Job Description
Description of school: Arthur Morgan School is a small, alternative boarding and day school for 27 students in grades 7-9. Our 100 acre campus, located in the Black Mountains of North Carolina, consists mainly of woods and meadows, with creeks and a pond; it is surrounded by National Forest. The school fosters a loving, energetic living/learning community dedicated to supporting individuality while teaching group cooperation. We seek a balance between academics, outdoor activities, artistic exploration, and meaningful work. Experiential learning and responsible participation in community are emphasized throughout. Boarding students live in homes with two or three staff members, and the entire community actively shares work, study, play, and decision-making.
General Responsibilities: It takes a lot of energy to work here. We have intense work schedules--usually 60 plus hours per week. Our work calendar generally follows a conventional school year calendar, with some additional work required during students" breaks. AMS is staff-run by consensus; we have no director or headmaster. All staff are expected to attend our two weekly staff meetings, two of our four Board Meetings, and to participate in running the school cooperatively. Everyone is also expected to attend our weekly student-run All School Meeting and to participate in work projects with the kids.
Teaching Responsibilities: Teaching duties can include: teaching academic classes (Math, Science, English, Art or Social Studies) or electives (performing or visual arts, outdoor skills, woodworking, sports and games, etc.); educating students and participating with them in ongoing maintenance of the school grounds and buildings; leading sports, games, cooking, and chore supervision. All AMS staff are people with a variety of skills, talents, and interests, and our jobs cover a wide array of responsibilities at the school. All staff are also involved in planning and leading outdoor education through backpacking and other outdoor trips, as well as our 18 day academic field trips. We welcome teaching experience from a broad range of disciplines and specific topics. We are particularly interested in applicants able to teach Spanish, Art, Math, and Social Studies. People with other teaching backgrounds/interests are also welcome.
Other Responsibilities: Many teachers also house parent (live in a boarding house with students) in addition to teaching. Aside from house parenting, there are many other school duties which staff members may fill such as maintenance of our campus, coordinating various parts of our program, and more. All AMS staff are people with a variety of skills, talents, and interests, and our jobs cover a wide array of responsibilities at the school.
Requirements: You must be committed to alternative education; be interested in learning; enjoy being around teenagers; be able to work cooperatively with other adults; and enjoy a simple lifestyle that includes physical work and outdoor activities. Experience in the position for which you are applying is an asset. Willingness to learn about and work within the consensus process is essential. Flexibility and a sense of humor are also very important. We ask for at least a two year commitment from new staff members, as it takes a year for new staff to become acclimated to our program. A four year degree or significant classroom teaching experience is required. We hire teachers with a range of teaching experience levels, from first year teachers to career teachers.
Benefits: Staff receive room and board, and a salary of about $17,300. Most staff members have been able to find affordable health care through the ACA. Other benefits of the job include access to our studio spaces (woodshop, ceramics studio, forge and metals studio), fresh produce from our garden, a monthly food stipend, and some access to school vehicles.
To Apply: Please send a resume with a cover letter stating why you want to work at AMS, how AMS fits into your on-going interests, and describing any relevant past experience. Call for specific job descriptions, information about openings or with questions. We typically review resumes and letters of interest every few weeks and phone interview several persons chosen from the pool of applicants. After a positive phone interview, we invite applicants to interview in person on our campus for two days and two nights. This visit includes time for both formal and informal interviews with applicants and includes the opportunity for applicants to work with students and staff as we progress through our daily schedule.
The Arthur Morgan School, Inc. is committed to equality of educational
opportunity and does not discriminate against applicants, students or
employees based on race, color, national or ethnic origin, religion or
sexual orientation or preference, gender identity or expression, or economic status.
Employment Type: Full-Time
Job Tags
Full time, Outdoor, Night shift,