Website Synapse School
Educating a Community of Change Makers
SCHOOL OVERVIEW AND BACKGROUND
Synapse School in Menlo Park, CA, an innovative K-8 independent school located in the heart of Silicon Valley dedicated to rethinking and reimagining education, seeks a COMPUTING AND ENGINEERING SPECIALIST for the 2022-2023 school year.
Synapse School’s mission is to educate a community of change makers by combining social-emotional learning, leading-edge academics, and the practice of innovation. We have an unwavering belief in the capacity of children, and our teachers work alongside our students to unlock their powers of curiosity, discovery, and creativity. Synapse’s program provides a deep and unique range of integrated academic, social, and creative experiences to help children use their hearts and hands to unleash their passion for learning. Synapse draws students from around the San Francisco Bay Area.
The ideal candidate will teach and develop a scope and sequence for a new branch of our Engineering and Design/Makerspace program. This is a unique, once in a lifetime opportunity to bring your passions for education, technology, engineering, and making into a fast-paced, creative school setting to make serious changes in how Computer Science and Engineering are taught in the K-8 space. Our Engineering and Design program is integrated, inclusive, and serves all students across the school.
POSITION DESCRIPTION
Do you spend your free time tinkering, learning new programming languages, building physical computing projects, fixing things around your house, and engaging with other engineers and makers online and in the community? This job might be for you! You will be working alongside our Director of Engineering and Design, Makerspace Coordinator, Makerspace Specialist, and Director of Technology to develop an exciting new branch of our integrated and inclusive program. Your daily duties will include teaching, collaborating with your team to create and manage exciting projects, testing new technologies, programming, meeting with teachers to find entry points in their curriculum, refining the Computer Science scope and sequence, building cool tech for teachers to use as instructional tools, researching cutting edge educational theory to refine your craft, and working directly with students and teachers in the 11,000+ sqft Makerspace and their classrooms to help create the best Computer Science and Engineering program in any K-8 school.
Still not sure if this job is for you? Well, if you are an experienced educator/maker/builder/artist/techy/ Computer Science enthusiast/Engineering guru who loves working with kids, is incredibly nimble and flexible, can work under pressure and without many constraints, and you love learning new things, this job might be for you! The goal of the position and program is to rethink how K-8 schools engage with Computer Science concepts, mindsets, and skills beyond traditional discrete programming/engineering courses typically bound by the theoretical. A focused background in Computer Science or education is not required. Here are some existing Engineering and Design projects and ideas on how adding computing and engineering skills could elevate our students’ experience.
Level 3 (3rd and 4th grade) In Social Studies, students learn about the impact of and interactions between European explorers and Native peoples in the Americas. In Science, students learn about the ship building technologies different groups utilized for exploration and survival in the same era. In the Makerspace, students reverse engineer custom built large-scale model boats to create their own functioning versions. The Engineering and Design team constructs a 15,000 gallon pool to test and iterate the student-made boats. The Computing and Engineering Specialist may teach a class session on Hardware/Software interfaces, teaching how hardware and software are limited to the functions they are designed to accomplish and the notion that computers mostly only do what we tell them to. You could build a custom digital inclinometer device to test student boat tilting to collect boat performance data. You will guide students through data collection and reinforce that the data you collect is useful, but the software/hardware is not designed to fix the heeling of the boat, but rather provide the limited information it was designed to. Students will use the hardware/software interface experience to better understand why their boats tip over, then use that data to inform their design refinements. Students will then iterate on their designs to make them more stable in the water. Students will exit the project understanding how hardware and software can be useful measurement tools in understanding concrete limitations of physical objects they are using as learning tools.
Grades 7/8 In STEAM, students learn about biomechanics and classical physics through the lens of American Ninja Warrior (tv show) and the study of human movement in obstacle courses. Students will learn topics like energy conservation, angular momentum, and Newton’s laws. Students then apply their understanding of the abstract concepts to a unique obstacle design, demonstrating and showcasing their mastery of content through written rationale of how the obstacle works and uses said content. Students will iterate on their designs to make their obstacles more accessible for different groups with disabilities (per our yearly theme and change maker, Judy Heumann), and build a fully-functional obstacle course out of lumber and other simple building materials and tech. You will engage in the design and build process with the students and find ways to incorporate block-based coding, like Ardublock, to enhance their obstacles designs. One basic idea you may focus on would be to teach students how to build a sensor-based timer display to time visitors when they attempt to complete an obstacle. The implementation of the block-based standards from your scope and sequence will be wildly differentiated across the projects, but the same basic CS concepts and skills will be practiced by all students in a meaningful and physical way. Students will exit the project with skills and understanding of how to use Arduino and block-based programming to make their physical computing projects more accessible and interesting.
AN IDEAL CANDIDATE WOULD POSSESS THE FOLLOWING SKILLS
Must Have Skills
● Physical Computing
- Software/hardware interfacing that solves “real world” problems
- Understand how to integrate physical computing structures into K-8 projects
- Artistic and creative approach to elevating existing student projects to include interactive objects controlled by motors, sensors, software, etc.
- Strong intuition and sense of how to meaningfully and elegantly incorporate Physical Computing projects into existing curriculum
● Carpentry, woodworking, basic materials fabrication
- Modern power tool understanding and competency
- Understand basic woodworking and engineering conventions to “see” a project in an intuitive and creative manner to most efficiently incorporate CS/Tech concepts
- Draw from a wide range of experience to think creatively about specialty hardware and materials to streamline complicated builds
- Not be an expert builder or carpenter, but have a strong sense of how to figure things out you don’t already know
● Teaching and education related to K-8 age groups
- 3 years of experience working with a variety of age groups (does not necessarily need to be school-based experience)
- Strong understanding or ability to acquire understanding of educational theory, best teaching practices, constructivist methods, and Social-Emotional Learning practice
- Passionate desire to infiltrate the K-8 space at a mission-driven school to create change in how students learn CS and Engineering Other Desired Skills
● Competency/ability to acquire one formal programming language in addition to education-based programming tools like Scratch, Makecode, etc
● Experience or familiarity with CNC hardware, CAD software, Adobe CC Suite, and other digital design tools
● Self-starter attitude and thrives in uncertainty and ambiguity
● Growth mindset and positive approach to problem solving
● Soldering, basic electronics familiarity, capacity to learn and expand skills rapidly
● Excellent verbal and written skills and ability to communicate with students, parents, and colleagues
● A bachelor’s or advanced degree in a relevant field
● Willingness to develop and implement constructivist, project-based curriculum
● A passion to work cooperatively with colleagues on a consistent basis and actively cultivate an inclusive environment and support a school community grounded in empathy, social responsibility, and an appreciation and respect for individual differences
● Demonstrate kindness, enthusiasm, a sense of humor, investment in continued learning and professional growth, and a passion for supporting children as they grow and learn
RESPONSIBILITIES INCLUDE THE FOLLOWING
● Review our past CS curriculum, current research, and your expertise to create an exciting Computer Science/Engineering/Making scope and sequence for the school
● Plan, lead and teach classes
● Collaborate with the Engineering and Design team, teachers, and specialists to develop and document integrated theme-based curriculum
● Integrate Computer Science, Computational Thinking, and related computing concepts into physical projects, most happening “off the screen”
● Collaborate effectively with students, teachers, and parents
● Model flexibility in implementing best learning practices and be incredibly nimble and willing to make big things happen
● Attend various meetings and scheduled events
WORKING CONDITIONS MAY INCLUDE
● Ability to work at a desk, conference table or in meetings of various configurations, as well as our 11,000 square foot Makerspace/fabrication facility.
● Ability to stand and circulate for extended periods of time.
● Ability to communicate so others will be able to clearly understand normal conversation.
● Ability to lift or carry up to 50 pounds.
● Ability to tolerate exposure to power tools, dust, fumes, high noise levels, etc.
EMPLOYMENT STANDARDS
● Dexterity and physical condition to maintain a vigorous work schedule and meet standards of physical and mental health.
● Reasonable accommodations may be made to enable individuals with disabilities to perform the essential functions of the position.
● Individuals must maintain a professional attitude and appearance.
To Apply:
Please submit a resume, a concise cover letter detailing your experience and your interest in the position, and a portfolio (can be simple) you would like to share via email with the subject line “Computing and Engineering Specialist” to the attention of Brian Bicknell, Director of Engineering and Design, at careers@synapseschool.org. This is a full-time, exempt, salaried position. Synapse School offers industry leading benefits packages. Salary range: $85,000-$115,000.
Synapse School does not discriminate in employment opportunities or practices on the basis of race, color, religion, sex or sexual orientation, national origin, age, disability and familial affiliation or any other characteristic protected by law. All applicants must be currently authorized to work in the United States.
