Verge House Program Transition Teacher (Verge House)

The South Shore Regional Centre for Education (SSRCE) practices the culturally responsive pedagogy approach in providing an inclusive, diverse, equitable, safe and healthy education that supports learning and success both personally and academically to the 59,000 residents of Lunenburg and Queens Counties, an area of 5,250 square kilometres and a total of 23 schools.

Regional Centres for Education have Employment Equity Policies and/or processes and we actively encourage applications from under-represented groups, particularly people of African Nova Scotian, African Canadian and African ancestry and Mi’kmaw/Indigenous ancestry. Please ensure you complete the self-identification portion on the position application.

Description:

Verge House Program Transition Teacher plays a critical role in supporting student learning and achievement within the South Shore Regional Centre for Education. Research consistently shows that high-quality teaching has the greatest impact on student success, and this role is grounded in the Nova Scotia Teaching Standards, which outline the knowledge, skills, and practices required for effective teaching. This position reflects the complexity and importance of teaching, with a strong focus on meeting the diverse needs of all learners and maintaining high expectations for every student.

Required Qualifications and Experience

• Valid Nova Scotia Teacher Certification
• Bachelor of Education
• Masters in Special Education/Inclusive Education required 

Desired Experience and Attributes

• Minimum of 7 years experience working as a Learning Support Teacher, ideally working with young adults with disabilities in functional life skills instruction
• Experience and/or knowledge of community services, support systems, and advocacy groups that are available to support students as they strengthen community integration
• Experience working with community based learning to secure appropriate placements for students, as well as to assist, support and monitor their employment skill development as they participate in community/sheltered work placements.
• Ability to follow the NS Program Planning Process and develop comprehensive transition plans for students, both transitioning from high school and from Verge House
• Know, respond to, and engage all students.
• Know the subjects they teach and how to teach them.
• Use ‘Assessment for and of Learning’ to guide teaching and learning.
• Create safe and positive learning environments.
• Participate in professional learning throughout their careers.
• Model and promote professionalism in teaching.

Task Dimensions:

Identifies with student and family post-school goals (education, employment, housing, transportation, recreation, friendships, etc.) to develop transition outcomes.

For example:

• Connecting parents to community or adult services that may assist students in achieving post-school goals and provide opportunities to try out various roles and future life options
• Providing information on, and creating collaborative arrangements with, community agencies and service providers to support students transition from school to community
• Understanding the diverse needs of the student and able to adapt curriculum activities to enable participation
• Assisting students to overcome barriers to employment and developing realistic vocational goals
• Developing community employment opportunities for individuals through networking and public relations with potential employers, partner agencies and the business community
• Placing, monitoring, and supporting job coaches during student work placements
• Train and assist students in the development of skills and knowledge necessary to live in the community, increase their skill levels in daily living tasks, and increase independence.

For example:

• Teaching, coaching and assisting students in all aspects of their daily living to foster independence and ensure their quality of life
• Participating in the development and implementation of continuous quality improvement activities as they apply to Individual Program Plan outcomes
• Helping maintain relationships with students, their family members, and community resources
• Establishing a stress-free learning environment through effective facilitation practices
• Manage the Verge House Transition Program.

For example:

• Fostering effective communication and collaboration between students, parents, educators, service providers and other team members
• Completing daily paperwork and documentation such as lesson plans and student evaluations of school and work performance
• Arranging and attending Student Planning Team meetings, information sharing sessions with new students/parents, in-service training work-shops, as required
• Providing a leadership role in the design and implementation of strategies for student-centered transition planning
• Complies with the Occupational Health and Safety Act. 
• Performs other related duties as required. 

Only shortlisted applicants will be contacted.

SECURITY CHECKS:

The South Shore Regional Centre for Education requires that all newly hired employees provide a satisfactory Child Abuse Register Check and Criminal Record / Vulnerable Sector Checks. If you have current checks that are less than 3 months old you can attach these checks to your application / resume.

To apply, please complete the online application and attach a current resume. The last page of your resume will include 3 professional references and must be your most recent supervisor. Important: Please save your resume as LastnameFirstnameYear. To apply, please complete the online application and attach a current resume, along with 3 professional references. (Please note: Failure to include references may cause delay in processing your application.)

We thank you for your interest in the posted vacancy.