Middle School Teacher (Montessori Experience Preferred)

ACTON ACADEMY: SAN DIEGO EAST

Lead Guide or Apprentice Guide

Do you want to change the world? If your goal is to instill a 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 academies.

Acton Academy: San Diego East is a private academy that opened in August 2020 that blends state-of-the-art software, quest-like projects with real-world application, Socratic discussions, apprenticeships, and the Hero’s Journey in a student-centered, multi-age classroom. Our approach to learning does not include tests, grades, or teachers leading lectures. Our classroom structure is unique. It ensures that the Guides create and facilitate the learning environment, but empowers students to take ownership of their individual learning path and collective classroom governance.

Acton exists to move learners (adults and children alike) on a journey to understand and develop their most precious gifts, discover their deepest passions, and use them to serve others in a meaningful way. This journey takes them from being receivers of knowledge to self-seekers of knowledge who find their callings and are capable of leading schools, businesses, or community organizations if they choose. We believe our learners are geniuses destined to change the world in a profound way. Are ready to begin your own Hero’s Journey?

Position Description

We are looking for a Guide with a deep curiosity about life, a lifelong love of learning, a willingness to learn from failure, and an entrepreneurial spirit. We seek a Guide who loves to experiment, evaluate, and improve on everything they do. Candidates should be proficient in written and oral communication skills and be comfortable using and learning a variety of technology tools. And most importantly, candidates should have a deep respect for all children. The ideal candidate would have experience working with young people as a Montessori teacher, a teacher (who is passionate about and/or has experience with nontraditional methods), a coach, camp counselor, youth leader, etc., and/or a willingness to learn along with a teachable spirit.

The Lead Guide or Apprentice Guide will work in partnership with the Director to:

• hold students accountable for their promises and for delivering “the best they can do” as they discover and pursue a calling on a hero’s journey

• create personal/group covenants to provide and strengthen a safe learning community and inspire students to uphold promises to learners, parents, fellow guides, and directors

• pass along responsibilities to learners as quickly as possible, so as to empower them to lead themselves to act as a role model and as an independent learner on a Hero’s Journey

• launch and lead Socratic discussions

• co-create and launch quests (projects), including daily challenges and curating world-class examples to supply a positive classroom environment and set up a classroom as inspiration for learning

• learn how to present Montessori learning materials to students and support students in the use of those materials

• guide art and PE activities

• encourage young heroes to track their progress and create portfolios to show parents, peers, and apprenticeship employers what they can do

• evaluate and refine existing curriculum, designing and experimenting with new projects, tools, and approaches

• help organize, execute, and host our annual Children's Business Fair (participants will be children from all over San Diego County)

• demonstrate a deep commitment to the success of Acton Academy: San Diego East

Bottom Line

All great Guides seem to have these few things in common:

• They are curious, lifelong learners who would rather be surprised than right.

• They are Storytellers that understand how to deliver compelling narratives that help learners connect real-world skills and challenges to their Hero’s Journey.

• They are more interested in playing the role of a Gamemaker, working in the background, more than taking center stage in a classroom.

• They believe that every young person who walks through our doors is a genius.

• They are willing to remain Socratic at all times, answering a question with a question.

Pay

Salary is between 35,000 and 75,00 a year.

We operate on an eleven-month calendar, with six-week sessions, followed by a week-long break and longer breaks during the Christmas holiday and summer. Guides will have time o during session breaks and in the summer. However, some of that time is expected to be spent reading, researching, and planning for the upcoming session or year. Most of this can be done at home and we will work with the director to plan something that mutually works for their schedule and ours.

This is a position for an independent learner who can take direction, but also work with little direct guidance; someone who likes to collaborate, experiment, evaluate and continually improve; and someone who is a flexible problem-solver. It is essential that this person can learn fast, loves to work hard, and is an active reader and writer. Preference will be given to applicants with
Montessori training and/or experience working in a Montessori setting.

Next Steps

Applications will be reviewed on a rolling basis. The first step is to complete the initial questionnaire.

Overview of Our Audition Process

Find the links to the Google Forms to complete the steps below at https://www.actonacademysd.com/careers.

Step One: Questionnaire. Please read the job description in full as this is a unique position (not a traditional teaching job). In addition, you should begin to read "Courage To Grow" by Laura
Sandefer and do some initial research on Acton Academy. If you believe that you are both qualified and interested in the position, please complete the initial questionnaire.

Step Two: Research. Read in full Courage To Grow by Laura Sandefer and do some research to ensure that you believe in Acton Academy: San Diego East's mission, values, and processes. In addition, please make sure that you have read the full job description.

Step Three: Writing Submission. Email Mandy your resume and submit your response to reading, A Message to Garcia.

Step Four: Initial Interview. 20-minute phone/video interview.

Step Five: Case Studies. Submit responses to 3 short case studies.

Step Six: Second Interview. Full in-person interview.

Step Seven: Guide. Invitation to lead a Socratic discussion with students.

Job Types: Full-time, Part-time

Pay: $35,000.00 - $75,000.00 per year

Benefits:

• Flexible schedule
• Paid time off

Grade levels:

• 6th grade
• 7th grade
• 8th grade

Schedule:

• Monday to Friday
• No nights
• No weekends

School type:

• Private school

Ability to commute/relocate:

• La Mesa, CA 91941: Reliably commute or planning to relocate before starting work (Required)

Work Location: One location