Applewild School invites applications to join our elementary faculty to become our second-grade teacher on the Fitchburg campus. We seek teacher-leaders with strong interpersonal skills and the ability to lead by influence to help Applewild increase its inquiry-based, student-centered, interdisciplinary learning environment. Successful candidates will be willing to participate in all aspects of school life, and have a keen interest in fostering a culture of progress through professional learning and collaboration.
Some of the expected responsibilities are:
Using curricular materials and methods consistent with Applewild’s philosophy and ethos, the faculty member plans and teaches across the academic disciplines using a variety of instructional methods
Fluently deploys educational technology to maximize student learning, embraces STEM/STEAM and project-based, interdisciplinary curriculum to increase student engagement and performance
Utilizes universal design to gracefully meet the needs of a range of learners.
Embraces the School’s explicit focus on metacognition, with an understanding that what we teach is just as important as how we teach children to learn.
Communicates effectively, sensitively, and collaboratively with families and fellow faculty.
Participates in faculty meetings and professional learning communities.
Creates a welcoming, supportive, and nurturing classroom.
Supports general school house management tasks such as supervising lunch/transitions/recess, welcoming students at arrival and dismissal, etc.
Must have the ability to ascend and descend stairs, as well as be able to move about our hilly campus as well as work outdoors periodically
Must be able to regularly lift and/or move 25 pounds and occasionally up to 50 pounds
PREFERRED SKILLS & EXPERIENCE:
Demonstrated respect for children and different learning styles
Demonstrated skill in developing curricula and balancing published materials with individually, personally created curricula
Demonstrated familiarity with current “best practices” in education and an inherent interest in keeping up with the latest in education and brain science research
Committed to diversity, equity, and inclusion and willing to embed these topics across the curriculum
Willingness to be trained in and apply the acquired skills of Responsive Classroom, Orton-Gillingham, and the Gesell Developmental Examination
Effective communication skills, both oral and written
Master’s degree in Elementary, Early Childhood Education or related discipline
About Applewild School
Applewild has been a cherished community institution since 1957 and we are courageously re-imagining ourselves to evolve our programs to offer a compelling and relevant education. We have a main campus in Fitchburg, Massachusetts which is approximately one hour from Boston. We offer preschool through 9th grade, including a small junior boarding program for students in grades 5-9. Our innovative 9th grade is called “Prospect Studio” which offers an interdisciplinary intellectual adventure centered around the theme “Urban Renewal, Placemaking, & Social Justice”. In 2014 we opened a satellite location in Devens which serves preschool through third grade and is growing. We are additionally sponsoring the creation of a new school called “Foundations at Applewild” which is located on Applewild School’s Fitchburg campus and will serve students in grades two through eighth with diagnosed language-based learning disabilities.
We are thankful to draw a broad range of students from over 32 towns and several countries, and well over half of our students receive financial assistance in order to attend. Our core values and competencies lay the foundation for a culture that encourages respect..., honesty, compassion, and fairness. Our faculty have invested in their professional growth to create an educational environment that is deeply metacognitive --- our goal is to teach children to be the protagonists in their own educations. At Applewild, we know that once children feel emotionally safe and valued for who they are, then children will avail themselves to deeper and more authentic learning experiences.
When considering adult additions to our community, we are very interested in growing our diversity and in diverse perspectives and experiences. We seek smart, creative, and thoughtful professionals who are interested in trying new things knowing that some failures are intrinsic to cultivating a culture of progress. We are looking for professionals who care deeply about developing the next generation for a future we know will be marked by volatility, uncertainty, complexity, and ambiguity. Intellectual curiosity, cognitive agility, passion, and emotional resiliency are paramount for success. We are committed to offering a progressive but proven curriculum, so professionals seeking to join our community must be keen on teaching using student-centered and project-based learning. We are a small school so everyone wears multiple “hats” to meet the needs of our community.
The School is accredited through the Association of Independent Schools of New England and is a member of the National Association of Independent Schools and The Association of Boarding Schools.
Applewild School is an equal opportunity employer and as such does not discriminate on the basis of race, color, gender, age, religion, national origin, sexual orientation, disability, veteran status, or any other status protected by law. We welcome individuals that add to the diversity and vibrancy of our community.
Candidates should send a letter of interest, and resume to Amy Jolly, Head of School to employment@applewild.org (please indicate position in subject line).
