Welding Teacher, CTE

Chicago Public Schools (CPS) is the fourth-largest school district in the United States, serving over 320,000 students in 600+ schools and employing nearly 36,000 people, most of them teachers.  CPS has set ambitious goals to ensure that every student, in every school and every neighborhood, has access to a world-class learning experience that prepares each for success in college, career, and civic life.  In order to fulfill this mission, we make three commitments to our students, their families, and all Chicagoans: academic progress, financial stability, and integrity.  Six core values are embedded within these commitments – student-centered, whole child, equity, academic excellence, community partnership, and continuous learning.

Department Summary- Located within the Department of Early College and Career Education (ECCE), the Career and Technical Education (CTE) programs at Chicago Public Schools are generally 3-course sequences offered at the high school level, focused on training students in a specific industry area.  These programs provide students with viable pathways to college and careers. On average, more than 14,000 CPS high school students are enrolled in CTE programs across 80 CPS high schools. 

 Job Summary: 

The Welding CTE Teacher is a high school teaching position in welding, which is a Career and Technical Education (CTE) program.  Career and Technical Education (CTE) gives high school students the chance to get a head start on preparing for college and careers. CTE students have the opportunity to participate in hands-on training in their chosen program and gain real-world experience through job shadows and internships. The Welding program is a series of prescribed courses for high school students that provides the various techniques of welding that will allow them to use their skills in different ways.

 Participation in welding prepares students for a variety of careers in welding and students may be eligible to obtain certifications and internships as well. 

 The Welding CTE Teacher will be held accountable for the following responsibilities:

• Provide rigorous and relevant instruction on pre-approved, industry-validated, hands-on curriculum in the content area and general workplace readiness. 
• Integrate soft-skill instruction into competency-based content area activities. 
• Integrate applied literacy, math, and science into the career content areas.
• Support students in industry-relevant competitions, industry exploration activities, professional organizations, and postsecondary initiatives. 
• Show evidence of project-based learning (e.g., competitions, capstone events, etc.). 
• Collaborate with core academic content teachers on common course planning, integration, and alignment. 
• Collaborate with central office and school-based staff to identify and recommend work-ready students. 
• Attend all relevant professional development set by the Department of Early College and Career Education in order to provide the best educational experiences possible for students. Examples include:
• Quarterly industry-focused PD sessions; 
• Industry advisory council meetings; 
• Instructional PD sessions; and
• New teacher supports (e.g., New Teacher Center PD, CTE teacher coaching). 
• Maintain and update industry certifications as required by the Illinois State Board of Education and Chicago Public Schools. 
• Attend CPS CTE professional development sessions if working under an Illinois State Board of Education (ISBE) Educator License with Stipulations/Career and Technical Education (ELS(CTE)) or a newly hired teacher.
• Based on reported needs, develop and implement an annual plan with identified targets for student and teacher engagement.
• Ability to deliver content in the following coursework:
• Beginning Welding
• Welding Technology I
• Welding Technology II

In order to be successful and achieve the above responsibilities, the Welding CTE Teacher must possess the following qualifications: 

Education Required:

• High school diploma or GED equivalent;
• Bachelor’s degree from an accredited college or university in a related field, preferred

Experience Required: 

• Minimum of two years of experience as a Welder  
• Eligible to receive an ISBE Educator License with Stipulations (ELS(CTE)) license with an endorsement in CIP: 48.0508 - Welding Technology/Welder  (license must be in place prior to teaching; CTE Dept. will assist with securing the certificate and certificate)  or Eligible to receive an ISBE Professional Education License (PEL) with an endorsement in Technology Education (Industrial Arts) (5-12); Technology Education (6-12); Technology Education (9-12)
• Teachers must possess at least one of the following valid teaching licenses issued by the Illinois State Board of Education: Professional Educator License (PEL) or Educator License with Stipulations (ELS), properly endorsed for this position. 

Knowledge, Skills, and Abilities:

• Understanding or core content area technical skills required by industry such as  permanently bonding  metal parts, joining ferrous, and nonferrous metals.
• Proficiency in a variety of technical skills such as but not limited to repairing cars, appliances, and highway bridges, and creating metal art.
• Prior teaching experience preferred 
• Demonstrate an understanding of content, pedagogy, and student knowledge, in order to select learning objectives and design coherent instruction and assessments

• Create an environment for effective student learning and growth by establishing a respectful classroom culture with strong management of student behaviors and classroom procedures that promotes and appreciates the cultural, racial, and linguistic diversity of students
• Respond to the needs of all students by designing engaging classroom instruction with appropriately challenging questions, communication and discussion techniques, and instruction-aligned assessments
• Exhibit excellent oral and written communication skills, strong interpersonal skills, and exercise sound, professional judgment especially in interactions with administration, colleagues, families, and students
• Prioritize student safety through the consistent implementation of the Student Code of Conduct and school-wide systems of management and discipline
• Personalize student learning through mastery and innovative use of curriculum supplements and technology resources, as available
• Advocate for the district’s vision and commit to our district’s common themes of equity, cultural competence, high expectations, developmental appropriateness, attention to individual students (including diverse learners), appropriate use of technology, and student assumption of responsibility
• Team and detail-oriented

• ‘Can-do,’ solutions-oriented approach to problem-solving
• Computer skills in Google Documents, Gmail, Word, PowerPoint, and Excel

Conditions of Employment:

As a condition of employment with the Chicago Public Schools (CPS), employees are required to:

• Establish/Maintain Chicago Residency - Employees are required to live within the geographic boundaries of the City of Chicago within six months of their CPS hire date and maintain residency throughout their employment with the district. The Chicago residency requirement does not apply to temporary/part-time positions, however, all CPS employees must be residents of Illinois.
• Be Fully Vaccinated Against COVID-19 - Unless approved for a medical or religious exemption, all employees are required to be up-to-date on COVID-19 vaccinations, including boosters, and to submit proof of vaccination to the district within 30 days of hire. “Up-to-date” on vaccination is defined as being at least two weeks past all primary vaccine doses and any applicable boosters.