TEACHING STAFF

1. Screening and Selection

The SLSPA expects to include teachers, administration, and parents in a collaborative effort to create a true learning community to meet the needs of each student. All will be encouraged to use their skills, ideas, and creativity to resolve various issues facing individual students or the academy as a whole.

The school will select its personnel directly and in compliance with all Federal and State rules and regulations. The Board in collaboration with the director/principalPrincipal, and Artistic Director will be reasonable for the hiring, supervision, and evaluation of the school’s teaching staff as well as for periodic contract review. All teaching staff will be evaluated receive a performance evaluaton on a yearly basis. The Board will be responsible for evaluating the performance of the Principal and Artistic Director on an annual basis. The director/principal and the ‘Board will review all contracts periodically.

The Board or director/principal A designated and appropriately trained member of the Administrative Staff will mustcomplete background checks and /or order drug testing on prospective or currentemployees. This staff member will be responsible for maintaining confidential records of the completed screening tests as well as for renewing them on a period basis for all then current employees. Volunteers, who in any form come in unsupervised contact with the student body, will also be required to submit to a background check. [Comment 1]

2. Qualifications

The qualifications of the SLSPA principal are outlined above. [Comment 2] SLSPA will hire teachers in accordance with Utah State requirements for public school teachers. This includes certification and/or alternative certification as required by Utah law per Utah Charter School law 53A-1a-512.4. Ongoing employment at SLSPA is contingent upon meeting and or exceeding and maintaining these requirements.

SLSPA also intends to hire part-time employees teaching staff that are not may or may not be certified. Such All part-time employees teaching staff will meet minimum skill requirements for teaching at the school.

In addition, SLSPA will seek teachers with the following skills and experience:

• Prior teaching experience, [Comment 3] especially within the chosen curricula and/or chosen life skills processes.
• A demonstrated commitment to learn new curricula, as well as to propose improvements.
• A demonstrated ability to treat colleagues, parents, and students with respect and honest communication.
• A demonstrated willingness to collaborate with teachers, faculty and parents to creatively solve problems and make innovative decisions that will benefit the school.
• Demonstrated use of technology, both as a learning tool and to manage classroom activities.
• Confidence in managing volunteer efforts.
• Additional certifications, degrees or training relevant to high school education. [Comment 4]
• Leading instruction sessions in the chosen curricula.
• Teaching and adapting instruction to various development levels.
• Certifications in specific curriculum instruction. [Comment 4]

3. Staffing Patterns

It is proposed that students will rotate among classes at both SLSPA and Highland High School. For example, SLSPA students may take academic courses such as English, Math, Science, etc at Highland High while arts courses such as Dance, Art, Music and Theater will be taken at SLSPA. Further, it is anticipated that students of Highland High School will be able to take courses in the arts at SLSPA. Staffing requirements will be determined based on the number of students taking courses at each school and when the courses are offered. A sSpecific course offerings and where they will be taken are indicated in the Curriculum and Instruction section.

4. Teaching Schedule

Teaching schedules will follow the same A/B block schedule that is used at Highland High School. Full-time teachers will have one consultation period every day and will teach three classes per day.