POSITION
The position is a short-term, part-time, contractual position. The individual hired will be tasked to evaluate the implementation of The Botvin LifeSkills Training (LST) High School Program, which is a a school-based drug prevention program.
The goal of the program is to prevent substance use (tobacco, alcohol, and marijuana) and other risky behaviors by providing students with knowledge and skills to resist peer and media pressure to smoke, drink, or use drugs; develop a positive self-image; build healthy relationships; and make responsible decisions and effectively solve problems.
Requirements
The observer must attend the initial teacher training, held at the participating site. During the training, the observer will become familiar with the structure, content, and goals of the LST program. This full-day workshop is conducted by a certified LST trainer. Built into the LST workshop is a period devoted to training the observer on CU Boulder protocols and completion and submission of all required observation forms.
The observer will receive an implementation schedule from the participating school district detailing the number of schools, classes, teachers, and students involved in LST. Students should receive LST lessons at least once per week, though LST may be taught up to five times per week as a condensed or mini-course. Therefore, with 10 sessions, implementation may span two weeks to approximately 2 ½ months. In the first year of the grant, the observer will visit each LST teacher three times over the course of the program to monitor the implementation process.
If the observer continues working on the project in Year 2, s/he may be asked to attend another one-day teacher training workshop, and again will be expected to conduct three observations of each teacher implementing the LST curriculum. For sites that have many LST teachers, the observer may share these duties with additional observers.
In addition to attending LST sessions, the observer will be responsible for completing and submitting to required observation forms, which detail what occurred in the classroom and how fully the teacher implemented the program. Observers are expected to maintain close contact with participating schools and teachers to ensure that the implementation schedule is correct (e.g., classes have not been canceled or re-arranged) and must be able and willing to alter their schedules if and when last-minute scheduling changes arise. Observers also are expected to remain in contact with CU Boulder Implementation Coordinators, keeping them informed of all schedule changes, major implementation obstacles, LST teacher turnover, or problems that interfere with their own availability.
Periodically (usually during the annual site visit), the CU Boulder Implementation Coordinator will observe an LST lesson along with the Classroom Observer, with both individuals completing observation checklists for the lesson. The Implementation Coordinator will compare his/her completed checklist to the checklist completed by the Classroom Observer and discuss with the observer areas of agreement and any discrepancies. Both sets of completed reliability checklists will be retained by the Implementation Coordinator, as originally completed (no changes are allowed to be made on the forms during or following discussion of the forms). These forms will serve as an important measure of inter-rater reliability (consistency and accuracy).
In addition to observation checklists, the Classroom Observer will be required to complete and submit an Observer Feedback Survey at the end of the year. This brief survey asks the observer to provide detailed information about overall program implementation.
Who May Apply
This position will vary in its time commitment (i.e., the observer may work 5 hours one week and 10 the next; or may work daily for three weeks or weekly for three months), depending on the number of participating teachers in the district and their implementation schedule(s). As a result, applicants must have a flexible schedule and be available for the duration of the LST program in a given year, regardless of whether it spans two weeks or three months. Because some districts are likely to have multiple schools that begin LST implementation at different times throughout the school year, it is also possible for some observers to have enough work to sustain them throughout a school year. Likely candidates include retired school teachers or administrators, self-employed individuals, homemakers, university students, etc. Because CU Boulder desires that observers maintain an objective, neutral position, individuals with very close ties to the participating instructors will most likely not be accepted. Applicants with full-time jobs or who are considering seeking full-time jobs should not apply, as the observer position requires much flexibility and availability during the school day.
The applicant’s work will be monitored to assure that all required observations are conducted. However, because the applicant will be on-site and CU Boulder staff will not, applicants should be motivated, independent, and conscientious employees who are able to complete tasks without much personal and direct supervision.
Compensation for Observations Conducted on Personal Time
Observers will receive $60 for each LST session they attend and $200 per day for the teacher training (prorated if training does not span the full day). Training also will include time with the CU Boulder Implementation Coordinator to receive training in the observation checklists and protocols for conducting and submitting classroom observations. This training can usually be completed immediately after the teacher training ends, but, in some cases, may occur on a separate day. Payment for training will not be submitted until observers complete 16 observations (or all observations, if completing fewer than 16 in all). If only a portion of planned observations are completed, training pay may be pro-rated. Classroom Observers will be reimbursed for postage if checklists are sent by mail, but will not be reimbursed for phone calls, mileage, or other miscellaneous expenses, such as cancelled or rescheduled LST lessons. These expenses have been calculated into the $60 payment for completed observations.