Position Summary

To provide an internship period of 2.5 years with primary focus on Tiwa Language acquisition, teaching skills and work-related experience. Upon completion of the 2.5 yr. internship it is required for each intern to complete a teaching term of at least 2.5 years. The objective is to officially certify each intern as a Tiwa Language Teacher. All Tiwa language teachers will provide language instruction services for children, youth and adults in the Pueblo of Sandia Language Program, Child Development Center, and in school- based settings. As the Language Program capabilities develop and the needs of the Sandia Pueblo Tiwa Language are identified, assigned duties and responsibilities will be adjusted by the program managers on community needs basis.

Our philosophy is built on the principles of integrity, fairness, collaboration, communication, and recognition for performance excellence. Meeting all performance standards leads to attracting and retaining a qualified workforce, provides opportunities for qualified team members, and contributes towards the ongoing success of the Pueblo of Sandia today and in the future.

Essential Duties and Responsibilities

1. Complete a 2.5 - 3.5 year language acquisition internship in its entirety within evaluation guidelines set forth by the project manager and evaluators.
2. Complete a Sandia Tiwa Language Teacher term of at least 2.5 – 3.5 years. This term starts upon completion of the final year of the language acquisition internship.
3. Required to practice and complete assignments utilizing the language outside of class hours within the home or community whichever is more practical. Practice expectations will relate to lessons and language levels acquired by the student.
4. Required language growth through interaction with tribal elders who speak the language both on and off site.
5. Complete set workshops, certificates, trainings and professional development opportunities determined necessary.
6. Travels to workshops and training sessions as required. Out of state or country travel if necessary.
7. Prepares and provides high quality developmentally appropriate Tiwa Language educational lessons for students in the Child Development Center, pre-k, kindergarten, school-based classes, and adult learners (during and upon completion of internship program).
8. Provides individualized instruction in order to adapt the curriculum to the needs of each student appropriate to the intern’s language level.
9. Uses a variety of tools to document and report students Tiwa Language development.
10. Interacts with parents as partners on a tri-annual basis for the development of the Language Program educational plan.
11. Prepares monthly reports of class progress to submit to the program Administrator.
12. Collaborates and assists in program development of Tiwa language curriculum with the instructional staff, department staff and community members.
13. Maintains records for each student to include individual portfolios and assessments.
14. Provides Tiwa Language teaching opportunities that connect to the community and other tribal programs; this will include but will not be limited to youth sports, community garden activities, and responsive interaction during and leading up to cultural/community related activities.
15. Establishes and maintains standards of conduct to promote positive student behavior and interaction supporting a productive study environment.
16. Promotes parent and community involvement in the program and participates in school events to promote a sense of community.
17. Uses a variety of teaching styles and strategies that are age appropriate.
18. Ensures that all learning environments meet tribal health and safety codes as well as ensuring that planned activities promote healthy lifestyle choices for children and their families.
19. Plans and conducts linguistically-oriented events and field trips for members of the community.
20. Assists in development and coordinates language skills, cultural and traditional educational methods and materials to more effectively acculturate tribal members in the Tiwa ways of Sandia Pueblo.
21. Provides staff language training opportunities.
22. Serves as a positive role model.
23. Performs other duties as assigned.

Additional Responsibilities

Key Performance Indicators

This position has Key Performance Indicators (KPI’s) identified as a measurement of success. KPI’s will be shared with all team members who work in this job title and feedback will be provided regarding the successful completion of the KPI’s as part of the performance review process.

Knowledge, Skills, and Abilities

1. Sensitive to community concerns about language and follows audio recording rules and regulations.
2. Committed to the preservation, revitalization and maintenance of the Sandia Tiwa language.
3. Ability to confidently guide students towards achieving conversational proficiency and ultimately, towards achieving fluency in the Tiwa language.
4. Have knowledge of annual feast days and other yearly Sandia activities, and be able to provide general information for a simple understanding of these various feast days and ceremonial activities.
5. To understand and convey the value of Sandia Tiwa as our heritage language that connects our language to our origins and self-identity
6. Work independently with minimal supervision, flexible/adaptable to constant change.
7. Effective communication orally and in writing and active listening skills.
8. Ability to work collaboratively with colleagues, parents, families, and service providers.
9. Ability to evaluate and analyze problems/situations and develop effective solutions.
10. Willingness to assume responsibility for monitoring/assessing own performance for purpose of individual growth and/or corrective action.
11. Respect for cultural beliefs, values and traditions of the Pueblo of Sandia.

Education and Experience

Required:

1. High School Diploma, GED certification or equivalent.
2. Must be a Tribal Member of the Pueblo of Sandia or recognized Community Member.
3. Must be at least 18 years of age.

License/Certifications/Registrations

1. Must possess and maintain a valid, unrestricted New Mexico Driver’s License.
2. Must be able to successfully pass a stringent background investigation and character investigation in compliance with PL 101.630.
3. Will require a pre-employment and random drug screening.

Physical Requirements/Working Conditions

The following selected physical activities are required to perform the essential functions of this position

Physical Requirement

Description

Balancing

Maintaining body equilibrium to prevent falling and walking, standing, or crouching on narrow, slippery, or erratically moving surfaces. This factor is important if the amount of balancing exceeds that needed for ordinary locomotion and maintenance of body equilibrium.

Crouching

Bending the body downward and forward by bending leg and spine.

Feeling

Perceiving attributes of objects, such as size, shape, temperature, or texture by touching with skin, particularly that of fingertips.

Finger Dexterity

Picking, pinching, typing or otherwise working, primarily with fingers rather than with the whole hand as in handling.

Grasping

Applying pressure to an object with the fingers and palm.

Hearing

Perceiving the nature of sounds at normal speaking levels with or without correction. Ability to receive detailed information through oral communication, and to make the discriminations in sound.

Kneeling

Bending legs at knee to come to a rest on knee or knees.

Lifting

Raising objects from a lower to a higher position or moving objects horizontally from position-to-position. This factor is important if it occurs to a considerable degree and requires substantial use of upper extremities and back muscles.

Must be able to lift at least 30 lbs.

Pulling

Using upper extremities to exert force to draw, haul, or tug objects in a sustained motion.

Pushing

Using upper extremities to press against something with steady force to thrust forward, downward, or outward.

Reaching

Extending hand(s) and arm(s) in any direction.

Walking

Job requirements include, in the performance of duties, walking throughout the work area, on various work surfaces throughout internal or external locations.

Seeing

The ability to perceive the nature of objects by the eye.

Sitting

Particularly for sustained periods of time.

Standing

Particularly for sustained periods of time.

Stooping

Bending body downward and forward by bending spine at the waist. This factor is important if it occurs to a considerable degree and requires full motion of the lower extremities and back muscles.

Talking

Expressing or exchanging ideas by means of the spoken word. Those activities in which they must convey detailed or important spoken instructions to other workers accurately, loudly, or quickly.

List Working Conditions Required:

1. Work is performed indoors and outdoors. Outside work is subject to temperature extremes and inclement weather conditions.
2. Subject to hazards which may cause personal bodily harm; diseases, cuts; bruises, burns, common cold, influenza, dust, odors, bodily fluids, and elevated noise levels.
3. Tasks may be performed on uneven, inclined, hard and soft carpeted floors, cement structures and surfaces.
4. Duties may involve walking, standing for long periods of time, sitting and crouching.