If your idea of fun includes empowering diverse teens to learn math concepts and skills, and you believe in learner-centered education, then this blog post could change your life! Here at Eagle Rock School and Professional Development Center, we’re conducting a search for an Interim Math Instructional Specialist — a position on our school’s faculty that works directly with students who have agreed to pivot and engage themselves in their own education.
The initial contract for this position runs from Jan. 3, 2019 through Aug.13, 2019 (thus the “interim” status), with the opportunity for the incumbent to apply for a permanent position as our Math Instructional Specialist post that begins in August of next year.
Video—Watch an Eagle Rock School Math class in action:
Regardless of job status, the Interim Math Instructional Specialist, who will report to our Director of Curriculum, serves as a key part of our instructional team, and will be responsible for students’ development of math reasoning and related skills — both through designing and implementing innovative curriculum and through extracurricular math opportunities.
An obvious plus for us is a candidate who has experience working with diverse adolescents, including a mix of LGBTQ students; students from low income backgrounds; and students from diverse racial, ethnic, and cultural backgrounds — most of whom have not been successful in a traditional educational setting.
We’d like the candidate to be in possession of bachelor’s or master’s degree in Mathematics, Math Education, or a related field, in addition to having direct experience in teaching high school students — preferably in progressive education systems and models. Other preferences include strong organizational and leadership skills, as well as the ability to work collaboratively with our staff both inside and outside the classroom.
This position enables the successful candidate to teach math courses that are relevant and engaging to our students, with an opportunity for the instructor to develop her or his own curriculum. In addition, there are many opportunities for our new hire to help students expand their math reasoning and skills outside of the classroom.
One thing that differentiates Eagle Rock’s instructors from those working in many traditional schools is the fact that we sincerely have each other’s backs. Our instructors are always working together in order to develop — and then instill — empowering, relevant learning experiences for our students. And while our young teen-aged charges remain our primary focus, we also care about each other’s success, which is where the collaboration comes into play. We are consistently asking each other for innovative teaching techniques, and we’re not shy to offer advice or take it.
How about those requirements that don’t necessarily deal directly with math or curriculum? At the top of that list is a deep love of working with high school students. Other favorable attributes include working well — and collaboratively — with other instructors, which includes co-designing and co-teaching classes. A sense of humor is a plus, as is patience, thinking like a visionary, a commitment to lifelong learning, and an appreciation that working at a residential school is considered more of a mission than a job.
Because we are a residential school community, the successful candidate will have the opportunity to help our students with much more than their math. Staff provide support for those confronted with a variety of issues related to their personal and academic growth. Our instructors also participate as active members and advisers of one of the residential house teams here on our 640-acre campus in Estes Park, Colo.
Other on campus duties include evening program opportunities with students, and participating in intramural activities, community meetings, service projects, transporting students from time to time, and being available activities or impromptu events that might crop up.
At this point, you probably understand that working at Eagle Rock is not for everyone. If you’re looking for a pre-set curriculum of traditional classroom experiences, or that the day ends when the final bell rings, or that students are to be “taught,” and not learn from experience, this lifestyle (notice we didn’t say job) may not be what you seek.
However, if what we’ve outlined above sounds like what you’ve been looking for, here’s what we need from you:
- A cover letter, resume, and three professional references (including phone numbers and email addresses for each reference) sent by email to info @ EagelRockSchool dot org.
If you have questions of clarifying nature, please read the complete Interim Match Instructional Specialist job description on our website. Then, if you still have questions (which is perfectly an okay), those questions should be sent by email by email to SBertucci @ EagleRockSchool dot org. (Please note: We only accept electronic submissions for job openings. No paper or fax materials will be considered, and we are unable to answer questions by phone.)
The deadline for applications is Oct. 29, 2018, and phone interviews run from Nov. 5 through 16. We’d like to have the new Interim Math Application Instructional Specialist on board on Jan. 3, 2019.
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Eagle Rock is an equal employment opportunity and affirmative action employer and does not tolerate any form of unlawful discrimination. All employment decisions at Eagle Rock are based on merit and to the principle of equal employment opportunity. In keeping with both the letter and spirit of this policy, Eagle Rock will continue to recruit, hire, train, and promote into all job levels the most qualified persons without regard to race, color, religion, genetic information, gender, gender identity, sexual orientation, national origin, age, disability, veteran’s status or any other protected characteristic. Therefore, members of racial/ethnic minorities and other protected classes are encouraged to apply.