Job Description

Exciting Opportunity: Join Our Team as a Sprout Spiral (4-6 yo) Lead Educator for the 2023/24 School Year!School Around Us (SAU) in Arundel, Maine has an opening for an early childhood educator to join our team and support our newly forming Sprout Spiral (ages 4-6) starting in August 2023. SAUs mission is to bring together young people, educators, families and our extended community to create a participatory, learner-driven environment grounded in meaningful relationships, which expresses the world we would like our children to live ina world where all are supported to be self-aware and engaged global citizens. In 2020, we evolved from identifying ourselves as a school to a Co-Learning Community. A core value in Co-learning is that it focuses not only on students, but on families and communities together as ecosystems of learning.

As a Co-Learning Community, School Around Us serves youth ages 4 - 14 who are registered with the State of Maine as homeschoolers. SAU seeks an awesome and adaptable educator who values a co-created educational environment balancing structure and spontaneity/freedom. This educator will be responsible for designing and implementing educational programming for a group of children ages 4-6. As this spiral is newly forming, this educator will need to be prepared to lead the initiation of this new program/spiral (akin to starting a Pre-K program).Furthermore, as SAU is currently in transition and emerging into a new organizational and educational model, this person will be a core member of our team in this emergent process and we will benefit from someone who wants to be part of that process.

Further, you may be an amazing fit for our organization if you are a passionate educator who believes that humans are built to learn, that education is a life-long journey, and that education is a collaborative process of self-discovery where one size doesn't fit all. Job DescriptionAn educator at SAU isA teacher, mentor, and guide for studentsA collaborative co-creator of educational experiences with fellow teachers, with parents, and with studentsAn advocate and coach who aids young people in developing and achieving their own desired path to learning and becoming themselvesSomeone who uses an integrated, hands-on curriculum appropriate to developmental stages, knowledge, and abilities and able to adapt to emergent curriculumSomeone who shares their own passions with the SAU communitySomeone who implements School Around Us philosophy of holistic education through the framing of Eight Knowledge Areas (Logical Thinking & Quantitative Reasoning, Scientific Inquiry & Environmental Understanding, Practical Life Skills, Creative Arts, Language & Communication, Citizenship, Body Knowledge) in our curriculumSomeone who addresses issues of diversity, inclusion and equity with learners.A creative guide able to balance freedom with co-created structure.Someone who establishes strong relationships with learners and their families by: Being consistently in contact with families in person and by email/phone as neededPosting on our Loft social network to inform our community of SAU programming (through written posts and videos) and through our year-long portfolio-building processSomeone who facilitates supportive conflict resolution processesA willing participant in a democratic organizational and staff cultureWork CommitmentsThis is a 4-day / week school-year position. Our school year runs from August - June. Work commitments include on-site school days, planning time before and during the school year, and other events that support our organization.

A typical week for this role during the school year is Monday through Thursday, beginning 30 minutes before programming starts and ending 30 minutes after it closes - usually from 8:30 to 3:30. There are also weekly staff meetings and monthly community meetings that we ask teachers to attend in addition to occasional evening school events (eg. School Play, Concerts). It is important to note that a substantial amount of time is spent outdoors throughout our programming through all four seasons so teachers are expected to be prepared for both indoor and outdoor time.

Compensation + BenefitsSalary: $34,560Benefits Available: 8 days Paid Time Off (includes both sick and personal days)Professional Development StipendCertification Support (if needed)Job Requirements: Bachelors Degree or equivalent educational and training experienceMinimum 2 years of experience working as a teacher (need not be in traditional schooling context) with learners ages 4-6Exposure to and interest in holistic education + self-directed learningKnowledge of, and ability to use, conflict resolution skills that are supportive of an equitable and inclusive learning environmentStrong written and verbal communication skillsAble to give and receive honest and thoughtful feedback. Willing to use feedback to grow as an educator and support the SAU community.Excitement to create educational experiences in a non-prescriptive context that is not attached to assessments and curriculum looking a certain way (Eg. tests, teaching at grade level, following standards)Can embrace both structure and spontaneity and utilizes both as a teacherAble to share the stage and work within a collaborative organizational environmentCan design effective, clear and meaningful learning experiencesWillingness to engage with parents/families consistentlyWilling and excited to spend substantial time outdoors with learners throughout all four seasonsFirst-Aid and CPR certifications PreferredMaine Teaching license/certificationExperience guiding project-based, experiential learning programs and environmentsExperience in holistic learning (i.e. child-led education, montessori, reggio, waldorf, free schools, democratic education, agile learning, etc.)Multiple years experience working with children ages 4-6Demonstrated ability to facilitate group processesExperience with participatory decision-making processes such as consent (as used in sociocracy/holacracy), consensus, roberts rules, etc.Is willing to create unexpected, spontaneous and unimaginable things based on student interest and passionExperience as part of a teaching team and/or collaborative teaching environmentMasters DegreeInterested applicants should submit their resume, cover letter, and three references to: will@schoolaroundus.org.

We will accept applications through May 19 and will be interviewing qualified candidates on a rolling basis as we receive applications.School Around Us. is an affirmative action and equal opportunity employer. We are committed to fostering a diverse, equitable and inclusive culture and workforce reflective of our mission, values and communities we serve. All qualified applicants will receive consideration for employment without regard to race, color, religion, sex, sexual orientation, gender identity, gender expression, national origin, age, protected veteran or disabled status, or genetic information.

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