The mission of Northwest Arkansas Children’s Shelter is to provide a safe haven, high-quality care and hope for the future to children who have been abandoned, abused or neglected.

ABOUT THE ORGANIZATION:
Since opening in 1993, the Northwest Arkansas Children’s Shelter (NWACS) has cared for more than 8,500 children in crisis from throughout the state of Arkansas. Our capacity of 48 beds, state-of-the-art complex, on-site school and on-site counseling services make us unique among children’s emergency shelters in Arkansas and our region. The combination of these features creates a stable, secure and loving environment where children who have experienced abuse, abandonment or neglect can begin to heal.

OUR VALUES:
Compassion: Recognize and meet the needs of children with respect, sensitivity and unconditional love;
Excellence: Set the standard for high-quality service to children by performing above the expected;
Integrity: Strive with our words and actions to be worth of the trust placed in us.

Key Responsibilities:

Living the Children’s Shelter Mission and Values

• Create an atmosphere for students that operationalizes our mission to provide the children we serve with a safe haven, high-quality care and hope for the future.
• Create an educational atmosphere which exemplifies our values of compassion, excellence and integrity.
• Ensure the Children’s Shelter mission and values drive student decisions.
• Improving Teaching and Learning

• Provide individualized high quality classroom instruction and oversight of the children.
• Develop and utilize appropriate lesson plans and other activities which stimulate and encourage the educational and social development of each child.
• Provide active teaching activities that are tailored to each child’s current educational level, individual strengths and emotional needs.
• Directly provide day-to-day educational instruction and classroom management and work with others who also provide care for the children.
• Build an environment that considers all aspects of wellness: nutrition, health, safety, decisions and choices, mental, as well as physical well-being.  
• Monitor and document daily the progress of all children in the classroom and take appropriate actions to increase each child’s progress.
• Assess each child upon intake and determine that child’s individual educational and appropriate social needs and strengths.
• Maintain a clean and orderly classroom.
• Maintain Arkansas Teacher’s Certification.

• Building and Maintaining Collaborative Relationships

• Establish effective professional relationships with peers, support staff, volunteers, supervisors, and other professionals.
• Sustain relationships that result in active student engagement in the learning process.
• Develop relationships and provide meaningful opportunities for volunteers to engage with the children at school.

• Leading with Integrity and Professionalism

• Treat all people fairly and with dignity and respect. Protect the rights and confidentiality of students and staff.
• Demonstrate personal and professional standards and conduct that enhance the school and Children’s Shelter and the education profession.
• Maintains confidentiality and privacy regarding all residents' information in accordance with NWACS policy and all applicable Federal and state laws/regulations.

Education, Training and Experience:  

• Teaching certification and/or bachelor’s degree in education with certifications in math and English.
• Demonstrated experience providing trauma-informed education or special education services.
• Maintain a valid Arkansas Teacher’s Certification.
• Prefer experience in Special Education Services.
• Physical ability to use authorized techniques for management of aggressive behaviors.
• Prior experience implementing Conscious Discipline and TBRI a plus.
• Proficient in Microsoft Word, Outlook, and Excel.

Knowledge, Abilities and Skills:  

• High-energy, self-starter with a passion for NWACS’s mission is essential.

• Exemplify NWACS’s values and uphold high professional and ethical standards.
• Strong organizational and time management skills with exceptional attention to detail; ability to work in a high-paced environment and manage multiple projects and deadlines.
• Exceptional oral and written communication skills.
• Flexible and adaptive style; an individual who can positively serve the varying needs of children who have been traumatized.

Working Conditions and Environment/Physical Demands

The demands described are representative of those that must be met by an individual to successfully perform the essential functions of this position.

• Physical stamina and agility required to care for active children.
• As required, provide supervision for lunch duty, recesses, and field trips, etc.
• Ability to lift at least 50 pounds.
• Must pass all criminal history and child maltreatment background checks.
• Must submit to pre-employment drug screen as well as random drug screens when directed.
• Valid driver's license, proof of personal automobile insurance, and acceptable driving record required to drive shelter vehicle for shelter business.
• Attend and participate in mandatory trainings, staff meetings, and all other events, as required.
• Maintain appropriate personal and professional boundaries.
• Complete all required documentation in a timely manner per NWACS procedures.

This position description is intended to describe the general nature and level of the work to be performed.  This is not an exhaustive list of all duties and responsibilities associated with it.  Northwest Arkansas Children's Shelter reserves the right to amend and change responsibilities to meet organizational needs. Northwest Arkansas Children's Shelter is an Equal Opportunity Employer. To be consider, applicants must submit a cover letter and resume to the NWACS.