Vista Haven Teacher

Get to Know US

For more than a century, Vista Del Mar Child & Family Services (VDM) has been dedicated to supporting children and families across Los Angeles County through high-quality programs and compassionate care. Our goal is to help children and families build strong foundations that support growth, stability, and meaningful opportunities throughout their lives. Many of the individuals we serve have faced long-standing challenges, and we are committed to meeting families where they are with respect and understanding. Vista Del Mar is guided by values centered on growth, opportunity, fairness, and excellence in service.

Mission

Vista Del Mar provides a trauma-responsive continuum of services to empower children, youth, and families in Southern California to lead fulfilling lives.

The Teacher at Vista Haven, Office of Refugee Resettlement (ORR) is responsible for the planning, implementing, and administering curriculum developed and facilitated for youth in compliance with federal, state, and local regulatory requirements. The teacher is responsible for classroom operations, supervision, planning, instruction and setting educational goals and objectives.

They track youth progress and inform the treatment team of this.The teacher demonstrates knowledge of trauma-informed care and infuses the framework, Attachment, Regulation, and Competency (ARC), in their daily interactions with staff and youth. Teachers are in an assigned classroom 5 days per week, year round. Will provide a multi-subject curriculum for age groups 13-17.

Essential Job Duties (other duties may be assigned)

• Educational services must be provided based on each youth's academic development, literacy level, and linguistic ability. Each youth must receive a minimum of six hours of structured education, Monday through Friday, throughout the year in basic academic areas (Science, Social

Studies, Math, Reading, Writing, Physical Education, and English as a Second Language (ESL), if applicable).

• Develop and implement lesson plans, curriculum, and engaging educational activities that align with program objectives, contract standards, and the diverse academic and developmental needs of youth.
• They are responsible for classroom operations, supervision, planning, instruction, and setting educational goals and objectives. They track youth progress, assignment completion or challenges, behavior management provided, and attendance, and inform the treatment team of any changes.
• Maintains continuous line-of-sight and/or sound supervision and active monitoring of youth at all times-including during classroom instruction, transitions, recreational activities, and all other program activities-to ensure their safety, security, well-being, accountability, and compliance with ORR policies, program procedures, monitoring requirements, and required staff-to-youth ratios.
• Completes administrative duties, including maintaining, filing, uploading, and organizing required student and program records, ensuring documentation is accurate, confidential, and completed within established timelines and ORR program requirements.
• Conducts an initial educational assessment within 72 hours of a youth's admission to the facility to determine academic level, identify educational strengths and needs, and inform individualized instructional planning and support services.
• Maintains classroom management and supports positive youth behavior by observing, addressing, and redirecting challenging behaviors using developmentally appropriate techniques that promote safety, respect, accountability, and a positive learning environment.
• Responsible for the overall operation and management of an assigned classroom, maintaining required staff-to-youth ratios (1:6), and supervising, supporting, and training up to three (3)

Teacher Aides in all aspects of classroom activities and responsibilities.

• Reports and documents any incidents, safety concerns, behavioral concerns, disclosures, injuries, or significant events involving youth in accordance with ORR requirements, program policies, and established reporting timelines, including immediately notifying appropriate supervisory staff when required.

Secondary Duties

• Provides individualized academic support to youth by adapting instruction, assignments, and learning strategies based on each youth's educational level, learning needs, language abilities, and developmental considerations.
• Develops and implements lesson plans, curriculum, and educational activities that address the needs of youth with varying academic levels, ages, learning styles, and educational backgrounds while supporting identified learning goals and ORR education requirements.
• Evaluates youth assignments and educational progress, provides appropriate feedback, and maintains documentation of academic performance and progress toward educational goals.
• Collaborates with education staff, case management, clinical staff, Youth Care staff, and other program personnel to support youth educational progress, behavioral needs, and overall well-being.
• Maintains classroom management by implementing structured routines, expectations, and developmentally appropriate behavior support strategies that promote safety, accountability, and a positive learning environment.
• Creates and maintains a safe, supportive, culturally responsive, and trauma-informed classroom environment that promotes academic learning, positive social interactions, and youth development.
• Demonstrates knowledge of adolescent development and the unique educational, behavioral, and social-emotional needs of unaccompanied children, including youth with limited English proficiency, learning needs, and histories of trauma.
• Maintains professional communication and completes required written documentation, reports, and records while effectively communicating with youth, staff, and internal or external program partners.
• Completes additional education-related responsibilities and program duties as assigned by the Program Director and/or Assistant Program Director to support program operations and compliance with ORR requirements.

Qualifications Required

• To perform this job successfully, the applicant must be able to perform each essential duty satisfactorily.
• The requirements listed below are representative of the knowledge, skill and/or ability required;

• Bachelor's degree in related field
• Certification by the relevant governing authority (e.g., Multiple Subject, Single Subject, or

Education Specialist), Teaching English as a Second Language/Teaching English to Speakers of Other

Languages certification (i.e., TESL/TESOL certification), or other appropriate accrediting body:

• At least 1 year of experience working in a school or youth treatment setting is preferred.
• Able to interrupt physical and verbal altercations among youths using training from the CPI-

Additional information

Nonviolent Crisis Intervention and de-escalation skills, provide support and care via a trauma- informed lens acquired from TSI- Risking Connections training, administer CPR/First Aid, and perform basic lifting.

• Excellent organizational and time management skills and work ethic.
• Training and experience working with children who have experienced trauma are preferred.
• Bilingual in any language preferred.
• Be at least 21 years old.

Must fulfill all requirements of employment, including clearance of all required background records (e.g., Department of Justice, Youth Abuse, California Community Care Licensing, County Sanction List, etc.), professional reference checks, physical examination with TB test, and drug screening.

Vista Del Mar's Credentials

Our nationally recognized clinical programs have been awarded a Gold Seal by the Joint Commission, the highest level of accreditation possible. In addition, our educational facilities are fully accredited through the Western Association of Schools and Colleges (WASC), and our graduate degree program is recognized worldwide for its high quality of instructions.