Meet the Team: Christopher Iafrati, Human Performance Center Adjunct Instructional Specialist

Earlier this fall, Christopher lafrati was named our Adjunct Instructional Specialist for our Human Performance Center (HPC) — a role that has the Upstate New York native tasked with organizing morning exercise and intramurals, as well as overseeing safety in our Olympic size swimming pool, and teaching classes that help Eagle Rock School students establish and maintain healthy life skills.

Christopher lafratiWhile Christopher is new to his current role on our instructional staff, he’s is no stranger to Eagle Rock, having served as part of the HPC team as a Public Allies Fellow in 2015/2016. And lucky for us, he’s also no stranger to taking on optional assignments, which this trimester includes teaching yoga and becoming a part of our school’s ensemble group.

Our new adjunct instructional specialist received a Bachelor of Science degree in exercise science from the State University of New York at Buffalo (aka University at Buffalo) and, following his fellowship year, returned to that school to earn a Bachelor of Arts degree in psychology.

We recently asked Christopher to fill us in on a few other details of his life, and below are his responses: Continue reading…

Meet the Team: Jannai Smith, Human Performance Instructional Specialist

Jannai SmithJannai Smith, the Human Performance Instructional Specialist here at Eagle Rock School, kick-starts her work days by taking our students through their morning exercises, conducting intramurals and recreation activities. In addition, she’s responsible for our Human Performance Center, where she plans, organizes and directs the operations of sports and fitness programs, activities and services aimed at addresses students’ physical fitness and healthy living.

Jannai joined us this past summer, and she arrived here with an impressive work history, having been a physical education teacher at a public school in Muncie, Ind. As a coach, she recalls spending many nights on the road, traveling to different games for volleyball, basketball and track & field. Prior to that, Jannai worked for three years in a juvenile detention/treatment center and another three years as a Ball State Recreational Center intern.

We asked Jannai to tell us a little about herself, and here is what she had to say:

Eagle Rock: Why did you choose to come to work for Eagle Rock?

Jannai Smith: I decided to apply because Eagle Rock offered Continue reading…

Eagle Rock School Seeks Human Performance and Outdoor Education Instructional Specialist

The official job title for the position we’re seeking to fill here at Eagle Rock School and Professional Development Center is for a Human Performance Instructional Specialist, which is synonymous for Physical Education, Health, & Outdoor Education Teacher. That search entails finding a candidate who can empower each of our high school students to start a lifelong appreciation for fitness, initially set against the pristine backdrop of the Rocky Mountains.

Human Performance Center at Eagle Rock School
Human Performance Center

if you care deeply about supporting lifelong health and you love to work with young adults, this job will prove to be attractive. And if living fulltime on a mountainside campus — where Wilderness serves as your part of your classroom — sounds appealing, now would be the time to submit an application.

About Eagle Rock School

For the past quarter of a century, Eagle Rock School has operated as a non-traditional boarding school that supports students of all races and genders for the purpose of allowing them to examine their lives and the world in a deep and critical fashion. Our next Human Performance Instructional Specialist will work with diverse teens, teaching them how they can engage confidently in physical pursuits.

At Eagle Rock, our instructors are fully committed to our students and to contributing to progressive secondary school reform efforts. You may want to check out our website (www.eaglerockschool.org) to get a better feel for our mission, our school and the important role our Professional Development Center plays here on our own campus and for schools and communities all across the United States.

The Human Performance Instructional Specialist in-depth

Reporting directly to our director of curriculum, our new hire will — among other tasks — lead a full Continue reading…