Learning Specialist - Numeracy

Grovedale College is a medium sized College with an enrolment of 900 plus students located in a semi rural setting serving the southern suburbs of Geelong, together with the rural and surf coast communities to the south, east and west. Extensive educational resources enable Grovedale College to provide an academic focus together with many Arts, Sciences, Sports and Technology opportunities. VCE enhancement subjects, VCAL and VET Courses, provide many new opportunities for University and TAFE studies and exciting pathways to the future. Excellence, achievement and improvement are central to all College programs. Grovedale College operates the Grovedale P – 12 Deaf Facility in conjunction with Grovedale West Primary School.

In recent years a multi million dollar-building program has provided the College with excellent physical resources. Such resources enable us to enhance our programs and deliver an exciting, challenging and fulfilling experience. Our facilities include a state of the art computer network linking all classrooms, computer pods, a computerized Library Resource Centre, Senior School Study Centre, Technology Wing, Visual and Performing Arts Studios, Gymnasium, Fitness Centre, sports ovals and courts.

The Arts/Technology facilities and some general purpose classrooms have benefited from a $3 million upgrade. The design for these new facilities is based on a pedagogy best described as interactive experiential leaning (ieLearning). Our new Language/Learning Centre has been designed around our focus on collaborative learning.

Ongoing curriculum reform and refinement has resulted in structural change such as the creation of two sub schools, the introduction of a Home group Program, compact teacher teams and most importantly a series of initiatives based around the concepts of active curriculum, higher order thinking and a multidisciplinary approach to planning and learning. The success of these programs provides strategies and examples of success on which the pedagogy of interactive experiential learning can utilise and extend.

At Grovedale our approaches to Teaching and Learning recognize that students and staff must be able to use computers and electronic learning technologies with confidence and understanding to enhance their teaching and learning as well as their ability to participate in evolving information technologies. The use of learning technologies in the classroom is a priority at Grovedale. All students and staff have access to extensive College computer resources including the College Intranet/Gateway and the Internet. A combination of eLearning devices are used compulsorily across the College.

Sport is prominent in the life of Grovedale College. An extensive interschool and house sport program provide students with the opportunity to develop personal skills and fitness and to enjoy the benefits of teamwork in a spirit of healthy competition. Our unique location and proximity to the Surf Coast, Corio Bay, Port Phillip Bay and the Otway Ranges allows for a comprehensive outdoor education and excursions program to operate. Surfing, kayaking, snorkelling, body boarding, windsurfing, bike riding, horse riding, rock climbing and lifesaving are all part of the program. The development of the Grovedale Education and Sporting Precinct coupled with the introduction in 2005 of a Sports Academy program provides students with the opportunity to pursue an elite sports pathway. The Precinct is indicative of strong community based links.

The College successfully participates in Public Speaking programs, Inter-School Debating and Australian subject competitions that include English, Mathematics, Science, Arts and Technology.   Student leadership is an integral part of our school culture. An active leadership program exposes students to challenges, which develop personal and social skills, confidence, initiative and self-reliance. This is achieved through a broad range of activities such as Student Council, Peer Helpers, Supportive Friends and camps program. The College also conducts an Advance Program at Year 10. Performing Arts are well catered for in the College, with performance opportunities in workshops, GAFFA and production.

College Leadership programs have been enhanced by staff and students working with Leading Teams and refining the College based implementation. Performance and Development Culture is a Grovedale College priority. Regular formal and informal feedback is provided to staff members. The College Leadership Team meets weekly to oversee the College vision and its implementation. A culture of continuous improvement, accountability and of high level instructional leadership is an expectation of all staff.

SC1      Demonstrated ability to successfully lead the implementation and evaluation of learning and teaching programs, inclusive of evidence based pedagogical approaches, curriculum implementation, and effective assessment and reporting, in accordance with the relevant (or equivalent) Victorian Curriculum F–10, Victorian Certificate of Education and Victorian Certificate of Applied Learning.  

SC2      Demonstrated outstanding classroom teaching skills and capacity to model high impact classroom teaching strategies and lead colleagues to improve their teaching and learning to enable all students to achieve their full potential.

SC3      Demonstrated outstanding ability to monitor and assess student learning data at the individual, cohort and whole school level and to use this data to inform teaching for improved student learning.

SC4      Demonstrated outstanding written and verbal communication skills and high level interpersonal skills including the ability to establish and maintain collaborative relationships with parents, other employees and the broader school community focused on student learning, wellbeing and engagement.

SC5      Demonstrated capacity to reflect critically upon their own professional practice and apply the knowledge, skills and expertise derived from ongoing professional learning to enable the further development of others’ professional practice.  

SC6    

Demonstrated capacity to impact on colleagues'

Learning Specialists will be highly skilled classroom practitioners who continue to spend the majority of their time in the classroom delivering high-quality teaching and learning and have a range of responsibilities related to their expertise, including teaching demonstration lessons, observing and providing feedback to other teachers and facilitating school-based professional learning.  Learning Specialists are expected to have deep knowledge and expertise in high quality teaching and learning in delivering improved achievement, engagement and wellbeing for students. The role of the Learning Specialist will be to model excellence in teaching and learning through demonstration lessons and, mentoring and coaching teachers in improving the skill, knowledge and effectiveness of the teaching workforce.

The Learning Specialist role is aimed at building excellence in teaching and learning within the Teaching Service.

In recognition of the importance of exemplary practice for improved student learning outcomes, the key roles of the Learning Specialists may include but are not limited to:

• Demonstrating high-level expertise in teaching and learning practice
• Modelling exemplary classroom practice including through teaching demonstration lessons
• Working with the school leadership team to develop a shared view of highly effective teacher practice
• Leading and modelling the implementation of whole-school improvement strategies related to curriculum planning and delivery
• Playing a key role in the provision of professional learning, including through developing processes and protocols for observation and feedback of teacher practice and peer collaboration
• Modelling effective learning practice and supporting teachers to seek, analyse and act on feedback and on their practice
• Providing evidence-based feedback to teaching staff to inform their effectiveness and development
• Providing expert advice about the context, processes and strategies that will shape individual and school professional learning
• Supervising and training one or more student teachers and mentoring and/or coaching teachers
• Modelling exemplary use of student data to inform teaching approaches
• Developing and promoting school-wide professional learning structures, processes and protocols through Professional Learning Communities
• Modelling exemplary professional learning practice included through seeking feedback from other teachers and leaders on their own classroom practice as part of critical reflection and inquiry to improve practice

Teachers currently registered or eligible for registration with the Victorian Institute of Teaching and qualified to teach and/or have demonstrated experience in the curriculum area(s) specified for the position.

The Department values diversity and is committed to workforce diversity and equal opportunity in schools and all education workplaces. The Department recognises that the provision of family friendly, supportive, safe and harassment free workplaces is essential to high performance and promotes flexible work, diversity and safety across all schools and Department workplaces.

Victorian government schools are child safe environments. Our schools actively promote the safety and wellbeing of all students, and all school staff are committed to protecting students from abuse or harm in the school environment, in accordance with their legal obligations including child safe standards. All schools have a Child Safety Code of Conduct consistent with the Department’s exemplar available at http://www.education.vic.gov.au/about/programs/health/protect/Pages/childsafestandards.aspx

• All staff employed by the Department and schools have access to a broad range of employment conditions and working arrangements.
• Appointment of successful applicants will be made subject to a satisfactory pre-employment conditions check.
• A probationary period may apply during the first year of employment and induction and support programs provided.