Amherst-Pelham Regional Public Schools
Amherst Regional Middle School

 

Technology/Engineering Teacher – Part-Time

Position Summary

Amherst-Pelham Regional Public Schools is seeking a highly qualified, innovative, and student-centered educator for the position of part-time Technology/Engineering Teacher at Amherst Regional Middle School.

The Technology/Engineering Teacher will introduce middle school students to foundational concepts in engineering, design, technology, and hands-on fabrication. Through engaging, project-based learning experiences, students will learn to identify problems, develop and test solutions, use tools and technology safely, and understand how engineering can be used to address authentic challenges.

This position is an important component of the District’s secondary technology and engineering program. The middle school curriculum will provide students with an accessible entry point into technology and engineering while building the knowledge, skills, confidence, and interest needed to pursue advanced coursework at Amherst Regional High School. The teacher will collaborate with the high school Advanced Engineering Teacher and other secondary educators to promote curriculum alignment and create a cohesive pathway from introductory middle school exploration to advanced engineering, computer-aided design, manufacturing, and fabrication.

Essential Responsibilities

The Technology/Engineering Teacher will:

• Design and deliver developmentally appropriate, standards-aligned instruction in introductory technology and engineering.
• Engage students in the engineering design process, including identifying problems, conducting research, generating ideas, creating prototypes, testing solutions, analyzing results, and refining designs.
• Develop project-based learning experiences that allow students to apply science, mathematics, technology, creativity, and critical-thinking skills to authentic challenges.
• Introduce students to foundational concepts in areas such as engineering design, structures, mechanisms, electronics, robotics, coding, digital design, manufacturing, and sustainable technology, as appropriate to the curriculum and available resources.
• Provide introductory instruction in computer-aided design and manufacturing concepts, using age-appropriate software and equipment.
• Teach students to use hand tools, digital tools, fabrication equipment, and other classroom technologies safely and responsibly.
• Create a classroom environment in which experimentation, creativity, collaboration, productive struggle, and learning from failure are valued.
• Differentiate instruction to meet the academic, developmental, linguistic, and social-emotional needs of a diverse middle school student population.
• Ensure that multilingual learners, students with disabilities, and students who have historically been underrepresented in technology and engineering have meaningful access to instruction and opportunities for success.
• Use multiple forms of assessment, including design portfolios, prototypes, demonstrations, presentations, written reflections, and collaborative projects, to evaluate student learning.
• Establish, teach, and consistently reinforce expectations related to laboratory safety, equipment use, material handling, and responsible technology use.
• Maintain classroom tools, equipment, materials, and inventory and promptly report safety or maintenance concerns.
• Collaborate with middle school teachers and administrators to develop interdisciplinary learning experiences and integrate technology and engineering with mathematics, science, art, computer science, and other subject areas.
• Collaborate with the Amherst Regional High School Advanced Engineering Teacher to align skills, terminology, equipment experiences, and student learning expectations across the secondary program.
• Help students understand the technology and engineering courses, extracurricular activities, career pathways, and advanced learning opportunities available at the high school.
• Support the continued development of a coherent grades 7–12 technology and engineering pathway that prepares students to transition from exploration at the middle school level to more advanced design, engineering, and manufacturing experiences at the high school.
• Incorporate examples of technology and engineering careers and help students understand the connections among classroom learning, postsecondary education, industry, and the needs of the broader community.
• Communicate effectively with students, families, colleagues, and administrators regarding student progress, classroom expectations, and learning opportunities.
• Participate in professional learning, department meetings, curriculum development, and other responsibilities appropriate to the position and assigned schedule.
• Perform other related duties as assigned by the Principal or designee.

Qualifications

Required

• Bachelor’s degree from an accredited college or university.
• Appropriate Massachusetts educator licensure, or eligibility to obtain appropriate licensure, for the assigned technology/engineering teaching responsibilities.
• Demonstrated knowledge of the engineering design process and project-based or experiential learning.
• Ability to provide engaging and developmentally appropriate instruction to middle school students with varying levels of prior experience.
• Commitment to educational equity and to expanding access to technology and engineering learning for students from historically underrepresented groups.
• Demonstrated ability to establish an inclusive, collaborative, and safe learning environment.
• Strong communication, organization, collaboration, and classroom-management skills.
• Ability to safely use, supervise, or learn the tools, technologies, and fabrication equipment included in the middle school program.

Preferred

• Experience teaching technology, engineering, computer science, robotics, design, fabrication, or a related subject at the middle or secondary level.
• Experience developing and implementing project-based engineering or design curricula.
• Knowledge of computer-aided design and computer-aided manufacturing software.
• Experience with equipment such as 3D printers, laser cutters, robotics systems, or other digital-fabrication tools.
• Professional experience in engineering, technology, design, manufacturing, architecture, construction, computer science, or a related field.
• Experience differentiating instruction for multilingual learners and students with disabilities.
• Experience collaborating across grade levels or developing articulated secondary-course pathways.

Position Details

• Position Type: Part-Time, Unit A Professional Staff
• Location: Amherst Regional Middle School
• Grade Levels: Middle School
• Reports To: Middle School Principal or designee
• Schedule/FTE: To be determined based on the District’s instructional program
• Salary: In accordance with the applicable collective bargaining agreement

Program Purpose

This position is intended to strengthen and expand the District’s secondary technology and engineering program by providing middle school students with an early, inclusive, and engaging introduction to the field. The program will allow students to explore their interests, develop foundational technical and problem-solving skills, and see themselves as designers, makers, and engineers.

By coordinating the middle school curriculum with the advanced technology and engineering opportunities available at Amherst Regional High School, the District will establish a meaningful pathway that supports sustained student participation, increasingly sophisticated learning experiences, and future academic and career exploration.