T he Free School is seeking to fill 2 full-time teacher positions:
Pre-School Teacher
Elementary/Middle School Teacher
The Free School in Albany, NY, the longest running inner-city democratic free school in the country, is seeking 2 full time teachers: a pre-school teacher and an elementary/middle school teacher.
Start date: August 26, 2013. The hours of this position are 7:45am – 3:00pm Monday-Friday, typically following the Albany City School calendar. In addition, teachers attend weekly staff meetings, meet several times during the school year for staff development days and parent conferences.
The position entails supervision and guidance of children in multi-age groups, preparation of activities, facilitation of student-directed learning, and attending to the emotional growth and well-being of students. We are seeking a flexible and creative individual who is able to multi-task and implement a student-centered curriculum, which utilizes each child’s interests and is attentive to their specific learning styles. Strong teaching candidates are self-directed, creative thinkers, and can work closely with children and focus on emotional needs as well as planning activities based on student’s interests and passions. Free School teachers are expected to provide a variety of learning experiences through play, direct instruction, hands-on activities, conflict resolution, and field trips. We also strive to incorporate local community resources in order to develop or enhance the curriculum. Teachers are also expected to communicate with parents and guardians in order to develop relationships, answer questions, and share information about their child(ren).
About the Free School: The Free School, the longest running inner-city democratic free school in the country, is located in a racially and socio-economically diverse neighborhood in Albany’s South End. We are a Pre-K through 8th grade alternative school with approximately 60 students. Based on the principle that children have the innate desire to learn, we do not have a set curriculum, nor do we give grades or standardized tests. At our school each day is unique and students not only learn the traditional academic subjects, but also valuable lessons about responsibility, democracy, problem solving and most importantly about how to relate to each other. We have always placed great emphasis on our student’s emotional well being and the fostering of loving, caring relationships. The Free School is based on democratic principles and urgent problems and conflicts are dealt with on an ad hoc basis in student-led council meetings, which anyone can call at any time. Students share the responsibility with teachers for school policy and planning activities through our weekly activities meeting, where students and teachers have an equal vote.
General Expectations for Our Teaching Staff:
***Create a nurturing and safe environment for students
***Work collaboratively with students, staff, and families
***Act in accordance and support of the principles, bylaws, and policies of the Free School
***Demonstrate methods and comfort in providing appropriate boundaries, trust, and support to people of all ages in a self-directed learning environment
***Promote student voice, self reliance, social relationships and play
***Support students involvement in daily decision making and democratic meeting skills
***Embrace literacy as the key facet of freedom based learning
***Develop relationships with community resources
***Provide a respectful and attentive environment regarding social justice
***Model and teach mediation and conflict resolution skills, including but not limited to the Free School’s practice of Council Meetings
***Support clean-up and community responsibility of school spaces, materials, and resources
***Help identify and assist in resolving intrapersonal conflicts
***Attend a weekly staff meeting and additional meeting as needed
***Utilize effective verbal and written communication skills
***Demonstrate a willingness to hear and offer feedback about performance and operations of the school
***Love and appreciation of working with the interests, needs, and growth of children
Please visit our website for more details about our unique school: www.albanyfreeschool.org
To Apply: Please specify which position you are applying for (pre-school or elementary/middle school), submit résumé, cover letter, three references, and any additional information you feel we should consider in evaluating you as a candidate for a position with our school. Strong applicants will succinctly address the following questions:
a. What makes you a good fit for the position?
b. What skills/ assets do you have to offer?
c. Are you able to work with children in any age group?
d. What support, if any, would you need in order to excel in the position?
**All inquiries need to be submitted electronically as a .pdf document(s) to The Free School, ATTN: Teaching Position at albanyfreeschool@gmail.com. All questions can be directed to the same e-mail. Deadline to receive full consideration is March 1, 2013. All candidates will be informed if they are selected for a first-round interview on a rolling basis through March 8, 2013 with an anticipated hiring decision made by March 29, 2013).
If electronic submission is not possible, please mail information to the following address: The Free School, ATTN: Teaching Position, 8 Elm St., Albany, NY 12202.
The Free School is a cooperative; each teacher receives a stipend of $300/week without benefits; includes paid vacations based on school holiday/vacation schedule during the school year.
The Free School does not discriminate on the basis of race, color, national or ethnic origin, religion, disability, sexual orientation, or gender identification.
