Position: K-12 Advisor

Part time / 15-20 hours per week 

Pay: $12/hr

Email Resumes: Hiring Committee, VFSJobs@gmail.com

Mail Resumes: VFS Hiring Committee, PO Box 12590, Portland, OR 97212

Closing Date: March 31, 2014

 

The Village Free school seeks a temporary, part-time advisor to work with students ages 5 through 18 for April – June 2014, and a possible return September-October, 2014. 

The Village Free School is a private, independent, not-for-profit Democratic Free School serving youth ages 5 to 18, in Portland, Oregon. We operate democratically and provide an array of classes while maintaining a holistic and conflict resolution based environment for our students. Major emphasis is placed on the social / emotional development of our students.

Free school refers to a philosophy in which the students choose for themselves how to spend their day. At the Village Free School, there are no required classes or compulsory evaluations. The Village Free School offers classes and activities based on student choice that are geared towards age groups, but there is no strict age separation within the space. 

Description of position:

In this position you will be working directly with students, parents, interns, and staff. This position requires that candidates be able to work collaboratively in a cooperative manner with all of these groups. Advisors provide some classes, offer support with activities, and help mediate conflicts when they arise between students. Candidates will have to communicate with all ages in a way that honors everyone's voice.

Specific expectations for position:

• Initiate your own learning and problem solving
• Work collaboratively and cooperatively with students, staff, and parents
• Prioritize multiple competing tasks
• Help identify and assist in resolving interpersonal conflicts
• Attend weekly staff meeting
• Communicate with caregivers to help increase connection and understanding of how the school operates, answer questions and share vital information
• Demonstrate courage in providing appropriate boundaries, trust and support people of all ages within a non-coercive learning environment
• Demonstrate self-care and hold gracious space for yourself and others
• Act in accordance and in support of the mission, core principles, by-laws and other resolutions adopted by the Village Free School
• Show a willingness to hear and give feedback about performance and operations of the school
• Serve as a broker, advocate, facilitator, and teacher with and for students within their own developmental needs and toward assisting them to meet their educational goals
• Locate resources for subjects of student interest
• Mentor students based on genuine relationships and a desire to support and challenge students in following their interests and getting their needs met
• Bring passions and ability to lead activities for groups small and large
• Create and support clean-up and community ownership of school space and materials
• Listen, advocate where wanted, be present
• Model and teach mediation and conflict resolution skill
• Create your own learning plan
• Participate in community decision making process
• Participate in review process

Skills needed:

• Ability to work with all ages of youth
• Appreciation for working in a non-coercive environment
• Willingness to learn to work through conflicts as they naturally arise using conflict resolution skills
• Be able to maintain in an environment that can be energetic and noisy
• Comfortable initiating activities with students
• Support and help students with self initiated activities
• Be willing to work through conflict as they might arise with staff, parents, and interns.
• Good communication and listening skills.

VFS Provides:

• A dedicated staff to mentor and coach.
• Support to develop and implement personal and professional goals.
• Room to grow, make mistakes, and thrive.
• Love, appreciation, and experience working with the wants, needs, and growth of youth and their families in a progressive non-profit community school.

*This position requires a high level of ability to keep sensitive information confidential.

From Heathcote Community:

This summer we are offering a special Permaculture, Ecovillage, and Arts Community Education (PEACE) program. This features internships in farming and carpentry plus a variety of educational workshops! Below is a flyer with a brief summary of the program. 
This program is designed for those who are interested in a focused month of work experience and learning about permaculture, ecovillages, community living and personal growth.  Workshops with experts are offered in the following subjects: Ecovillage Education, Permaculture Design, Community Skills, Wilderness Awareness and Survival Skills, Consensus and Facilitation, Empathy in Action, Social Justice, Breathwork, Conflict as a Doorway to Intimacy, Interplay, Enneagram, Meditation, Yoga, and more. 

Note:  Internships are also available year-round but do not include the workshops. 

Individuals with further questions can find more details at our web page – PEACE Program at Heathcote.org, connect with us through the Heathcote Community Facebook page, or email us at education@heathcote.org.

Little River Community School has an opening for a K-3 teacher for the 2014/2015 school year. Little River is an independent alternative school located in rural Canton, New York, with thirty-five students in grades K-12. We are offering $20,000 per year and benefits including free tuition for a teacher’s child, a small health fund, and a supportive environment with a lot of academic freedom. We are looking for a teacher with at least several years of experience working with children, preferably in an alternative education setting. Qualities we are looking for include: a passion for working with children, flexibility, ability to think on your feet, patience, long term interest in teaching, problem solving abilities, strong communication skills, reliability, a sense of humor, self-motivation and self-confidence. Teacher certification is not required. For a complete description of the position and an application, go to our website at www.littleriverschool.org. Deadline for applications is 4/15/14 or until position is filled.