509J EMPLOYMENT
Make An Impact! Join Our Team
Jefferson County School District is committed to seeing every student realize their full potential while receiving a top-tier education. Our small Central Oregon community is rich in culture and beauty, providing some of the greatest assets Oregon has to offer. You’ll find breathtaking views, an abundance of outdoor activities and plenty of unique and enriching community events. It’s the perfect place to make an impact on the world, one student at a time.
There are nine schools in our district:
- Madras High School (9-12)
- Bridges High School (10-12)
- Warm Springs K-8 Academy (K-8)
- Jefferson County Middle School (6-8)
- Madras Elementary School (K-5)
- Buff Elementary School (K-5)
- Metolius Elementary School (K-5)
- Mariposa Dual Language (K-1)
- Big Muddy School (K-8)
Who We Are
A diverse, agricultural community built on small-town family values, with a desire to excel. People here know each other. We understand that by embracing our diversity and working together our potential and possibilities are limitless. We are impassioned and dedicated to creating a positive, future-forward learning environment where kids and educators are engaged, committed, and inspired to become their best.
Manageable Class Size
Our District is unique and special in its ability to fund lower teacher to student staffing ratios. For grades K-2, our target ratio is 1:22, and grades 3 – 12 the target is 1:30. However, many classes are far less than our targeted ratios, depending on the year.
Induction Program
Our induction program launches in August with four days of introduction and learning about teaching methods, District and school priorities, and the culture of teaching in our District. This opportunity is designed to create high-quality collaboration time with your new colleagues in an atmosphere of high energy and fun! Monthly seminars, held on the 2nd Tuesday of each month from 4 – 6 PM with your new-to-our-District cohort, provide the opportunity to engage with colleagues across the District during job-embedded professional development. Dinner is provided each month and experienced educators and instructional coaches facilitate the seminars.
Mentor Program
The District partners with Oregon State University to provide graduate credits (no cost to you) for full participation. The District also provides a $500 stipend for completion of your first year and $250 for completion of second year engagement in the program. Mentoring includes working with an instructional mentor who provides 1:1 classroom support and guidance, utilizing the reflective practitioner cycle of goal setting, lesson planning, observation and feedback, analyzing student work, and adjusting instruction based on data, etc. The program provides all first year educators the opportunity to spend at least one day observing other educators in partnership with their mentor.
AVID District
AVID—Advancement Via Individual Determination—fosters a safe and open culture, high expectations for teachers and students, and collaboration in all classrooms. Unlike most professional development, AVID does not force a pre-packaged, one-size-fits-all curriculum on educators. AVID promotes a college and career focused culture and offers turn-key teaching techniques and classroom activities that educators can easily incorporate in their classrooms. Teachers can quickly see the difference in how students respond. AVID doesn’t change what is taught; it changes how material is taught, respecting teachers’ expertise and providing flexibility. Our District has made a significant investment in developing our educators using AVID’s strategies.
Job Embedded Professional Development
Our community has supported a late start to the school day every Monday in order to provide our team members time for ongoing job embedded professional development.
Professional Learning Communities (PLC)
Our District is committed to creating and fostering an environment where PLC’s can thrive and all educators work in collaborative teams and take collective responsibility for student learning rather than working in isolation. The big ideas that guide our PLC work are from the Dufour model which includes: a relentless focus on learning for all students, a collaborative culture and collective effort to support student and adult learning, and a results orientation to improve practice and drive continuous improvement.
Title 1 District -Loan Forgiveness Program
Our classroom and special education teachers are eligible for federal loan forgiveness after teaching full-time for five consecutive academic years.
Top Compensation Packages
Our District’s diverse student population creates opportunities to secure significant grant funding in contrast to other Districts in our region. As a result, we are fortunate to offer the most competitive total compensation packages in the Central Oregon Region in an effort to support our team. Additionally, the cost of living in our community is more affordable than in surrounding areas.
Tuition Reimbursement
Our District currently allocates $45,000 annually for licensed employee tuition reimbursement. This is a significant allocation for a district our size.