Alternative Education Resource Organization

Jobs, Teachers & Internships

Contact us if you would like to place an ad as an alternative school or a teacher looking for an alternative school. You can email alternativeeducation@gmail.com or call 720-475-1602. Placing ads is a free service for AERO members.

Last updated September 1st, 2010

Schools Looking for Teachers
Teachers Looking for Schools

Schools Looking for Teachers:

WELLSPRING COMMUNITY SCHOOL NOW HIRING

Wellspring Community School, located Gladstone, NJ is now hiring for a 12 hr/wk teaching assistant to work in our multi-age pre-K and Primary classroom. Salary is dependent upon experience. The minimum starting pay is $12/hr.

Wellspring is a small holistic school founded in 2006. The classroom has 10-12 children ages 3-5. The educational program includes traditional academic areas, but with a strong experiential component, and a mission that honors and supports the individual needs and interests of each learner.

Gladstone, NJ is located in Somerset County, which is one of the most beautiful rural parts of the state. We use the small town we are located in, plus the adjacent meadow as our outdoor classrooms.

Please visit the school's website at www.thewellspringschool.org. Then, if you are interested in applying for this position, send resume and cover letter to info@thewellspringschool.org.

BETHLEHEM CHILDREN’S SCHOOL

Seeks a suitably qualified teacher
Physical and Health Education (2 days per week)

An opportunity exists to join the exciting educational experience of Bethlehem Children’s School. We are currently seeking a motivated, qualified gym/health teacher to join our team for the 2010-2011 year. If you are a creative teacher looking for a creative teaching opportunity, then please peruse our educational philosophy to see if you should be part of our team at www.bethlehemchildrensschool.com

Apply to; PERSONNEL COMMITTEE

BETHLEHEM CHILDREN’ S SCHOOL

12 Fisher Blvd., Slingerlands NY 12054 or send to

info@bethlehemchildrenschool.com with PERSONNEL in the subject line

BROOKLYN FREE SCHOOL INTERNSHIP PROGRAM 2010-2011

Brooklyn Free School is announcing internship opportunities for the 2010-2011 school year! This grassroots, democratically run, K-12 community day school located in Clinton Hill is dedicated to the personal and individual development of a diverse group of children and the continual building of a supportive and cooperative community. The internship program is a great way to learn about the school’s unique philosophy, observe and participate directly in non-coercive democratic education, share your interests and passions with a community of learners, and form deep and meaningful relationships with students of all ages.

We are looking for dependable, flexible, organized, and creative interns who relate well with children of all ages and are excited about learning for themselves and others. Interns work unpaid at least one day a week. Past interns have earned college credit. Opportunities available include our Lower School Internship Program, Upper School Internship Program, and Administrative Intern Program. Specific details regarding each program are available upon further request.

Consistency and commitment are essential to being an intern at Brooklyn Free School. Apply to this program only if you can commit to a minimum of a semester-long internship. Applicants are encouraged to participate in the program for the full experience of a complete year at a free school. If interested, please direct your inquiries to Jonathan at bfsinternprogram@gmail.com or 718 499 2707.

Brooklyn Free School’s Non-Discrimination Statement: Brooklyn Free School does not discriminate on the basis of race, color, national or ethnic origin, religion, disability, sexual orientation, or gender identification in the administration of its educational policy, scholarship and loan programs, admissions, and other school-administered programs.

LONGVIEW SCHOOL SEEKING A SCIENCE AND MATH TEACHER

Longview is a democratic school which offers families both Sudbury and academic tracks. We are looking for either a full-time or part-time science and math teacher who is able to teach middle school and high school Chemistry, Biology, Physics and Math, with an occasional elementary school science class. The ideal candidate will have a strong interest in being involved in a democratic school environment with a great deal of student power and responsibility.

Longview School is located in Brewster, NY 10509, about an hour north of NYC and is a stone’s throw away from the Brewster train station which is on the Metro-North Harlem Train Line.

Please review the school’s website at www.longviewschool.org and if you are excited about the possibility of joining our school community, then email a resume and cover letter to Mark Jacobs, Director, at mark@longviewschool.org . Also, free to email any questions.

Part-time pay is $12-15/hour. Full-time position salary, $20-25,000, no benefits.

THE LANG SCHOOL LOOKING FOR A NYS CERTIFIED TEACHER

Looking for an experienced, creative, passionate & brilliant NYS-certified teacher. The right individual will co-teach (with a special educator) a small class of 3rd/4th/5th graders at a new school for gifted children with learning differences opening in Tribeca this September. Science background and gifted education experience/certificate a plus; three year’s full-time classroom experience and willingness to acquire gifted education certificate over the next year a must. Please submit cover letter, cv and references to contact@thelangschool.org .

GREEN SCHOOL SEEKING A STEINER/HOLISTIC TEACHER AND INFLUENCER

There is an incredible opportunity at Green School for a Steiner/ Holistic teacher and influencer. Green School has a growing enrolment with an extending age range and needs excellent teachers to deliver its mission. We are deeply committed to bringing the Green School fully into the holistic world.

The positions are:

Prekindergarten

Kindergarten

Possibly Primary as well.

If you think you're one of the best and like what your research tells you about our school, send us your resume www.greenschool.org/staff/careers_enquiry.phg . Be sure to include a cover letter of less than 200 words on what you can do for Green School and its students.

To learn more about Green School visit, www.greenschool.org

SALMONBERRY SCHOOL LOOKING FOR TEACHING ASSISTANT

Salmonberry School, located on Orcas Island, WA is now hiring for a 28 hr/wk teaching assistant to work in our multi-age elementary classrooms. Salary is dependent upon experience. The minimum starting pay is $12/hr.

Salmonberry is a small holistic school. The classrooms are comprised of between ten to fifteen children. The educational program includes traditional academic areas, but with a strong integrated thematic approach, an arts-rich program, a significant experiential component, and a mission to design learning experiences based on the unique individual needs of each learner. The school setting is beautiful. The staff is very collaborative, and the parent group is tremendously supportive of the school's holistic mission.

Orcas Island is a place of exquisite natural beauty and home to a progressive community of about 5,000 year round residents. It is located two hours north of Seattle accessible by ferry service from Anacortes, WA.

Please visit the school's website at www.salmonberryschool.org. Then, if you are interested in applying for this position, send resume and cover letter to Paul at: info@salmonberryschool.org

ASSISTANT FOR ALTERNATIVE TEEN PROGRAM NEEDED

The Journey School Teen Program in Chester, VT is seeking a high-spirited assistant teacher for a new Alternative Teen program for kids ages 12-16.

We are looking for someone who is comfortable and able to assist our head teacher in teaching math, English, and science at a middle school and high school level in a small classroom environment of ten to twelve teens.

We are looking for someone who is able to teach a Spanish Class or Yoga class on his/her own in addition to assisting in other areas.

The person we hire will have a firm belief that teens should be highly involved in directing their own education and trusted in this process. This person needs to be able to help guide and motivate these teens to find their own path in their own way and in their own time. We are looking for someone who is familiar with the concepts of alternative education or is interested in learning more but is able to participate in a non-authoritative approach of teaching.

To learn more about our philosophy and our programs, please look further thru the school website, www.thejourneyschool.com. This position runs Sept-June 2010-2011 . This position is part time, approximately 12 hrs a week, 3-4 days a week. Hours may increase as enrollments grow. This is a new, developing program with a lot of growth potential and a chance for more responsibilities and higher pay in future years. Starting pay is $13/hour.

Please submit your resume and any letters of reference you may have to: Lisa Crocker at info@thejourneyschool.com, or mail to 45 Cobleigh Street, Chester, VT 05143.

“A person-centered way of being in an education situation is something into which one grows. It is a set of values, not easy to achieve, that places emphasis on the dignity of the individual, the importance of personal choice, the significance of responsibility, the joy of creativit y. It is a philosophy, built on a foundation of the democratic way, that empowers each individual” -Carl Rogers

SUDBURY VALLEY SCHOOL HIRING NEW STAFF

Sudbury Valley School is looking for new staff members during the coming years who will help maintain the level of excellence that has characterized it since its founding in 1968. Applicants must have a thorough acquaintance with the Sudbury model and be committed to doing whatever work is necessary to keep the school a vibrant environment in which children can grow to adulthood. We are looking for adults who have already experienced the struggles and satisfaction of reaching goals they have set for themselves and are interested in turning to another career that is extremely challenging and quite satisfying. Besides good judgment and quick-wittedness, applicants must possess some of the skills required to fulfill the basic needs of Sudbury Valley School.

If you want to know what specific needs the school has identified, let us know, and we will send you a document describing them along with a staff application packet.

Sudbury Valley School, Committee on Staffing
office@sudval.org
www.sudval.org

THE VILLAGE FREE SCHOOL LOOKING FOR ADMINISTRATIVE LEADERSHIP

The Village Free School in Portland, OR is looking for great candidates to take on administrative leadership for our school.

Please review this job announcement: www.villagefreeschool.org/administrator/documents/JobAnnouncement.pdf

DEMOCRATIC SCHOOL SEEKING TEACHER AND INTERN

Harriet Tubman Free School is a democratic high school located in downtown Albany, New York. We are currently looking to fill a part-time teaching position and a part-time intern position, both starting at the end of August 2010. For more information, please visit our website at www.tubmanschool.org.

Part-Time Teacher Position Description: Harriet Tubman Free School (the high school program of The Free School in Albany) is currently looking to fill a part-time teaching position starting at the end of August 2010. Our school serves students ages 14-18 (grades 9-12) from diverse backgrounds and experiences. Staff members at our school act as teachers, advisors, mentors, and administrators. General responsibilities include: attendance for all school hours three days a week, attendance at school functions, teaching academic classes and workshops, advisory of students to help them meet their personal and academic goals, administrative meetings, and parent conferences. Staff members also share daily responsibilities such as serving meals, mediation, spontaneous activity involvement, cleaning, and maintenance.

Qualifications: Previous experience working with teens from diverse backgrounds preferred but not required. Must be self-directed and posses strong communication skills. Previous work references requested. Harriet Tubman Free School is a cooperative and each part-time staff member receives a stipend of $6,250 during the school calendar year. Apply to this position by sending a resume by e-mail to director@tubmanschool.org or by mail to: Harriet Tubman Free School
59 Elizabeth Street
Albany, NY 12202

Part-Time Intern Position Description: Harriet Tubman Free School (the high school program of The Free School in Albany) is currently looking to fill a part-time intern position starting at the end of August 2010. Our school serves students ages 14-18 (grades 9-12) from diverse backgrounds and experiences. Interns at our school act as teachers, mentors, and general support to the staff. General responsibilities include: attendance for school hours three days a week, attendance at school functions, teaching at least one class, support of students to help them meet their personal and academic goals, and administrative meetings. Interns also assist staff with daily responsibilities such as mediation, spontaneous activity involvement, cleaning, and maintenance.

Qualifications: Previous experience working with teens from diverse backgrounds encouraged but not required. Must be self-directed and posses strong communication skills. Previous work references requested. Harriet Tubman Free School is a cooperative and each intern receives a stipend of $1,000 during the school calendar year. Apply to this position by sending a resume by e-mail to director@tubmanschool.org or by mail to: Harriet Tubman Free School
59 Elizabeth Street
Albany, NY 12202

Harriet Tubman Free School strives to create a diverse educational community and encourages people from varied backgrounds and experiences to apply. Harriet Tubman Free School does not discriminate on the basis of race, color, national or ethnic origin, religion, disability, sexual orientation, or gender identification.

MONTCLAIR COOPERATIVE SCHOOL

Position: Head of School, Montclair Cooperative School, Montclair, New Jersey

Progressive Independent Day School with 200 students from nursery through 8th grade

This is a wonderful opportunity for an educator with leadership experience and a commitment to progressive education. Preferred start date is July 1, 2010. The position will be open until filled.

Candidates are asked to e-mail their résumé in MS Word or as a PDF, to this address: Searchcommittee@Montclaircoop.org.

Candidates will receive a reply that their résumé has been received by the Montclair Co-op. A full job description is available by going to the Montclair Co-op's website: www.montclaircoop.org.

Montclair Cooperative School is located at 65 Chestnut Street in Montclair, New Jersey 07042.

Teachers Looking for Schools:

• Julian Burton

  I have taught in public and private schools and worked with children aged three to eighteen across five countries, but in all these experiences, have found no setting which fit my philosophy and values as an educator. I have repeatedly found myself in situations in which my insistence on being respectful, honest, genuine, and caring towards my students, or my belief in offering choices and promoting personal responsibility, has been met with derision or outright hostility from fellow staff members. Meanwhile, I have been left sick at heart by the way traditional schools destroy the natural curiosity and creativity that make true learning possible. Recently, I have been studying the methods and philosophy of democratic education, and believe this movement to be where my future lies.

  As a teacher, I feel my first and most important duty is to help children develop their abilities to think and learn independently. I challenge my students to pursue interests and activities that excite them. I care about what they think and what they ask, rather than what they know. I also place great emphasis on creativity and unorthodox thinking; even lining up for lunch can become an exercise in creative thought in my classroom. Tell-tale signs that a student has spent time in my class include using the phrase "maybe we could…" a lot and showing a propensity for making art or music with any object they might happen to pick up.

  I am currently working (by correspondence) toward an MA in Gifted and Talented Education, and have proven skill and experience in helping young people with unique talents reach their potential. I hope to put these skills to use within an alternative environment that respects and fosters a wide range of intellectual and creative gifts.

  I have a wide range of skills and interests to share with children, including music (I play piano, violin, viola, and tin whistle, and enjoy classical, modern, and folk styles), astronomy, computing (I have built several websites and know three programming languages), travel (I have been to 30 countries and lived in six), photography, linguistics (I speak four languages), history, political science, and anthropology (in addition to my degree in education, I have a B.A. in anthropology). Perhaps more importantly, I tend to get very excited about whatever my students are interested in, just because I find children's enthusiasm so incredibly infectious!

  I can be contacted at jtd_burton@hotmail.com, +49 234 544 5182, or via Skype at tardis.42. I am willing to relocate anywhere in the world and available from the beginning of August 2010.

• Nathan Bergom

  My background includes a B.A. in Chemistry from the University of Northern Iowa, a year of teaching Chemistry in suburban Des Moines, IA, and a 6 month long-term substitution assignment of teaching Chemistry and Physical Science at a Catholic school in suburban Chicago. I�m certified in Chemistry and Physics at the secondary level.

  I understand the constructivist idea that learning happens best when the teachers realize that learning is natural, not something to be forced. Both the learner and the teacher must be willing participants in order for real, lasting learning to occur. Students have their interests, and it would be my job to encourage these interests, and provide guidance and assistance when it is requested.

  I have a deep science background, with an emphasis in the physical sciences. However, that certainly doesn�t limit me, as I find aspects of the life sciences interesting as well. Limiting myself to the sciences would be silly, though. I find history, archaeology, and mythology fascinating, as well.

  I read voraciously, especially science fiction, science and society nonfiction, and comic books. Yes, comic books, from the classic Spider-Man to the more modern Fables (think fairy tale characters living in the modern world, with King Cole as mayor, and the Big Bad Wolf as sheriff). I love games, both board and video. I�ve run a small board game meet up in Chicago for the past two years. I�ve relished sharing these things with my 10 nieces and nephews as they�ve been growing up.

  When it comes to education, I�m a strong constructivist. I firmly believe that for learning to happen, the work done to achieve it must mean something. The people who know best what work is meaningful for students are the students themselves. I have had students tell me they learned Chemistry best from the labs, while viewing the book as worthless. I have also had students who felt exactly the opposite. However, the students who learned Chemistry best were those who felt Chemistry had something to offer, whether it was usefulness for college, or even just plain interesting.

  I dislike the separation of school and community. I feel that children should be a part of the community, not segregated away from it. They should have the opportunity to see the world outside of school and how it works. I particularly like the idea of internships and observations when they are feasible. There are also other ways of getting involved with the community, such as volunteer work.

  While I am a constructivist and believe that students should determine their own curriculum, they should be expected to determine an actual curriculum. At the end of a week, a student should be able to say, �I accomplished something.�

  I am looking to work full-time for a school with a constructivist environment where the students follow their learning interests to accomplish interesting, positive, productive goals. I am willing to relocate, and will be available as of summer 2008.

  I can be reached either at (847) 869-2060, or nbergom@sbcglobal.net

• Andrew Worley

  My name is Andrew Worley and I am excited about teaching. I have a California preliminary secondary credential in Biology as well as an SDA basic credential with endorsements in Biology, Chemistry, and English. (SDA stands for Seventh Day Adventist, a protestant Christian denomination with a large network of schools and hospitals around the world)

  I have just returned to the states from teaching conversational English in Japan for the last 20 months, and am now ready to begin my stateside teaching career. I am very much interested in alternate education and am very flexible and willing to learn a system that works well. I am interested in democratic education as well as thematic, project, and interdisciplinary based approaches. Ideally I want to live near the coast and work in a small school environment.

  It is important to me that my first teaching job in the states is one that finds me in a non-coercive learning community where students are given latitude to grow in individual directions as well as guidance to get to places they never thought possible. If you are looking for a science teacher who wants to learn new teaching techniques, loves young people, and has a flexible willing-to-grow attitude, then please contact me and lets start a relationship.

  ajworley@gmail.com 707-812-0766

• Marc Lazard

  I am a male, 59-year-old, widely experienced, creative educator looking for a professional home. My educational philosophy leans more towards unschooling or free schools than progressive education. My interest in these questions led me to write this article: http://www.realitysandwich.com/initiation_learning_and_failure_regimented_education to describe how schooling descends from tribal initiation and what that can teach us about a new model for intergenerational relationships in the 21st century.

  I have lived in 11 countries and visited two dozen others. I am fluent in French, English and Italian, speak Spanish and Haitian Creole, and I have notions of Russian, Hebrew and Portuguese. Growing up in France as an academic prodigy in a family of Ph. D, I underwent a rigorous education in one of the top two high schools in the country. I learned Latin as well as a lot of math and physics. Eventually I rebelled against that system and engaged in a life of travel and real life experiences.

  I know a lot about holistic health, yoga, nutrition and other wellness modalities. Since the age of 18, I have been on a spiritual journey which became highly focused on issues surrounding children after the birth of my daughter 22 years ago. My intuitive skills in working with people are always growing.

  Lately I have worked as an art educator. I am a drawing specialist ( www.learn-to-draw.net ) and a strong advocate of visual literacy. What started with a book called Drawing on the Right Side of the Brain has led me to train art teachers, research ways to use visual intelligence to facilitate math learning, design educational toys based on the perspective devices of the Renaissance and create travel programs to Italy combining a tour of early Renaissance works with an intensive initiation to drawing.

  I have a passion for film and videomaking, with knowledge of photography, screenwriting, theater, arts and crafts.

  Another deep interest of mine developed while working in a Jungian, holistic center for disturbed adolescents. We used ritual, mythology, the arts, nature and vision quests in the context of healing the whole person. As a result of that profound experience, I am well attuned to the need to take every dimension of a human being into account, including the ways in which schooling can compound problems for young people.

  Although English is my second language, I am well qualified to teach creative and expository writing. I also have a long-lasting interest in math pedagogy. I love basketball and, if that matters, I have a master's in education from Harvard University.

  I am looking for a compatible learning community to become a part of, preferably outside the U.S. and not in a large city, but I will consider everything.

  Marc S. Lazard
  mslxl@hotmail.com
  1-917-319-9719

• Kadi Cook

  As humans we are learning all the time. We take in the world, interpret what it means to us, make connections, assimilate it into our being, and communicate that back to the world. The place of education is to expose students to new experiences and provide a safe arena for them to express themselves. The role of the teacher is to model the behavior we are trying to instill in our students� the curiosity, the enthusiasm, the entire thinking/experiencing process. The teacher is the guide to authentic experience. As teachers we must nurture our students as whole human beings, with spiritual, physical, mental and emotional needs, while recognizing that these same needs are present within ourselves. We must provide time for free exploration, for cultivating curiosity and creativity, as well as time to digest the world and incubate new ideas.

  I have been concerned with the state of the pubic school system since I was extremely disappointed with my own experience in school. I was privileged enough to participate in an alternative arts program in high school which provided me with the opportunity to know working artists as teachers. This program provided a much more democratic style of schooling. We knew our teachers as real people, with first names (hmm, imagine that). We were trusted to wander the city armed with a blank check from the school to find materials. We were asked our opinion about the artwork of our peers and instructors. We all flourished in this innovative environment!

  College proved better, but again I was drawn to the nurturing, creative atmosphere of the poetry classrooms where we were having authentic creative moments. I began teaching craft classes, and after college retuned to my visual arts passions, becoming a potter and ceramic artist. Learning what I was passionate about I absorbed more information faster and more comprehensively than ever before. As there is an art to ceramics and to learning, so there is to teaching. I really began to develop my teaching craft at the Portland Children's Museum where I taught art. This supportive atmosphere (based some on the Reggio Emilia approach) provided a space for kids to explore their interests and questions without being forced in any particular direction. Watching these kids experience true "ah-ha" moments though hands-on exploration excited me into further exploring my career as a teacher.

  At this point I found a Creative Arts in Learning program through Lesley University. This program filled my basket with a multitude of new tools to engage students using all of the arts. I agree with their philosophy about using arts to teach the "regular subjects," but after re-experiencing the traditional classrooms through two years of substitute teaching and doing in-school puppetry workshops, I am again devastated with the state of the public school system. We have many wonderful teachers working to change the system from the inside, but it is my belief that we cannot fix a flawed system by making small alterations. Thus, we must demonstrate alternative ways to educate through new systems that actually work. I don't believe that one model is the end-all solution for every situation, but all have their merits and should be treated as guides, just as the arts integration process should be used as a tool. My specialty is using the arts to teach and I am learning from them daily as I write poetry, sing and play the guitar, and make ceramic and other forms of visual art. This constant exposure has strengthened and maintained my creative abilities; I am quick with innovative solutions, I have the courage to take risks, I am super flexible, I can relate to the experiences of others, and I have maintained my sense of curiosity and humility because of the ways I interact with the world. This is the gift I would like to give to others.

  I am looking for an environment to inspire young learners and to grow with amazing, like-minded people. If you know of an environment like this, please contact me. I am ready to relocate. kadi.cook@gmail.com (864) 473-0807 Address: 4 Oakland Ave. Inman, SC 29349 To see some ceramic work or to participate in my soon-to-come blog on creative education, visit http://www.kadicook.com/

• Sarah Scholfield -Currently, I am teaching in the public school system. I am teaching English as a Second Language. I also taught fifth grade for two years. This is my third and final year teaching in the public school system. I absolutely love the children and teaching them. It is such a special gift to view the world through a child�s eyes to witness such curiosity, excitement, and wonder. I love to see a child free to play, explore, and connect with the world around them. The problem is that in public education, I do not see the children free to create, play, or discover anything on their own. I am constantly saddened by the lack of love, nurturance, positive reinforcement, creativity, and play that the children are deprived of on a daily basis. The fact that more emphasis is based on test scores than the emotional, physical, intellectual, and social well being of a child is a huge injustice to our society and our children.

  I am searching for an independent, democratic, or alternative school that truly inspires, nurtures, loves, challenges, encourages, and lets children be free to discover the world around them. I want to be at a school that does not teach through the use of force or authority, but allows the child to possess his/her own creativity, individuality, and curiosity. My ideal teaching environment would be a family-oriented community where learning is truly inspired by the whole community. I want to be free to connect with the children through outdoor education, love of learning, diversity, hands-on projects, interest-based learning, art, music, Spanish, friendship, and a deep sense of respect, self-worth, and companionship.

  I have a rich, diverse background from traveling to many different countries. I have a deep love and appreciation for other cultures and languages. I taught English as a Second Language in South Korea. Later, I took on a personal endeavor to learn Spanish. I traveled, studied, and lived in Mexico, Ecuador, and Guatemala. I studied at intensive language schools and lived with various host families. I would like to find a school that teaches Spanish. It would be great to be at a school that values learning other languages and sees them as equally important as English. I want to teach at a school where the students and teachers can create a joy and love of learning that far exceeds any state standard, and forms a partnership in learning where side by side, student and teacher learn together as equals.

  Please contact me at sjscholfield@hotmail.com.

• Nikki Lardas - It's like this - I am ending my 15th - and last - year in the public schools, but I spared my son. He was free-schooled, then unschooled. Now he is 21 and it is my turn. I have a writing degree and an M. Ed. in special ed. (small "s's" intentional.) My credentials include journalism, Outward Bound and Mensa. We are a multicultural family, my son and I. He is African-American, I am Greek. We adopted each other when he was 8. I believe in Aero and the Albany School and Summerhill, love Jerry to pieces and have lost all faith in the American public schools. I work hard and will relocate to any school that will let me work in an atmosphere where kids are treated like the gifts they are - a school that believes all kids really want to learn and that grown-ups do best when they guide, encourage and get out of the way. Nikki Lardas, 407 518- 1344 - lardas@gmail.com

• Richard Dates - I am a certified science teacher with over twenty years experience in teaching and tutoring. My New Mexico certificate says I am �highly qualified�, but I�ll let you judge that. I�m looking for a creative, democratic setting in which I can use my background and enthusiasm to help students learn. My skills and interests are not limited to science and math. I have deep interest and some skill in the humanities. I paint, draw and do ceramics. I�ve written, published and performed my poetry in a number of settings. I�ve done a good deal of work with computer graphics including paid, professional work in catalog writing. I�ve published scientific research in biological science. I have a degree in chiropractic and practiced for a few years before returning to teaching. I�ve been a zookeeper at Brookfield Zoo and worked in a number of camp, recreation and outdoor education settings.

  My most rewarding experiences have been working with students who enjoy learning and want to learn. Not all of my students have started out with such attitudes, but in settings which are positive, and which allow development of individual instructional relationships, such environments can usually be created. Sadly, the public schools are usually not good places to create such an atmosphere. Deteriorating school environments, huge student loads, increased emphasis on standardized testing, �No Child Left Behind�, violence, and negative attitudes toward students who want to learn are all factors which mitigate against creating positive learning environments.

  I�ve found that hands-on, project based instruction is most effective in teaching students science. If the teacher can put together good demonstrations and lecture-discussions, students often enjoy them and learn from them. But following student interest and enthusiasm is important. Following lists of objectives is boring for the students and the teacher. While teachers should have sets of basic concepts which they would like students to learn, such objectives need to be followed in a flexible manner. Joy�joy in learning�why can�t THAT be one of the teaching objectives?

  I am a strong believer in an interdisciplinary, project-based approach which links students to the interconnected web of existence which makes up our world. For example, I think working with computer-based graphics such as Adobe Illustrator is a great way to reinforce geometric concepts. There are a number of fascinating programs in computer graphics such as Adobe Photoshop, Adobe Illustrator, Corel Painter, Bryce, and Poser, that can help students increase skill in visual art, computers, mathematics and creative writing.

  I�ve worked in a number of settings including big cities, suburbs, small towns and the Navajo Indian Reservation. Now, I�m looking for a creative opportunity to work for a school developing an excellent educational program. My name is Richard Dates. This summer I will be living on my land near the El Morro National Monument in New Mexico. My email is walrusblackhawk@hotmail.com. My mailing address is P.O. Box 417, 107 El Morro Way, Pine Hill, NM 87357. My phone number is 505-783-4019.

• Michaelia Morgan, Pacific Grove, CA - I am interested in creating a relationship with an alternative school in Northern California or Western Canada with the intention of teaching there in less than two years. My background includes democratically-run programs, student-led activities as well as teaching in a Waldorf school. I am highly skilled in many areas, and I will have completed the Master of Arts in Education before 2007 ends. I like children of all ages but feel the most skilled with "middle school years." I look forward to creating new alliances in the above geographical locations; please send an email for details about me . Michaelia55@aol.com

• Rita G. Quinn - With over twenty years of experience in teaching K-adult learners and in administrative positions in a variety of school settings across the United States, I am enthusiastic about returning to the classroom. I see education as society�s vehicle for instilling its values and hopes for the future. My work, whether as teacher or administrator, is to develop a sense of community that validates and celebrates learning in all realms: intellectual, emotional, social, artistic, physical and citizenship for all the learning partners. I have designed and taught professional development institutes in partnership with the Florence Griswold Museum that involve teachers in learning through performance based activities that incorporate the multiple intelligences. While leader of Lyme School, we were accepted as a Connecticut HOT School and as principal in three schools I instituted the school Town Meeting. As a consultant for the Total Literacy books by Dr. Sue Snyder, I contributed my expertise in developing units that utilize literacy in multiple disciplines for total learning. I have also been trained in Life Space Crisis Intervention and Responsive Classroom. My outside interests that I bring to my learners are contra dancing, animal/nature lore, gardening and traveling. My degrees are in elementary education, educational technology, educational leadership and 15 graduate hours in mathematical leadership.

  Resume on request.

  rquinnfms@mac.com

• JB Wright. I am a certified teacher with over ten years of experience in the field of education. I enjoy getting creative and seeing the light bulb come on for my students. However, this is becoming more difficult in traditional schools, with more emphasis being placed on rote memorization and standardized testing,among other things. I am looking for an alternative school/teaching/learning environment, where I can teach classes indoor or outdoors, and have flexibility in time schedule and pacing of classes. I have extra training in teaching reading, as well as working with gifted and learning disabled students. (I really hate using these titles, prefering to refer to it as meeting the students where they are at and helping them reach their full potential. Plus, I have training in AIMS Earth Science, and the Globe Project, and other hands-on methods for teaching math and science. These are the kinds of things that show kids practical and useful applications for these subjects, but that time constraints sometimes don't allow for in a traditional classroom. In addition, I have multi-grade limited resource teaching experience, and have worked with small and large class sizes of various age levels and abilities.

  I enjoy covering metaphysical and philosophical topics, meditation techniques, and odd bits of trivia which you never know where they may come in handy. Did I mention being a Reiki Master Teacher, having a real love for singing and acting along with some experience in each, and a business grant writing experience to boot. I realize it may sound strange of me mentioning these things, but, beyond teaching, my wife and I have experience in property management and the business aspects that help keep a school/teaching/learning environment functioning. With all this and a firm belief in assisting people in learning to think for themselves and take care of this planet, I'd make an excellent addition in an alternative setting. As I've told my wife, I can teach anywhere. But, I'd rather be in a place where there is respect and acceptance for diversity, and where I can really make a difference in my students lives for the greatest good of all concerned.

  My phone number is 817-301-5130 and my e-mail address is jbiswright@yahoo.com - I look forward to hearing from you.

• Arthur Brenner: I am seeking an opportunity to work at a free, democratic school. As a high school science teacher with five years of experience in public schools, I am painfully aware of just how ineffective (and damaging) traditional schools can be. A coercion-free, grade-free school environment would be a refreshing new challenge. In addition to my traditional school teaching experience, I also homeschooled/unschooled my son for four years (grades 3-6). So, I have seen the benefits of a less rigid approach to schooling. My New Jersey certification is in Physical Science, but my original (Wisconsin) certification also included "Broad Field Science." I'm sure that I can also be useful in the areas of math, computers, and english language/writing skills. However, that overview of my background barely scratches the surface of what I could contribute to a democratic school. I currently live in central New Jersey but am open to considering other areas. Cell phone: (908) 868-3162 Email: arthur_brenner@yahoo.com.

• Dynamic teacher seeks teaching position for children in grades 1-6. I have taught children different subjects through creative methods of storytelling, arts projects, and Writing plays. I have taught for over 25 years in the NY public school systems and throughout the Northeast and have a BA in theatre and communications. I live in NY, but would also be interested in employment elsewhere. Contact: Michele Broder,718-832-5837

• Jonathan Zap. I am an English teacher and youth counselor seeking employment with a learning community dedicated to empowering young people to become self-actualizing learners. My background in education ranges from the traditional to the experiential and holistic. My belief is that teaching is a calling, not merely a profession, a journey demanding continuous learning, growth and adaptation, rather than a destination where one has reached a plateau of mastery or expertise. Through a diverse set of teaching and counseling experiences, I have learned to respect and care for the whole child or adolescent. Working with inner city kids in the South Bronx, I developed a whole language approach to teaching English. As part of a cohesive team in a suburban alternative school, I helped youth at risk rediscover the excitement of self-directed multidisciplinary learning and the fulfillment of service. I have prepared honor students for college, and coached them in debate. I have designed district wide core curricula, worked with kids as a wilderness guide, and taught writing, research, literature, and communications. In addition, I have worked as an equal with young people on social justice issues and at a refuge for endangered species. My journey as a teacher has led me through a series of challenging learning experiences which have expanded my sense of learning into a life-encompassing process, while humbling my sense of teaching from the "sage on the stage" to the "guide on the side." At the core of every good teacher is a life-long student whose enthusiasm for learning, creativity, and fellow learners radiates outward from the center of their being. At the center of my passion to learn is the present crisis (and opportunity) phase of human evolution. Since my undergraduate years, I have sought to understand this critical phase through analyzing contemporary myths and dreams with the tools of Jungian psychology. Extensive research and writing have included subjects such as body image disorders, narcissism and adolescent psychology. (I will be glad to send you a sample of this work published in Holistic Education Review) This work has deepened my understanding of young people struggling to cope with a world and collective mythology transforming at a rate that outpaces individual adolescence. Exploring this transformation through fiction writing, photography and art has helped me greatly as a teacher of creative writing and other forms of imaginative self-expression. Although I have developed many new insights about teaching, my goal is to adapt and integrate myself to a progressive learning community, to learn from their approach, and to become part of a collaborative team dedicated to self-directed growth and life-long learning. I'm willing to relocate.
  Contact at Jonathanzap@netidea.com, 303-596-0539, 637 B South Broadway #108, Boulder, Colorado 80305

• Richard Graca: Assistant Head (former PE teacher) of a K-6 independent elementary school seeking an administrative position in a K-8 or 6-8 school that supports a developmental and progressive approach to learning. I am looking in the New England or Mid-atlantic. My experiences are drawn from 15 plus years of working with children of all ages in various settings. Strengths in the following areas: diversity affairs, discipline utilizing a cooperative approach, admissions, plant and safety management, liaison between school and community at large. I am also adept in many areas of technology � Apple computers, Word, Excel, PowerPoint, and digital photography for promotional materials. Available July 2003.
  Contact info:
  661-288-1331 or 323-850-3755
  rickygraca@earthlink.net

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