About Phase3 Lab School:

Phase3 Lab School (Phase3) prepares children and their families to thrive in a world of accelerating change. To achieve this goal, Phase3 focuses first on a child’s emotional well-being and sense of belonging. All development - academic, social, moral - starts with a child feeling safe and cared for.

We serve children from the age of 18 months through 8th grade. Our goal is to provide a rigorous education that challenges children to continuously exceed their intellectual, emotional and physical limits. We have high expectations of our students, our staff and the families we serve.

Our world-class educational team is empowered to tackle and overcome some of the most entrenched problems in education. We partner with parents to raise children that are kind, empathetic, intellectually curious and psychologically and physically resilient. We combine a caring and nurturing environment with leading-edge teaching methods such as Montessori and Project Based Learning.

We add subjects like street dance and world-class sports training. For example, ours is the only K-8 school in Southern California with a USA Wrestling chartered club. All our elementary students wrestle and have won competitions at the highest level. Our school's launchpad is a focus on our children's psychological flexibility/mental resilience and emotional/cultural intelligence.

Once a child feels cared for, that they belong, that they are safe and that they have a level of autonomy in their own education, the sky's the limit academically, socially and physically. Our Elementary educators challenge our children intellectually with challenging science, mathematics, and technology courses that invite students to stretch beyond their perceived limits.

We believe in continuous evaluation, both through appropriate testing and observation, which guides our individualized approach to each child's learning. We are accredited by ACS WASC (Accrediting Commission for Schools Western Association of Schools and Colleges) and are recognized as a school that raises children to have an impact on the world they will inhabit.

About this job:

We are building a dynamic team of master educators with the freedom to identify and apply the most effective methods and approaches to raise children that are builders and creators, NOT consumers.  The specific role of this position is constructed as a hybrid of classroom instruction and outdoor education, with the teacher in the classroom Monday through Thursday and leading outdoor education on Friday.  

Part 1: Language Arts 

The classroom portion of the job requires the ability to build secure and caring relationships with each student and their parents, and a classroom culture based on mutual respect and caring. The classroom should provide an engaging and challenging educational experience for students in grades 4-8 in a multi-grade, team-based instructional setting.

This role includes responsibilities such as:

• Produce and present innovative, stimulating lessons for students through project based learning.
• Understand and connect with pre-teen and teen age groups.
• Provide individualized, goal-oriented opportunities for learning.
• Guide, monitor, and supervise students using kindness, modeling, and respect as primary developmental tools.
• Develop relevant, meaningful learning experiences for all students.
• Maintain and foster positive and constructive interactions with students and parents.
• Create a safe, positive, focused environment in which students can thrive.
• Ensure a safe and clean environment.
• Support the Head of School, fellow teachers, school assistants and volunteers effectively. 

The most important characteristics of the Middle-School Teacher are the ability to build positive, trusting relationships with students as well as their parents and school coworkers, and an intuitive ability to observe and diagnose a child’s level of engagement and comfort in the classroom community.

A successful teacher will demonstrate flexibility, a desire to pursue continuous growth and development, and strong interpersonal skills.  In addition, a teacher should have a scientific/experimental approach to teaching where (s)he finds a way to reach and inspire each child in her/his classroom.  Patience and confidence in dealing with this age group is essential.

Part 2: Outdoor Education

Outdoor Education is a critical component of a child’s complete development. A child that participates in a rigorous outdoor training program will develop a number of core life skills. (S)he will learn to better understand him or herself, will gain resilience through exposure to unfamiliar settings and challenges, will acquire greater depths of empathy, will develop collaboration and teamwork skills, and will come to value the environment we all inhabit.

Phase3 children are expected to continuously tackle hard things. Their outdoor experience should incorporate a mix of novel and demanding challenges that require high levels of resolve and ingenuity to overcome. A world-class program should address the following:

1. Physical, Mental, and Emotional Fitness: Children will learn to compete with themselves and within themselves. Stress of the body will train discipline and determination of the mind.
2. Exploration Expeditions: While they acquire new skills, children will engage in long and challenging endurance tasks.
3. Wholistic Projects: Children will take on projects that require the development of manual dexterity and intellectual flexibility.
4. Rescue Service: Children will apply their emerging physical skills and mental dexterity in the service of their community through participation in services such as Search and Rescue, First Aid, Surf Lifesaving, etc.

The Outdoor Education Director’s primary role involves the development, coordination, and implementation of an annual learning plan for the children that includes basic and advanced wilderness exploration, safety, survival skills, first aid, emergency communications, and a deepening understanding of local geology, ecology, fauna, flora.  This program is for all students grades 1-8.

This job is for you if:

You enjoy elementary and middle school aged children and are energized by supporting and educating students during these critical developmental periods. You understand how to harness the energy and attitude of students and channel them toward success and leadership.  You are kind and confident in your interactions with students, parents, and colleagues.  You believe in the power of education and positive community. You are always searching for ways to expand and improve your abilities as an educator and care provider.  You are drawn to innovation but always assess its results through how well it supports and develops the hearts and minds of the students.

You want to be a part of a world-class team of autonomous educators working together to innovate and discover novel solutions to the upbringing of complete human beings.  You believe outdoor education is a vital part of child development and of an elite educational institution.

You are a natural connector with the ability to inspire and evoke quality work from your students.  You understand how to support and encourage your coworkers to help their journey to greatness.  You believe teamwork and student support are about more than just this school or this job.

You are excited to connect with new people and want to help them see the benefits Phase3 can offer to their families and their future goals.  You like to dream big and are always looking for ways to improve.

You think on your feet, enjoy solving problems, respond to change quickly, and are not afraid to take on a challenge.  You want to create a model that can provide an example to others. You enjoy teaching children how to find success.  You are open to constructive criticism and look forward to being in a challenging, intellectual environment.

You communicate clearly.  You write well and speak with clarity.  You are comfortable communicating in writing and on the phone.