Biology Teacher Job Description, Skills, and Salary
Get to know about the duties, responsibilities, qualifications, and skills requirements of a Biology teacher. Feel free to use our Biology teacher job description template to produce your own. We also provide you with information about the salary you can earn as a Biology teacher.
Who is a Biology Teacher?
A biology teacher is an individual who primarily works in a private or government secondary school and/or teaches or instructs students in biology. They are primarily responsible for planning lessons, delivering lectures, and assessing students in the discipline of biology. They are also called science teachers because biology is a science course. They may also conduct laboratory sessions for experimental learning in addition to classroom sessions. This experimental knowledge is necessary because biology is a practical course like physics and chemistry.
A biology teacher goes beyond the rudiments of biology to impart knowledge to students. A biology teacher is evident to an extent that students will want to learn more about life science. A biology teacher will have in-depth knowledge of anatomy, physiology, and living organisms to be able to answer questions from students and teach content contained in school standards.
More so, these biology teachers design both formative and conclusive assessments to evaluate students’ performance and provide meaningful feedback. High school biology teachers are also in charge of preparing and grading examinations and partnering with parents on students’ performance and the overall behavior of students.
Biology Teacher Job Description
Below are the Biology teacher job description examples you can use to develop your resume or write a Biology teacher job description for your employee. Employers can also use it to sieve out job seekers when choosing candidates for interviews.
The duties and responsibilities of a biology teacher are;
- Plan lessons, present information, promote discussion, assess performance, and change learning methodologies in the study of biology for students in high school
- Provide a comfortable and conducive learning environment to discipline misbehaving or stubborn students in strict adherence to the school’s policy
- Instruct students in a large classroom setting as well as all groups to expand knowledge of the scientific and biological method
- Provide coaching to the students to acquire knowledge in specialized biology branches-molecular biology, marine biology, botany, and zoology
- Prepare teaching aids or graphical pictorial presentations with the help of charts or PPT presentations to help students comprehend the rudiment of the subject
- Supervise student’s laboratory practicals and guide them during experiments
- Collaborate with research teams and conduct experiments to make discoveries in biology
- Communicating any student issues to parents, counselors, and other members of staff
- Participating in school events such as club meetings, and staff meetings as required
- Representing the school at science conferences, workshops, and other networking events
- Building interpersonal relationships with students so that they can feel free to discuss sensitive topics in the class
- Encouraging students to participate in science fairs, competitions, and other events and also taking time to prepare them for these events
- Sere as chair of the curriculum planning committee for the science department
- Utilize state and district standards concerning exam administration, and record scores for submission to appropriate governing agency
- Prepare research reports and submit science writing for journals, magazines, and newspaper
- Draft examination paper and determine other parameters that can be used to test student’s performance
- Provide feedback to the students about their performance in-class tests and examinations to help them improve academically
- Conduct safety drills or lead guidance sessions when necessary throughout the school year for overall student security outside of biology instruction
Qualifications
- A Bachelor’s degree in biology or a related field, with a current state teaching credential and valid background check
- Experience in diverse educational techniques to instruct effectively
- Communication skills and paying attention to detail
- Master’s degree in biology
- Degree in secondary education with a focus in biology and also laboratory science
- A completed teaching apprenticeship as recommended
- Relevant teaching license or certification
- Past previous proven teaching experience
- Excellent interpersonal, oral, and written communication skills
- Patience, resilience, and cultural sensitivity
Essential Skills
A biology teacher must possess the following skills:
- An Excellent Communicator
An outstanding biology teacher must possess in-depth knowledge of the discipline of biology to be able to know how to instruct students effectively. Their communication skills must be exceptional because will determine whether students will listen to them effectively or not. This communication will skill will facilitate their lesson and make the lesson session a discussion class and also students will get to ask questions. A biology teacher should always come up with teaching key concepts such as homeostasis, meiosis, gene splicing, and energy transfer. A good biology teacher must be someone who can relate science daily to students’ lives enthusiastically.
Incredible biology teachers make science come alive through cool lab demonstrations that fascinate students and arouse curiosity. Effective teachers communicate ideas in a way that shows an understanding of cultural differences and individual different learning abilities. They put in their very best effort to create an equitable learning environment.
- A Competent Scholar
A competent biology science teacher must master his/ her subject area. They must enjoy keeping up with trends in biology, teaching methods, and evolving theories in science and pedagogy. When they are not lecturing in front of the classroom or supervising students’ science experiments; they engage themselves to acquire more knowledge in the field of biology.
Some of the activities they engage in their leisure time are; voraciously reading scientific journals, attending professional conferences, exchanging ideas with their colleagues around the globe, and being participants in high school science organizations in their countries of residence. During the holiday; biology teachers enroll in graduate science classes to enhance their brain, keep their skills fresh, maintain their teaching license and enhance their teaching credentials.
- Mentoring Skills
The excellent qualities of a biology teacher include the ability to increase student awareness of environmental concerns. They provide facts, evidence to pressing environmental issues such as deforestation, ozone depletion, and declining biodiversity. Students are also encouraged to conduct their research and come up with their findings. This solely depends on the school budget, biology teachers may plan to supervise field trips to nature centers, science museums, and aquariums. These field trips are also called scientific excursions. They assist in saving planet earth by sharing their concern for wildlife habitats, natural resources, ecosystems, and the deleterious effect of industrial activities that can deplete the ozone layer. Committed biology teachers set a good example for students to emulate by encouraging recycling in the classroom. Championing school sustainability initiatives and driving a fuel-efficient vehicle or using public transportation.
- Technology Champions
A competent biology teacher will inculcate cutting-edge technologies into the curriculum. Examples of technology in the classroom, as suggested by educators are computer-enhanced images of living cells, 3D animations for anatomy instruction, and online laboratory simulations. Industrious biology teachers use technology to present interactive activities and lessons that will attract students’ attention.
Technology-oriented biology teachers reinforce lessons through group discussions and provide additional resources such as online resource materials. New emerging technologies are also used to enhance interactions and communication beyond the classroom. For instance, the use of social media to post an assignment and engage in a group discussion about a particular topic.
- Fact-checking
Biology teachers engage students in authentic fact-checking and reportage of scientific findings. Having good fact-checking skills allows them to ensure that they can observe a scientific experiment before concluding. Teachers with fact-checking skills also encourage students to practice such to help them value honesty and integrity while reporting the findings of a research study.
- Critical Thinking
Biology teachers use their critical thinking abilities to enhance their scientific findings or research. They study and evaluate different biological ideas and offer detailed insight to enhance students’ understanding of the topic. Possessing critical skills gives you the first-hand opportunity to review the way school activities are carried out or other classroom activities and suggest improvement solutions. Teachers can also enhance critical thinking in students by engaging them in discussions and activities while objectively reflecting on their teaching strategies to make them more interactive for students.
- Open-Mindedness
Biology teachers must be open-minded and also be able to adapt to current changes in scientific research of biological concepts. Open-mindedness allows them to be neutral and make wise decisions. It allows them to be flexible in eliminating any hypothesis, paradigm, or model of inconsistencies. Open-mindedness also gives a chance to teachers to consider diverse critical perspectives, engage students, and promote individual learning styles.
How to Become a Biology Teacher
- Enroll for a Bachelor’s Degree
There are two ways to become a biology teacher; you can enroll for a Bachelor of Education (B.Ed.) in Biology or a Bachelor of Science (B.S) in biology. To boost your qualification; you can also acquire a teacher certification program in secondary education. When enrolling for your degree in biology education, you will be mandated to do coursework in the curriculum and also enroll in a student teaching internship. The biology degree program solely focuses on biology and you can advance your knowledge by enrolling for a post-university degree.
- Complete your Student Internship
During the phase of your degree program, your school will make arrangements for you to teach in a classroom under the supervision of a licensed teacher. These are the following duties you will perform once you start working; you will hand out assignments, make copies of homework sheet study materials, grade papers, and participate in learning activities. As you work progress through the semester; you will gradually take on more responsibilities and eventually instructs students without the help of the teacher. Your school professors will come once in a while to supervise your teaching internship and grade you based on your performance to qualify you for your degree certification.
- Acquire a Master’s Degree
Education is progressive and as a biology teacher; you must update your knowledge. You can enroll for a master’s degree in Biology Education or Education (M.Ed.). This will boost your knowledge and set you above your competitors in the job market.
- Get a Teaching License
Biology teachers in secondary schools are mandated by the law to be licensed by their state. For instance in Nigeria, we have the Teachers Registration Council (TRCN). After you completed your bachelor’s degree program as a teacher; you will enroll for exams that all states use to evaluate teachers’ proficiency. The first exams are to showcase your skill in general subjects and the second is to test your ability to instruct students in biology. It is mandated that you pay the licensing fees and a criminal background check is also necessary. Some states may require you to take their assessment exams or complete additional college courses.
- Search for Teaching Jobs and Apply
First, you will need to draft a professional resume that tests your job history, education, teaching experience, technical skills, and achievements. It will also be of great advantage to affiliate yourself with professional bodies in education or biology; this will communicate to employers that you are committed to teaching and professional development. You can start your job search by visiting the school district website, or websites dedicated to posting teaching vacancies. Ensure you have your teaching credentials in order because some schools will request transcripts, exams score, and licensing credentials.
Where Can a Biology Teacher Work?
- Biology Education Industry
Biology educators can work in traditional school settings, such as high schools and universities, as well as nature centers, parks, and museums but most biology teachers work in a high school. High school biology teachers instruct students in biology and other science-related courses. They possess a background in education and classroom management. At the college level, professors teach courses, guide students, and often engage in personal research. Finally, some educators that don’t want to work in a classroom setting can choose to work in parks, museums, zoos, or aquariums, where they have several responsibilities which are leading tours, designing exhibits, writing grant proposals, and teaching specialized classes.
Biology Teacher Salary Scale
- In the United States, a biology teacher earns $80, 444 per year with an average salary of $52,335 per year. This salary varies based on geographical location and years of experience; an experienced biology teacher will earn more than an entry-level biology teacher.
- In Nigeria, A Secondary school biology teacher earns 288,000NGN per month. Salaries range from 141,000NGN to 450,000NGN. The median salary is 294,000NGN per month the experience level is the most important factor in determining the salary. A biology teacher with less than two years’ experience earns approximately 168,000NGn per month.
Additionally, biology teachers whose expertise span anywhere between ten to fifteen years earn an equivalent of 368,000NGN per month which is 24% higher than someone with five to ten experience.