The Schoolhouse Learning Center in South Burlington, Vermont seeks an experienced, dynamic, creative, unflappable, out-of-the-box-thinker for a full time 2nd and 3rd Grade Elementary Teaching position to take over for a beloved, 25 year veteran in this role. We want a teacher who loves children and who is excited to become a part of a community that nurtures their social and academic growth.
The Schoolhouse is a state of Vermont approved independent school and a licensed childcare center in South Burlington, Vermont located on 27 acres of wetlands with a long history of providing a quality education to a wide range of students and their families. A dynamic, diverse educational community that promotes curiosity and independence of mind, The Schoolhouse values each student’s voice, nurtures respectful relationships and empowers students to have a positive impact on their communities.
Job Duty Summary
The elementary teacher teacher will work with a multi-age class of diverse learners and will be responsible for designing and assessing all aspects of curriculum — literacy, math, social studies, science — and integrating each with hands on experiences and projects. As part of the elementary team, the teacher will be a part of school-wide events and activities that are central to students’ experiences and to the school’s culture, including the school play, the Farm, Food Forest Program, research projects on common topics and other performances and presentations.
Essential Job Functions
The ideal candidate will see this as an unusual and exciting opportunity to join a team of creative, skilled educators in a unique academic environment. The candidate will possess the leadership skills and confidence to take on the challenge of creating broad-based learning opportunities while providing a strong grounding in core, foundational areas. The teacher will facilitate learning, not merely provide access to information.
The ideal candidate will:
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Invent and implement strong academic curricula and assessments in core subject areas, including math, science, literacy, art, social sciences, and physical education
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Develop a cohesive class culture and provide students with leadership opportunities in the school and broader community.
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Create curricula that are responsive to the interests and experiences of students while attuned to age-appropriate standards and competencies
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Devise (and revise) course materials from year to year. There is no pre-packaged curriculum to deliver. The teacher will be inspired by his or her own passions and knowledge, previous teaching experience, and an understanding grade level standards.
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Provide loving, strength-based, age-appropriate guidance for students’ social, emotional and intellectual growth.
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Be conversant in the national and state standards in core subject areas and creatively align the program with the standards.
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Create varied opportunities for individualized learning, including scaffolding curriculum to meet the needs of diverse learners.
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Be open and willing to work with educational professionals and Schoolhouse administrators related to student evaluations and learning plans (ie IEPs, services plans, psycho-educational evaluations, etc)
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Model excitement about learning, being part of a team and recognizing the variety of strengths individuals bring to the table.
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Communicate frequently with diverse audiences — teachers, parents, administration and community organizations.
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Be part of the larger Schoolhouse Community and support the institution and its mission.
Basic Qualifications
The ideal candidate will be a creative, innovative, generous, humble, outside-the-box-thinker who can seamlessly integrate project- and field-based opportunities with core subject areas.
The candidate will possess a combination of the following qualities:
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Excellent social and leadership skills
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Passion for and knowledge about place- and project-based learning
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Unphased (and even delighted) by the antics and challenges of elementary-aged students
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Methodical and organized
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Loving the natural world and desiring to instill that reverence in students
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Comfort with ambiguity
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Proven track record of strong student and community relations.
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Effective communicator — orally and in writing
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Fierce advocate for students’ need for play and movement
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Non-dogmatic in adherence to specific teaching pedagogies
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Committed to strengths-based approach to nurturing students’ social, emotional, physical and intellectual growth
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Be competent, compassionate and creative in providing a positive and successful environment for all kinds of learners and temperaments including Issues of giftedness, gender, and learning differences
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Flexible and able to juggle many balls at once
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Compassionate team player
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Experienced in alternative/progressive approaches to education
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Excited to seek professional development and educational opportunities
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Be willing to work with and be mentored by the current 2nd/3rd grade teacher during Summer/Fall 2015
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Able to acclimate easily to a new environment and school culture
Education and Training
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Bachelors degree in a relevant field (ex: Education, Environmental Science, Math, English, History, etc) OR an equivalent experience; teaching certification a plus
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Minimum of 3 years teaching experience at the elementary level; experience in independent schools and/or alternative learning environments a plus
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Technologically competent, including working knowledge of personal computers, google docs and tablet-based apps.
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Understanding of principles, philosophy and practices in child development and education.
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Must possess a valid driver’s license and be willing to seek training to obtain a Type II bus driving endorsement.
Physical Demands
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The physical demands described here are representative of those that must be met by an employee to successfully perform the essential functions of this job. Reasonable accommodations may be made to enable individuals with disabilities to perform the essential functions.
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While performing the duties of this job, the employee is frequently required to walk, sit (on floors and chairs), talk, listen, use hands and fingers to feel, handle or operate objects, tools or controls, and reach with hands and arms. Specific vision abilities required by this job include near and far vision and the ability to monitor multiple children in indoor and outdoor settings. The employee must occasionally lift and/or move up to 75 pounds (i.e., tables, chairs).
For more information about The Schoolhouse please visit the Schoolhouse website: http://www.theschoolhousevt.org/
