Vocational Teacher – Business Education 25/26 SY

WELCOME TO INDIANAPOLIS PUBLIC SCHOOLS!

At IPS, we believe in the transformative power of education. We work collectively every day to prepare our students for success in the classroom and in life by providing equitable, high-quality educational experiences across our family of schools. IPS is a place to make an impact, grow your career, and ensure every student has access to a high quality education, all while earning a good living in a district on the move. While the work is challenging, it is deeply meaningful and impactful. We seek innovators and trailblazers who bring varying experiences and expertise and share our belief that every child deserves access to an exceptional education. As part of TeamIPS, you’ll create lasting connections, find a sense of belonging, and feel supported to make a meaningful difference in students’ lives.

In return, no matter your role here, we expect a commitment to excellence and accountability. You’ll be held to high standards. Resilience and passion are key—you must be adaptable, handling adversity with flexibility while putting students at the heart of everything you do. Ethical conduct, clear communication, and mutual respect are fundamental. Being a dependable, collaborative team player who builds meaningful relationships is essential.

Together, we are Proving What’s Possible by building a community where everyone belongs and each student has the opportunity to fulfill their potential.

A TEACHING CAREER IN IPS OFFERS…

Purpose and Impact:

• Students First: Teaching for IPS is a rewarding opportunity to support bright, curious students as they shape their futures. We hold ourselves to the highest expectations of excellence, focusing on students’ holistic needs during their educational journey with us.
• Community: Working in a school means it is your home away from home, and you have a school family who supports you and leads with empathy and vision.

Professional and Personal Growth:

• Grow Your Career: We offer professional development and career advancement opportunities, including dedicated mentorship programs for early career teachers.
• Generous Compensation: We’re proud to offer the highest teacher starting pay in Indianapolis and one of the most competitive in the state, with teachers earning $53,460 – $94,000 depending on experience, plus a generous benefits package. Our teacher salaries are continually on the rise, as IPS regularly advocates for stronger teacher compensation.
• Access to Financial Benefits: Working in IPS makes it possible to benefit from federal programs such as Public Service Loan Forgiveness (PSLF) or Teacher Loan Forgiveness (TLF), helping reduce the financial burden of student loans.

Work-Life Balance and Well-being:

• Comprehensive Health Insurance: Access top-tier health plans covering medical, dental, and vision needs, plus IPS offers a private clinic for staff and their families through our partners at Ascension St. Vincent.
• Flexible Wellness Leave: Take the time you need to care for yourself and your family with our generous leave policies. Teachers receive 70 hours of sick leave in their first year (56 hours annually after) for illness, family, or mental health, plus three personal days, two floating holidays, and school breaks. Unlimited accumulated sick leave adds flexibility, supporting teachers’ health and work-life balance.
• Incentivized Discounts through IPS Wellness Program: Opportunities to earn hundreds of dollars off your medical premium by participating in proactive and simple health screenings, plus discounted group fitness classes, health and fitness assessments, personal training, and more.

WHAT WE EXPECT…

Commitment to Excellence:

• High Standards: Strive for the very best in all you do, maintaining high standards for yourself, your students, and your colleagues. Embrace lifelong learning and adapt to new teaching methods and challenges.
• Educational Equity: IPS is deeply committed to breaking down systemic inequities. We do this by “walking the walk” on new policies and practices, building diverse and inclusive classrooms and staff teams, and ensuring our environments are grounded in our values of respect, inclusivity, and educational equity.

Resilience and Passion:

• Dedication to Students: Put students at the heart of your work. Be passionate about their success and well-being.
• Adaptability: Handle adversity with resilience and flexibility. Be prepared for a dynamic work environment.

Professional Integrity:

• Ethical Conduct: Uphold the highest standards of professionalism and integrity. Act responsibly and respectfully toward all individuals, communicate with candor and care.
• Team Player: Be dependable, punctual, and collaborative, contributing positively to our supportive work environment.

JOIN US!

Indianapolis Public Schools is more than a workplace; it’s a community where purpose, impact, and belonging come together to help Prove What’s Possible – in your career and in your school. If you’re ready to embrace challenges, strive for excellence, and make a meaningful impact, IPS is the place for you.

SUMMARY OF ESSENTIAL JOB FUNCTIONS:

Under the direction of the school principal, provides business education instruction to students.

QUALIFICATIONS:

• Applicants must possess two or more years of business management/administration or marketing experience, an earned master’s degree in business administration, management, marketing, or a business-related field at time of hire OR a bachelor’s degree in business administration, management, marketing, or a business- administration-related field as appropriate to the program, with documentation in one of the following:
• Professional, field related certification (national, regional, or state)
• Two or more additional documented years of business management/administration or marketing experience.
• Documentation of research and publication in the field; or
• Documented relevant additional coursework beyond the bachelor’s degree, equivalent to 18 semester hours or equivalent subject matter coursework, CEU’s, vendor, or military.
• Ability to obtain a Workplace Specialist Teaching License

ESSENTIAL DUTIES AND RESPONSIBILITIES:

WHAT YOU’LL DO:

The following outlines what your core duties and responsibilities will be for this position and provides a sample overview of what your day-to-day may look like.

Core Duties and Responsibilities

• Prepare daily lesson plans on Indiana Business Education standards using Next Level Programs of Study – Business Administration. Plans should include standards and objectives, student performance benchmarks and assessments. Lesson plans should follow the curriculum guidelines and requirements of the state, district, and school.
• Knowledge of fundamental principles in the fields of management and business principles, computer literacy, personal finance, accounting, and employability skill development.
• Knowledge of instructional strategies that connect the curriculum to the learner.
• Instructs students using effective instructional strategies such as research projects, group discussions, cooperative learning, project and problem-based learning.
• Prepares engaging and challenging lessons for a balanced program of instruction, demonstration, and work time that prepares students with opportunities to observe, question, and investigate.
• Makes industry connections for the purpose of facilitating real world experiences for students such as classroom guest speakers, job shadows, service learning, and work-based learning.
• Prepares, administers, and grades tests and assignments to evaluate students’ progress.
• Administers various types of assessments to monitor student’s comprehension of content.
• Examines careers in Business and effectively guides students through industry career exploration.
• Enhances course content in the form of remediation, modification and enrichment.
• Analyzes data to improve instruction and models instructional strategies which promote student achievement.
• Effectively communicates with students, parents and other stakeholders via verbal and written communication.
• Performs various administrative duties such as taking attendance, organizing the classroom, and responding to emails and phone calls from parents, school administrators, and staff in a timely manner.

“Day In the Life” Overview

On a regular day, as the Business Education Teacher, you might:

• Consult with students who are designing, creating, and publishing menus for a local restaurant, and with others who are creating and maintaining Web sites for community nonprofit organizations and arts centers.
• Work with a bank as you guide students through all aspects of applying for a loan.
• Coach students who are presenting a workshop at a local conference on employment practices.
• Invite a guest speaker in to talk to your students about careers in finance.
• Advise students on their business plan presentation for a state conference.

WHAT YOU’ll BRING: SKILLS AND MINDSETS

As an ideal candidate for this role, you will be able to achieve the following:

• Deliver content using best-practice teaching methods.
• Develop and maintain strong industry connections related to this content area Develop and maintain an active advisory board that guides classroom deliverables.
• Collects and researches data.
• Identifies and resolves problems in a timely manner. Uses reason even when dealing with emotional topics.
• Responds promptly to student needs: Solicits feedback to improve service; Responds to requests for service and assistance; Meets commitments.
• Focuses on solving conflict, not blaming; Maintains confidentiality; Listens to others without interrupting; Keeps emotions under control; Remains open to others’ ideas and tries new things.
• Speaks clearly and persuasively in positive or negative situations; Listens and gets clarification; Responds well to questions; Participates in meetings.

SUPERVISORY RESPONSIBILITIES: None.

LANGUAGE SKILLS: Ability to read and comprehend simple instructions, short correspondence, and memos. Ability to effectively present information in one-on-one, small group, and large group situations.

MATHEMATICAL SKILLS: Ability to add, subtract, multiply, and divide in all units of measure, using whole numbers, common fractions, and decimals. Ability to compute rate, ratio, and percent and to draw and interpret bar graphs.

REASONING ABILITY: Ability to apply common sense understanding to carry out detailed but written or oral instructions. Ability to deal with problems involving a few concrete variables in standardized situations.

CERTIFICATES, LICENSES, REGISTRATIONS: Must hold a valid Indiana State Teacher’s License in Elementary Education (K-6). Must be deemed Highly Qualified in accordance with the Indiana Department of Education

PHYSICAL DEMANDS: The physical demands described here are representative of those that must be met by an employee to successfully perform the essential functions of this job. Reasonable accommodations may be made to enable individuals with disabilities to perform the essential functions.

While performing the duties of this job, the employee is regularly required to sit and use hands to find, handle, or feel. The employee frequently is required to talk or hear. The employee is required to stand; walk; reach with hands and arms; climb or balance; and stoop, kneel, crouch, or crawl. The employee must frequently lift and/or move up to 20 pounds and occasionally lift and/or move up to 50 pounds. Specific vision abilities required by this job include close vision, depth perception, and ability to adjust focus.

WORK ENVIRONMENT: The work environment characteristics described here are representative of those an employee encounters while performing the essential functions of this job. Reasonable accommodations may be made to enable individuals with disabilities to perform the essential functions.

While performing the duties of this job, the employee is occasionally exposed to wet and humid conditions and outside weather conditions. The noise level in the work environment is usually moderate.

DISCLAIMER:

The above job description is designed to denote the general nature and level of work performed by employees within this classification. It is not designed to contain or be interpreted as a comprehensive inventory of all duties, responsibilities, and qualifications of employees assigned to this job.

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