curriculum standards; integrate key content elements; facilitate use of higher level thinking skills in instruction; demonstrate the ability to link present content with past and future learning experiences, other subject areas, and real world experiences; demonstrate accurate knowledge of the subject matter; exhibit skills relevant to the subject area taught; and display an understanding of the intellectual, social, emotional, and physical development of the age group.

Ability

The employee shall engage in collaborative dialogue with peers; maintain records and prepares applicable reports; communicate effectively both orally and in written form; read, interpret, apply, and explain policies and procedures; meet the requirements of schedules and time lines; take professional initiative; plan, and organize work independently; read a variety of materials, engage in ongoing professional development; implement a student centered approach to problem-solving and conflict-resolution; demonstrate the ability to work cooperatively and effectively with other certified, classified, and administrative personnel, parents, and community members.

Education/Preparation

The employee shall possess the equivalent of a Bachelor’s Degree in the field of Elementary Education; completion of teacher preparation program through an accredited university or college; successful completion of State proficiency exam(s) or equivalent; and at all times possess and maintain appropriate licensure through the State of Illinois.

Reasoning

The employee shall possess the ability to define problems, collect data, establish facts, and draw valid conclusions. The employee shall possess the ability to solve practical problems and deal with a variety of abstract and concrete variables in situations where only limited standardization exists. The employee shall possess ability to interpret an extensive variety of technical instructions in written, oral, diagram or schedule form.

PHYSICAL DEMANDS
While performing the duties of this job, the employee is regularly required to stand, walk, talk, hear, taste, and smell. The employee is occasionally required to sit; climb or balance; and stoop, kneel, crouch, or crawl. The employee must occasionally lift and/or move up to 30 pounds. Specific vision abilities required by this job include close vision, distance vision, color vision, peripheral vision, depth perception, and the ability to adjust focus.

WORK ENVIRONMENT While performing the duties of this job, the employee regularly works inside but could occasionally be outside and is subject to noises associated with an educational environment both indoors and outdoors that is deemed moderate. The employee works in an educational setting with children of varying ages and abilities is directly responsible for the safety, well-being, and work output of students. Duties may occasionally be performed in libraries, cafeterias, parking lots, gymnasiums, auditoriums, hallways, and on field trips away from the school.

The mental demands, physical demands, and work environment characteristics are representative of those an employee encounters while performing the essential functions of this job.
Reasonable accommodations may be made to allow an employee with disabilities to perform the essential functions.

Middle School - 7th Grade Language Arts - 2026/2027 - LONG TERM SUBSTITUTE