Gaia Democratic School in Minneapolis, MN is accepting applications for new students and volunteers!
We are an independent nonprofit K-12 school committed to student empowerment, academic freedom, democratic education and environmental stewardship.
Learning Together in Fun and Freedom
We host an Open House on the 2nd Tuesday of every month (Oct.-May) from 5:00-7:00pm.
Contact us for a tour! 612-823-0154
School@GaiaDemocratic.org
www.GaiaDemocratic.org
Seeking New Center for School Change Director
The Center for School Change is seeking a new director. CSC is a nationally known organization, established in 1989, that works at the school, community and policy levels. Due to medical issues, the current (founding) director intends to leave this position within the next three to six months. CSC’s current work, a job description and application procedures are provided below. More info is at www.centerforschoolchange.org.
Starting Date:
We anticipate that the director would start sometime between November 1, 2015 and January 1, 2016. Current plans include a brief period of overlap during which the new and current director will work together. Then the new director will assume responsibility for the Center.
Job Description
The director will work closely with individuals and organizations that partner with the Center for School Change. This includes policy-makers, community members, students, families, educators and funding organizations. The director will:
a. Take lead responsibility for carrying out currently funded projects.
b. Periodically write articles for various publications.
c. Make presentations to community and governmental organizations
d. Take lead responsibility in researching possible funders, and developing proposals for CSC funding.
e. Work with the CSC advisory committee.
f. Review, and potentially refine CSC’s strategic directions and strategies.
g. Work with contracted staff to maintain and update the Center’s website.
h. Work with the Center’s fiscal agent, EdVisions, to supervise the Center’s
i. Respond to questions from families, educators, students, policy-makers and journalists.
j. Other duties as appropriate.
Salary and fringe benefits: Commensurate with qualifications and CSC resources.
This is a grant-funded position with CSC, an affiliate of EdVisions Schools. Continuation of the position is dependent on performance and availability of funds.
Application Procedures
To apply to this position, please submit two items by October 2, 2015 to
joe@centerforschoolchange.org Please submit
1. A resume describing your work and educational experiences, 2 references
2. A letter with describing specific work/accomplishments in as many of the following areas as you have had significant experience.
a. The letter should include no more 100-125 words on up to ten
b. Please write a paragraph only in those areas where you have had different areas, listed below. You may not have had experiences in each area.
experience. We anticipate the person selected will have experiences in several but not necessarily all of the following areas.
1. Working as a teacher and or administrator in a district and/or charter public school that succeeded in helping students make progress, measured in various ways.
2. Working successfully toward specific goals with people from other ethnic and racial groups
3. Managing complex, multi-year projects to help improve one or more public schools.
4. Writing proposals to funding organizations (i.e. foundations and government agencies)
5. Developing and supervising budgets
6. Writing a blog and/or writing articles that have been published
7. Working with local and/or state policy-makers (i.e. school board members, state legislators, governors, and their staffs)
8. Developing products or services that educators, families or others purchased.
9. Demonstrating a deep, sustained passion for improving public education, closing achievement gaps and helping create a more just, equitable system.
10. Working with district, charter, rural/urban/suburban educators, families and students.
Current work of the Center for School Change:
With support from the Bigelow, Carlson, St. Paul, Travelers Foundations and Generation Next, the Center is working with 3 metro area district and charter public schools. The overall goal is to help them involved at least 50% of their 11th and 12th graders in dual (high School/college) credit courses by June
With support from the Bremer Foundation and several individuals, the Center is working with the Brooklyn Center High School, and charters in Owatonna and Willmar, to help at least 50% of their 11th and 12th graders participate in dual enrollment courses by June 2017.
With Bush Foundation support, CSC is partnering with several groups to convene a conference on improving schools and increasing job opportunities.
CSC is helping monitor implementation of legislative efforts involving College in the Schools/Concurrent Enrollment and Post-Secondary Enrollment
Options.
Center staff write periodic columns for various publications, and actively shares research and other information with journalists.
CSC staff regularly respond to inquiries about education issues from parents, families, journalists, school board members, legislators and legislative staff.
Are you convinced that the way we are educating children has to fundamentally change?
Do you have the patience needed to allow students to experience and learn from failure?
Are you prepared to inspire a generation to tackle the challenges that lie ahead?
Greenfields blends state-of-the-art learning software, real-world projects, Socratic discussions and a Hero’s Journey dialogue in a student-driven, multi-age learning studio. Our approach to learning does not include tests, grades, or teachers leading lectures. Our classroom structure is unique. It ensures that the Guides create and facilitate the learning environment, but empowers students to take ownership of their individual learning path and collective classroom governance.
Greenfields currently has an Elementary program and will be growing in Fall 2015 to include Early Learners (ages 4-6), Elementary (ages 6-10) and Middle School (ages 11-14) programs. We are currently interviewing candidates for all three programs.
Position Description
Each program is led by two Guides working in close partnership to oversee a mixed-age class of 20 to 40 students. Guides help each student find their calling and reach their full potential by:
Qualifications
We are looking for Guides with a deep curiosity about life, a lifelong love of learning, endless patience, and an entrepreneurial spirit. Candidates should have proven excellence in guiding others, whether in or out of a school environment. Montessori, project-based and/or experiential learning experience is a plus.
We seek Guides who love to experiment, evaluate, and improve on everything they do. Candidates should have proven excellence in written and oral communication skills, and be comfortable using and learning a variety of technology tools. And most importantly, candidates should have a deep respect for all children.
Salary
Greenfields Academy offers a salary commensurate with experience plus a bonus structure based on performance.
Next Steps
Candidates should email a resume and thoughtful cover letter that outlines how their skills and experience meet the qualifications of the position, how the position is part of their Hero’s Journey, and how they heard about this opportunity to hiring@greenfieldsacademy.com. Applications will be reviewed on a rolling basis.
More info at: GreenfieldsAcademy.com
