Job Abstract

SUMMARY DESCRIPTION:
The Middle School Content Specialist has the responsibility for his/her department and builds the capacity of the department to analyze achievement data for improved instruction. The Middle School content specialist ensures that accelerated and enriched instruction and intervention support is available for all students. The Middle School content specialist contributes to building and sustaining a community of learners. The Middle School content specialist is an exemplary teacher and has demonstrated success in increasing student achievement. The content specialist works directly with adults to support the implementation of the instructional program and observe teachers to assist them in improving teaching and learning. He/she focuses on coordination of the instructional program and collaboration among teachers within departments and across teams. The content specialist needs to be certified in his/her content areas. For the Arts/PE content specialist, the person needs to be certified in one of these areas. In order to support these additional responsibilities, he/she is provided with additional time and compensation.

CERTIFICATE LICENSE:
Meets the Maryland State Department of Education certification requirements for the appropriate content area.

KNOWLEDGE, SKILLS, and ABILITIES:
Thorough knowledge of curriculum, assessment and instruction. Understanding of the middle school child. Ability to work well with students, teachers, and administrators. Exemplary teaching skills. Outstanding, facilitation, organizational and supervisory skills. Skill in providing professional development to teachers. Skill in providing feedback to teachers about their teaching. Strong technology skills. Strong skills in collecting and analyzing formative and summative data sources. Excellent oral and written communication and collaboration skills. : This position requires the knowledge and application of the six performance standards that have been established for the Montgomery County Public Schools (MCPS) Teacher Professional Growth System (TPGS).

EDUCATION, TRAINING, and EXPERIENCE:
Holds, from an accredited institution, a master's degree or its equivalent in semester hours of credit or is within one year of fulfilling this requirement. Completion of OAT 1 by the beginning of the second year of the assignment and OAT 2 by the end of the second year in assignment. Has had a minimum of three years of outstanding teaching experience with one year in MCPS preferred. Has had appropriate middle school teaching experience within subject fields of the department. Demonstrates skill in working effectively with people. Other combinations of applicable education, training, and experience which provide the knowledge, abilities, and skills necessary to perform effectively in the position may be considered.SELECTION AND CONTINUANCE OF SERVICE:Shall be selected by the principal and a team that will include teachers from the content department. (When the career lattice is implemented, content specialists will have to achieve lead teacher status).EVALUATION:Will be evaluated using the standards of Teacher Professional Growth System.