Job Description
Waco Independent School District JOB DESCRIPTION Job Title: Secondary (Middle School) Discovery Wage/Hour Status: Exempt / Contract Teacher of Advanced Learners Reports To: Campus Principal Pay Grade/Days: Teacher / 187 Days Dept./School: Assigned Campus ( Carver, CCMS, LAMM ) Date Revised: April 2026 Primary Purpose: To cultivate a culture of academic excellence by delivering specialized instruction and high-level inquiry for gifted and high-performing middle school students. The Discovery Teacher serves as a facilitator of advanced learning, guiding students through the complex intersections of STEM, Leadership, and Humanities to drive measurable growth and peak student achievement. Qualifications: Education/Certification: Bachelor's degree from an accredited institution; Master's degree preferred Texas teaching certificate with Gifted and Talented endorsement or has completed the 30-hour gifted and talented training and agrees to complete the state gifted endorsement within the first six months of employment or Master's degree in gifted education Special Knowledge/Skills: Excellent teaching skills Knowledge of assigned curriculum (grades K-12 TEKS), Texas assessment objectives, and best practices for instruction Knowledge of differentiation and compacting strategies for the gifted Background with various programs for the gifted (i.e., Destination Imagination, UIL, Youth and Government, Science Fair, History Fair) Evidence of leadership skills Knowledge of best practices for teaching the gifted and high achieving students Strong organizational, communication (written and oral), and interpersonal skills Experience Three years as a classroom teacher, preferably in gifted or Advanced Placement classroom, and in a Title 1 school Major Responsibilities and Duties: Observe students and develop an instructional/behavioral plan for assigned students. Implement and facilitate instructional/behavioral plan for assigned students. (MOVED) Plan and use appropriate learning strategies, activities, materials, and equipment as determined by the needs of the assigned gifted/high achieving students. Develop and implement specialized learning activities for students beyond the general classroom curriculum to include independent projects, cross-grade offerings, creative problem solving, research of interest, presentation skills, and leadership skills. Create an environment conducive to student learning. Provide student performance feedback to accompany the distribution of student report cards. Provide feedback to department administrators on the implementation of instructional strategies through differentiated weekly lesson plans. Conduct ongoing formal and informal assessments of student achievement. Develop and oversee academic competitions at assigned campuses as well as offer enrichment experiences beyond the school day as assigned by supervisor. Develop and maintain professional competence through professional growth activities based on recent research and current trends in education. Plan, organize, and lead professional development at campus, district, and state level. Use effective communication skills to present information accurately and clearly. Maintain a professional working relationship with principals/ district program directors, colleagues, students, and supervisors. Compile, maintain, and file all physical and computerized reports, records, and other documents required. Perform other duties as assigned. Supervisory Responsibilities: None Equipment Used: Macintosh and PC computer and related technology. Working Conditions: Mental Demands/Physical Demands/Environmental Factors: Maintain emotional control under stress. Frequent districtwide travel; repetitive hand motions and prolonged use of computer. Frequent standing, stooping, bending, pulling and pushing. Move small stacks of textbooks, media equipment, desks, and other classroom equipment. Note: This is not necessarily an exhaustive or all-inclusive list of responsibilities, skills, duties, requirements, efforts, functions or working conditions associated with the job. This job description is not a contract of employment or a promise or guarantee of any specific terms or conditions of employment. The school district may add to, modify, or delete any aspect of this job (or the position itself) at any time as it deems advisa