Position Description: Being such a unique educational model and philosophy, Sudbury schooling is best learned on the job. Thus, the ideal way to learn and train to be a future staff member is through our internship program so that all parties can make sure there is a mutual understanding of the expectations and tasks involved.
Interns participate as members of the school community where a democratic process is used to decide all school matters. Students and staff (and possibly interns) all have an equal vote. Students, Staff, and Interns are all held accountable by the school system of justice called the Judicial Committee (JC) that meets daily to deal with infractions to the School Lawbook. Interns must support the school’s democratic and judicial process and be capable of functioning in the community. They should be respectful of students’ activities so students can operate independently and interdependently. Adults in a Sudbury School community do not teach daily formal lessons like in a traditional school setting, but act as role models and guides without directing or suggesting what a student should do (unless there is a safety concern). Adults in the community are not responsible for entertaining or instructing students, but rather for maintaining/facilitating the essential processes of the school in the Sudbury Model and ensuring safety. Interns should act as responsible members of the school community on a consistent basis. Our intern program is used as a trial period for staff at our school.
Qualifications: We are seeking enthusiastic, highly-motivated, and adaptable leaders to join our school community. Interns need to be interested in learning about democratic education and self-directed learning. They should enjoy working with children in a way that respects the thoughts and agency of children and does not treat them as inferior or needing constant direction or entertainment. An open-minded and just person with a variety of interests is preferred. Respecting and valuing each student’s unique interests and being willing to let students learn from experience is critical. A cleared background/fingerprint check is required prior to the first day of the internship. Must have reliable transportation.
Schedule: School is open Monday – Friday 8:30am – 3:00pm. We need interns to commit to a regular schedule (agreed to in advance with our school staff). For example, an intern could commit to MWF 9:30am – 12pm or Tues – Thurs 12 – 3pm ideally for a minimum 6 week time period. The important aspect is consistency and reliability. Please see our school calendar: goo.gl/aNkpwW
Benefits: The Miami Sudbury School is the FIRST and ONLY Sudbury school in Miami-Dade county. This unique approach to education has been called one of the most cutting-edge. Though many Education students have not heard of this model, even in graduate school, it is expanding around the globe for reasons interns will quickly come to see and appreciate. This internship is unpaid but we are willing to consider course credit or offering a small stipend for the right candidate.
All applicants are strongly encouraged to visit our website for further information regarding the Sudbury model and philosophy: www.miamisudburyschool.org. Email introductions with an explanation of interest in the internship program and availability should be sent to MiamiSudburySchool@gmail.com. Subject: Intern Program
