Author: AERO Webmaster

Position Description and Application Process

Creativity CoLaboratory Charter School (C3) is in search of a dynamic Principal for New
Jersey’s first ever arts-integrated, STEAM curriculum focused, 5 th -8 th grade middle
school. C3 opened in September, 2019 and is now in its second year. The school’s
mission is to create a nurturing and compelling learning community that engages young
people to be their best selves. We believe that children’s natural gifts are best
developed when they are encouraged to connect with other students through hands-on,
creative learning opportunities within an inclusive, emotionally and physically safe
environment. Using the arts as a tool to foster empathy, collaboration and problem
solving skills, the students of Creativity CoLaboratory will be prepared to achieve
academically and socially, to become the future leaders. The Founders of the school,
now lead by the Board of Trustees, created a unique approach that focuses on the core
values of safety, personal growth, community, and fun. Students will benefit from a
robust middle school curriculum that is aligned with NJ standards along with additional
STEAM focused classes in the serene 175 acre campus of Appel Farm Arts & Music
Campus in Elmer, New Jersey, where the school is housed. More information about the
school can be found at www.creativitycolaboratory.org.

The Principal serves as a collaborative leader uniting the students, families, teachers
and partner organizations to create a thriving learning community. The Principal is
responsible for developing and maintaining the mission and culture of the school. They
must embrace the vision of C3 and embody its ideals through personal example.
Through intentional, collaborative leadership, the Principal will lead the success of the
school by developing an inclusive environment with open communication.
The Principal reports to the Board of Trustees and is held accountable for the
management of the daily operations of the school, the development and implementation
of policies, managing financial operations, evaluating plant and facility issues,
overseeing all aspects of faculty, and the coordination of all school activities. The Board
of Trustees values a data-driven environment and will rely on the Principal to gather,
track and use data effectively to ensure the intended outcomes for all stakeholders
including student achievement, parent participation, and community impact.
The Principal attends all Board of Trustee meetings, home and school meetings, and is
responsible for representing the school in all meetings with other stakeholders in the
community, state, and other professional engagements.

With the core value of personal growth as a cornerstone of the school, the Principal is
also responsible for ensuring professional development of all staff, beginning with a
summer training program prior to the start of the academic year. The Principal is
responsible for creating and maintaining an effective professional learning community.
The Principal must engage in the teaching as a way of participating in the educational
activities in the school. The Principal must be involved empathetically with all teaching
concerns.
Performance of this job will be evaluated annually in accordance with the provisions of
state law, administrative code, and the Board’s policy on evaluation of the Principal.
Reports to: Creativity CoLaboratory Board of Trustees
Terms of Employment: This position will begin full-time at a date this is mutually
agreeable no later than July 1, 2021. Contract terms and salary/benefits to be
determined by the Board of Trustees. Salary will be regionally competitive with similar
positions in and will be commensurate with education and experience.

Key Responsibilities:
● Develop a thriving school culture aligned with the Founder’s beliefs and mission
and the charter.
● Oversee all aspects of the educational program to ensure student achievement
● Interview, hire, supervise, and evaluate faculty and academic administrative staff
as a mentor, coach and manager.
● Analyze performance metrics/measures using data-driven processes
● Offer guidance, emotionally intelligent and collaborative leadership and
accountability for all facets of the school’s operations.
● Evaluate adherence of the School program to its charter and ensure that all
aspects of the school operation comply with the Board of Trustees policy and
New Jersey law.
● Coordinate and communicate with outside organizations also supporting the
operations and curriculum of the school including leaders and staff from Appel
Farm Arts & Music Campus and Camden Promise Charter School Network.
Minimum Qualification and Requirements:
● Belief and passion in the power of the arts for thriving individuals and
communities
● Five years of experience in the field of education
● Experience leading an organization
● Experience with Start-up and Growth Organizations
● New Jersey Supervisor certification, Principal certification or Chief School
Administrator certification

● Belief in the Goals and Mission of Creativity CoLaboratory Charter School
● Desire to effect positive change
● Ability to communicate effectively to all Stakeholders through excellent oral and
written professional and collaborative language.
Ideal Candidates will have:
● Enduring positivity and charisma
● Values aligned with those of the school, including that all children have innate
talent
● Experience and appreciation in one or more fields of the fine and performing arts
● Experience with STEAM education initiatives
● Have experience in creating authentic Arts Integrated curriculum, project-based
experiential learning environments and student-engaged assessment models.
● Have understanding of collaborative problem solving and restorative justice
approaches to youth development.
● Familiarity with alternative education philosophies including Montessori, Reggio
Emilia, Waldorf, etc.
● Have experience leading in a charter school environment
● Have business experience to support a start-up initiative
Additional Responsibilities:
● Ensure that all aspects of the school operation comply with the Board of Trustees
policy, State law, and school contracts, N.J.S.A. 18A:17-20b;
● Report to the Board of Trustees on the needs of the school, N.J.S.A. 18A:17:17-
20b;
• Advise the Board of Trustees of any changes or additions that should be made to
its policies;
• Provide the Board of Trustees with such information as may be needed to ensure
the making of informed decisions, N.J.S.A. 18A:17-20; and
• Perform such other duties as may be assigned by the Board of Trustees,
N.J.S.A. 18A:17- 20b.
• Prepare, disseminate, and maintain a manual of administrative regulations;
• Evaluate the future needs of the district and recommend a school action plan
including goals, objectives, and priorities of the Board of Trustees;
• Maintain written objectives to implement the school’s goals and objectives
adopted by the Board of Trustees, N.J.A.C. 6:8-2.4;
• Evaluate progress toward the attainment of the school’s goals and objectives and
report thereon to the Board of Trustees, N.J.A.C. 6:8-2.4; and
• Report to the Commissioner and the county Superintendent on or before August
1st of each year matters relating to the school in the manner and form prescribed
by the commissioner, N.J.S.A. 18A:17-21.

• Establish and maintain a written instructional plan for the school consistent with
the educational goals adopted by the Board of Trustees, N.J.A.C. 6:8-2.5;
• Coordinate the proper implementation of the instructional plan as it applies to the
school.
• Evaluate at least annually the effectiveness of the program of studies and
recommend such changes and additions as may be required to improve the
effectiveness, N.J.S.A.18A:7 A-llb.
How to Apply:
Creativity CoLaboratory Charter School will be approaching education in a unique way
and likewise will be seeking a Principal who can handle thinking outside of the box.
All interested candidates should send a video introduction, accompanied with a cover
letter that addresses your educational philosophy and resume to:
Dr. Loren Thomas, Interim CSA/Principal, lthomas@c3school.org
Video introductions are an opportunity for candidates to share a small glimpse of their
individuality, talents, and passions. Videos should be no more than 5 minutes long and
at least answer the following questions:

1. Why do you want this position?
2. Why are you the best person for this important position?
   Videos can be sent as a link to an online site or shared through a file sharing system.
   Applicants will be reviewed on an on-going basis until the right candidate is found.

Employer: Rock Tree Sky rocktreesky.org

Job Title: Mentor

Full Time

Compensation: $45,000 year plus health care benefits

Location: 12525 Ojai Santa Paula Rd. Ojai, CA 93023

To Apply: Send resume and cover letter to jim@rocktreesky.org

Program Description: 

Rock Tree Sky is a mixed age, self-directed learning community. With social/emotional learning and nurturing relationships at the core of what we do, the children (aged 5-18) enrolled at RTS are supported in their freedom to tinker, create, play, explore, and engage in a variety of offerings that span a wide array of subject matter. 

Rock Tree Sky was founded on the following principles: 

Community Collaboration 

We aim to create a safe space for intergenerational learning between folks of diverse backgrounds, through the sharing of our skills, passions, and resources, often in service of others. We actively seek to remove the barriers to exploration and creative, self expression, whether those are unmanageable shoelaces or systemic inequity. Adults model compassionate communication, self-regulation, and emotional intelligence. 

Learner agency

Learners have the right to choose their activities, define their goals, and assess their progress.

Children’s voices are heard. Learners play a role in creating the agreements and practices of the RTS culture. 

Making Meaning 

RTS has joined the makerspace movement, where students use both new

technologies and traditional tools to work on real, personally meaningful, and culturally relevant

projects. 

Mission Statement: 

The mission of Rock Tree Sky is to cultivate an inclusive learning community where children and adults develop their whole self, through directing their learning in relationship with others.

Job Brief: 

Rock Tree Sky is seeking an experienced or aspiring mentor that is passionate about compassionately caring for children. Mentors are motivated to be truly present with youth and tuned into the unique needs of individuals as they arise. Mentors provide support to learners whether their needs are on the macro level: i.e learning, or project based or micro level: i.e social/emotional. Mentors exemplify what it is to be a life-long learner; they model inquisitiveness and information seeking, work to increase their cultural competence, engage in projects or creative endeavors, seek opportunities for learning, collaborate with others, and share wisdom gained from experience. 

Qualities Desired: 

• Love of children 
• Experience working with children (ideally experience working with children aged 5-7) 
• Competency with facilitating conflict resolution. 
• A willingness to question culturally and personally held beliefs that may contribute to segregation and oppression of all kinds. 
• Bi-lingual, bi-cultural skills and knowledge.
• Awareness of the needs of the diverse communities we serve and in which we are located and of how to foster an inclusive, equitable learning environment. 
• Compassionate awareness of the variety of unique needs different learners present.
• Uphold and be a model of our community agreements (take care of yourself, take care of each other, take care of the space) and encourage learners to do the same.
• Interest and experience with outdoor education and gardening in particular. 
• Active interest in seeking information relevant to self-directed education movement, human development, communication (ie. read blog posts, listen to podcasts, read relevant literature). In other words, maintain a practice of continuous inquiry with regards to the work we are engaged in. 

Job Responsibilities: 

• Check in with and support the well-being of learners with particular attention paid to Roots Kids (5-7 year olds). This includes continual education and reflection through observation and other modes of education on the particular needs of this age group. I.e. discuss what you observe in this age group with mentors to gain insights; read books, articles, etc. particularly focused on this age group. 
• Offer listening and mediation when conflicts between learners arise. Be able to facilitate conflict resolution following RTS’s Conflict Resolution Protocol. (This may mean pausing an activity to lend presence to the challenging event and/or seeking help from other mentors). Also, practice the community’s conflict resolution protocol when needed in your own conflicts with learners and or other adults
• Share ideas, curiosities, and projects that you are enthusiastic about with learners and community members, both modeling your own ongoing learning/curiosity and being responsive to the interests/curiosities/cultures of children.  Present these in a way that is accessible, developmentally appropriate, and culturally relevant for all children ages 5-7. 
• Co-facilitate morning and afternoon meetings with learners. Encourage and invite the practice of intention setting and reflecting. 
• Communicate with parents/families (emails, phone calls, conferences. As well as striving for in-person connecting during pick-up/drop off times and community bonding).
• Presence at monthly community connection events. 
• Facilitate one parent discussion group per year. 
• Collect and share observations of children’s growth and learning via Google Docs.
• Monitor Imagination Room space. Care for the physical space of the Imagination Room primarily as well as other rooms and the outdoor space. 
• Add to and rotate the offerings in the Imagination Room and outdoor area to keep the space dynamic and responsive to young people’s needs. 
• Support the community with behind the scenes role(s) (may include space maintenance, communication, administration, etc.) 
• Participate in family work days, staff in-service days, staff meetings. Be willing to collaboratively make decisions with co-workers about issues that impact the learning community.