Website Tessellations_S Tessellations
A K-8 progressive school tailored for gifted students
Outdoor Educator / Naturalist
Are you an experienced, imaginative, and collaborative educator who believes in progressive education? Do you enjoy creating meaningful learning experiences, and being part of a diverse, supportive and talented community? If so, please consider joining our team at Tessellations. We are currently accepting applications for a full-time Outdoor Educator / Naturalist position within our unique Nature Connections program. The position would start immediately. Competitive salary and full benefits available.
Tessellations is a progressive K-8 non-profit school for gifted learners based in Cupertino, CA. Our mission is to provide challenging experiential education that recognizes and nurtures the individual strengths of gifted learners, empowering them to confidently express who they are and pursue a meaningful life. At Tessellations, community is a core value, as it is the reason our small and mighty school was able to form and thrive despite the global pandemic. Our team consists of passionate, qualified and dedicated staff from diverse backgrounds and includes nationally renowned gifted experts. Our first year was online only. In our second year, we quadrupled in size, and we also added our Nature Campus. We’re in our fourth year with excellent staff and student retention, and extremely high family satisfaction. We moved to a larger campus in order to house our growing population, and in Fall 2024 we will launch our high school.
The Nature Connections program consists of weekly classes provided to all students and is primarily designed to take place at our Nature Campus located in the nearby foothills of the Santa Cruz Mountains. The Nature Connections curriculum provides students with rich project-based experiences related to environmental sciences and the surrounding ecosystem as well as activities that foster wellness, community building, and wilderness skills. Naturalists lead science lessons and facilitate a wide range of outdoor experiences to allow students to deepen their connection with and sense of belonging in the natural world. Our blossoming Nature Journey curriculum is connected with students’ on-campus experiences and Homeroom Journeys, extending homeroom learning and content beyond the classroom walls.
If you join our team you will help us grow our program and continue designing and delivering a rich, immersive learning experience. You will be heard, respected, and celebrated for your talents and efforts. You will work with students who love to learn, engaged parents who are grateful for your work, and supportive colleagues that will help bring out your best.
Primary Responsibilities
- Create and foster a safe and supportive learning environment where all students feel heard
- Assist with the development of an outdoor education curriculum and related content that integrates environmental education standards, English Language Arts, Social Studies, Art, Indigenous History, and Science
- Implement lessons, activities, and instruction while adapting to the intellectual, physical, and social-emotional needs of students as they arise
- Help plan, organize, and attend fieldwork and overnight trips
- Maintain organizational systems in physical and digital space
- Regularly use and maintain documentation of multiple forms of assessment to gauge student learning and inform next steps in teaching
- Work collaboratively with a team of Naturalists and other staff members to develop the year-long curriculum
- Attend staff meetings and actively engage with professional development opportunities
- Attend family-teacher meetings as scheduled and as needed to support student learning
- Prepare report card narratives
- Complete other duties and responsibilities as required to ensure student safety and educational instruction.
Requirements
- Prior experience teaching students in Elementary and Middle School
- Prior studies, familiarity with, and experience learning and teaching Natural History and science
- Prior experience teaching in the outdoors
- Proficiency with technology (Google Suite in particular)
- Willingness to drive a 12-passenger vehicle to transport students, if able
- Strong verbal and written communication skills
- Social-emotional teaching experience
- Enthusiastic life-long learner
- Experience in a school setting
- Openness and flexibility in designing improved learning experiences
- Passing a criminal background check upon hire
Bonus Points
- Experience with Primary (K-3) learners and/or Middle (6th-8th) learners
- Experience teaching gifted learners
- Curriculum development experience for programs spanning one semester or longer
- Familiarity with and commitment to DEIJ work and restorative justice practices
- Prior experience coordinating and leading fieldwork and camping experiences with students
- Work experience in the Earth and/or Life Sciences
- Class B driver’s license with 15 passenger endorsement, or willingness to get one if able to do so
Compensation
Salary range: $70,000 – $95,000
Benefits include medical, dental, vision, life, 401(k), flexible spending account, paid time off, holidays, and school breaks.
To Apply
Please submit a cover letter and resume to careers@tessellations.school. For more information about our school, visit https://tessellations.school.
Tessellations is an Equal Opportunity Employer — we do not discriminate against any employee or job applicant on the bases of race, color, gender, national origin, age, religion, creed, disability, sex, or reproductive health decision making.
