07/21/2022
We'd love to explore how you can join our team of passionate educators, entrepreneurs, and innovators in the elementary program at Acton Academy Idaho Falls.
At Acton Academy, we believe children are on a journey—what we call the hero's journey—to discover their calling.
Students taking charge of their own learning is integral to the journey at Acton. Acton is a student-driven, self-paced elementary program that blends top rated self-paced software, quest-like projects with real-world applications, Socratic discussions, and the Hero’s Journey in a student-centered, multi-age classroom.
If your goal is to instill your love of learning in others while advancing in your own professional growth, this is your chance to get in on the ground floor of one of the world’s most innovative schools.
School begins early September each year and is an 11-month program. We run on 5-6 week sessions with 1-2 week breaks in between sessions. We are closed for 6-7 weeks in the summer (half of July and the month of August.) The Guide should be available to learn and prepare throughout the summer, including working in our summer camp.
Position Description:
The Lead Guide in our Spark Studio will work in partnership with the founder to oversee a class of multi-age learners (roughly ages 4 to 7/8). She/he will be responsible for facilitating the development of a studio culture of hard work, high standards, warmth, and joy.
She/he will:
-Affirm students, holding them accountable to their promises and to delivering “the best work they can do” as they discover and pursue a calling on a hero’s journey.
-Create meaningful exhibitions, ceremonies, and celebrations that reinforce the rules of engagement,
-Create personal and group covenants to provide and strengthen a safe learning community.
-be both Kind-hearted and tough-minded
-Act as a role model as an independent learner on a hero’s journey
-Launch and lead Socratic discussions
-Practice the Socratic method at all times (instead of answering questions, guiding students to find the answers themselves).
-Co-create and launch quests (projects), including daily challenges and curating world-class examples
-Guide children in self-governance.
-Prepare the studio environment so that expectations are clear and learners are set up for success.
-Encourage young heroes to track their progress and create portfolios to show parents, peers, and guides what they can do.
-Uphold promises to students, parents, and fellow Guides made in relational covenants.
-Pass along each of these responsibilities to students as quickly as possible, so as to allow students to lead themselves.
-Write or contribute to weekly blog/social media posts.
-Communicate/meet with parents, as necessary.
-Though most of the curriculum will be set already, the guide will be responsible for daily/weekly/yearly planning as well as evaluating and refining the existing curriculum and designing and experimenting with new projects, tools, and approaches. The guide will also maintain the classroom environment and document learner progress (student projects, achievements, and everyday activity).
Outstanding candidates are able to accept failure, learn from their mistakes, and embrace creativity and independence.
Qualifications:
We are looking for someone with a deep curiosity about life, a lifelong love of learning, and an entrepreneurial spirit (must thrive in a startup environment). We seek someone who:
-Has Montessori training (highly recommended)
-Has proven excellence in guiding children in or out of a school environment.
-Loves to experiment, evaluate, and improve on everything she/he does.
-Has deep respect for all children, empathy for the challenges children face in their lives, and a commitment to gentle, compassionate limit setting.
-Learns quickly and works hard.
-Has proven excellence in written and oral communication skills.
-Is an active reader.
-Is willing to work in a year round program (with time off for holidays; winter, spring, and summer breaks; etc.).
-Innovative and entrepreneurial spirit
project-based and/or experiential learning training is helpful
-Commitment to free-market ideals
-A master of observation
Acton is a revolutionary school, unlike many others. Please complete some research into Acton Academy before applying. Then if you feel you understand and connect with our vision, please submit your resume and a thoughtful cover letter that outlines how your skills and experience meet the qualifications of the position, and how the position is part of your own journey.
compensation based on experience/qualifications
