A classroom teacher for the Chewonki Elementary and Middle School  is a unique opportunity to be part of building a place-based education model in midcoast Maine. The position has direct responsibility for co-creating and delivering student-centered curriculum and educational experiences that are aligned with Chewonki’s Mission, educational philosophy, and diversity, equity, and inclusion statement. The teachers and students use our Chewonki Neck property and the surrounding area as an extended classroom for a rigorous and integrated academic curriculum that is experiential in nature. This position collaborates with the Head of Elementary and Middle School and the faculty team, support departments, and other programs at Chewonki. Significant educational philosophy, curriculum, and student behavior/progress decisions are made with the Head of Elementary and Middle School.

The Chewonki Foundation (Chewonki.org) is a year-round, nonprofit environmental education center based on a 400-acre peninsula in mid-coast Maine. Our mission is to inspire transformative growth, teach appreciation and stewardship of the natural world, and challenge people to build thriving, sustainable communities throughout their lives. We offer a place-based elementary and middle school, a semester school for high school juniors, summer camps and wilderness expeditions, outdoor education programs, a youth mentorship program, and traveling natural history programs.

Position Title:  Grades 5/6 Teacher, Dean of Students
Employment Category: Category B
Permanent/Temporary: Permanent
Reports to:  Head of Elementary and Middle School
Exempt/Non-exempt:  Exempt
Schedule (hours and weeks):  Academic year, full-time
Benefits Eligible:  Yes

ESSENTIAL RESPONSIBILITIES 

Teaching role:

• Teach and team teach a multi-age group of approximately 12 students in grades 5/6, both indoors and outdoors. Create a safe, supportive, and inspiring learning community with students, focusing on the social-emotional importance of the school experience and using the ‘whole child’ approach
• Set clear behavior and academic expectations for students, cultivating an intrinsic motivation to meet them, and using positive discipline as needed
• Collaborate with Head of Elementary and Middle School to create, document, and implement authentic curriculum that is place-based, integrated, and emphasizes hands-on, real world learning
• Be well-versed in developmental stages and theory, as well as academic learning benchmarks, in order to craft theme units that are both developmentally appropriate and standards relevant.
• Differentiate learning for students in multi-age group setting, with attention to individual learning needs and abilities, and providing opportunity for students to set and achieve learning goals
• Work to honor and uphold the principles of diversity, equity, inclusion, and an anti-racist mind-set in the interest of students, staff and faculty across the organization
• Keep classroom organized and a ‘student centered’ space that allows for students and their learning to be the focal point of the classroom
• Be a positive and supportive role model to all students and colleagues,
• Track student progress regularly in several dimensions, and report and showcase student progress for parents at the end of each trimester
• Lead regular outdoor learning excursions in accordance with all Chewonki policies and procedures
• Engage in proactive and regular communication and check-ins with colleagues and parents as needed
• Other responsibilities as assigned by the head of school

Dean of Students role:

• • Serves as the EMS liaison with Chewonki’s health and wellness team
    • Collaborates with the EMS team and Health and Wellness team to provide academic support and student counseling
    • Ensures the health and safety of students on campus 
  • Coordinates parent-teacher conferences with support from administrative assistant
  • Coordinates new-student orientation
  • Develops and maintains the Student Handbook in partnership with EMS Team
  • Keeps the EMS Team informed regarding student issues and campus life
  • Works with the EMS Team to develop and manage academic and social policies, protocols, and practices that serve to support student development, learning, health, and safety.

SALARY AND BENEFITS:

Salary is in line with other small place-based independent schools in northern New England.  Benefits include; health insurance, life insurance, dental insurance, optional vision insurance, long-term disability, 403B retirement plan (currently matching up to 4.5% after one year of service), paid time off and access to professional development funds.

For a complete description and to apply, please visit: https://chewonki.org/about/employment-opportunities/