Job Posting -- Teaching Position

Oak and Orca Bioregional School
Victoria. B.C., V8T 3N1
(250)-383-6609

Applications currently being accepted. Positions will be filled when appropriate candidate is found.

Potential applicants are welcome to send a resume and completed application form to the school by mail or in person. The ideal candidate will be familiar with our programs and educational philosophies. Ideally, this involves spending time at the school before the interview process. Please call Kara at (250) 383-6609 after you have read all of our web information.

Position Details

Term: Most positions are permanent with a four month probationary period. Positions to cover a leave are non-permanent and are for the term of that leave.

Full-time Salary: CERTIFIED TEACHER $2,500 per month / NON-CERTIFIED $2,400 per month (some positions are 10 months only)

Part-time Salary: proportional to full-time salary.

Benefits: 5% is paid in lieu of benefits. Yearly BC College of Teachers fees are paid by the school.

Summer: Certified Teachers have a five week non-teaching period in the summer. Four weeks are used for cooperative reporting, meetings, professional development and preparation.

We work more like a non-profit than a school. All staff take some responsibility for all programs including After and Before of School Care, Regular School, Home-Learning, Fundraising, Community Projects, Field Trips, etc.

As with many other non-profits, we are unable to provide the types of wages and benefits we would like to. Benefits include a cooperative teaching environment, happy children and opportunities to learn unique ways of educating.

Positions Open:

Several positions are available for August 2011. At least one position is to cover a one year leave of absence.

All Oak and Orca Teachers work as part of a team to provide a well rounded, child-centred education to students age 3 through 18.

While working within a team to create a positive environment for all children, some teachers have the primary responsibility for creating and maintaining an Open Classroom environment designed for a specific age group.

All teachers are required to offer Workshops to groups of children of various ages in certain areas. Teachers must be open and willing to work with a variety of ages of children in a variety of teaching areas.

Key responsibilities include creating Learning Centres and child-directed/hands-on activities for all subject areas, both to support the Open Classroom environment and the Workshops taught.

Teachers may also responsible for a multi-age math group covering at least 2 grades of math curriculum, by creating and supporting math choices based on a hands-on, manipulative based, problem solving approach.

Some teachers will have responsibilities to plan and support the weekly field trips. These trips may include children of various ages (3-18) and are often by bicycle. Groups of varied age are also supported at the school on field trip days, and some teachers will have responsibilities for these students.

Teachers are additionally responsible for a group of children learning at home through the distributed learning program. This is a family-directed program for children up to grade 9.

Assessment and reporting responsibilities are present for all areas of responsibility and all groups of students. Teachers regularly conference with students and home-learning families to support them in working towards a well-rounded, appropriately challenging, individualized learning program.

GENERAL TEACHER JOB DESCRIPTION

The ideal candidate will have experience working with children in a student-led learning environment. The teacher will work cooperatively with a team to deliver a self-directed curriculum and create positive learning opportunities for children aged 3-18.

A positive environment involves creating and continuing to provide a supportive, safe learning space that includes learning stations and help-yourself materials that can be used by the children as they choose to do so, as well as flexible child-led routines.

The candidate must be prepared to cope with the demands of meeting children's needs for autonomy and choice as well as group needs for routine and organization. Compassionate communication must be used with the children. (see Marshall Rosenburg's 'Non-Violent Communication.')

Design, create and maintain a situation in which students can learn about what interests them. Help students place their learning within a bioregional context.
Help students learn how to learn and be self-directed. Support their learning appropriate to their age and individual capabilities.
Develop and lead workshops and educational activities designed to help students learn the outcomes from the B.C. Curriculum and our own Bioregional Curriculum; and ensure that the B.C. Curriculum is taught within a bioregional context.
Develop home-learning activities designed to help students learn the outcomes from the B.C. Curriculum and our own Bioregional Curriculum; and ensure that the B.C. Curriculum can be learned within a bioregional context.
Contribute to the development of the Bioregional Curriculum.
Ensure student progress in all curriculum areas, when the student is ready and at the student's own pace.
Maintain health and safety standards.
Supervise students on cycling and busing field trips. Contribute to creating interesting and thought-provoking field trip activities for students.
Manage student interactions in accordance with school culture/ethics/policies.
Interact with parents in a way that supports the school community and the particular student. Provide parents with information both written and oral, about their child's progress and achievements.
Basic maintenance of school facilities, i.e. setup of rooms, cleanup after activities, etc.
Basic cleaning duties, i.e. vacuuming, washing tables, dusting, etc.
Provide peer supervision for other teachers.
Supervise students during free time, lunch, before and after school, etc.
Ensure that student records are up to date, complete and reflect the progress of the student at school.
Assist with school fundraising, intake and other projects.
Use a sustainable mode of transportation to come to work, cycling is ideal, alternately walking or busing would be acceptable.

In addition, all staff at Oak and Orca are expected to role model a bioregional lifestyle including ecological and social responsibility. In keeping with these philosophies, all staff is expected to bike/bus/walk to work. Personal motor vehicles are not an option. Staff are also required to observe the Bioregional Education Association constitution, bylaws and policies.

The ideal candidate for a teaching positions will possess:

elementary teaching degree or early childhood education diploma and experience with 3 - 18 year olds
respectful attitude towards children
understanding of open, self-directed, holistic learning and mentoring
understanding of bioregionalism and why it's important
respect for the importance of practical ecological literacy
administrative, clerical and organizational abilities
excellent cooperative and communication skills
initiative and enthusiasm
willingness to be mentored in the philosophy of the school
ability to create and maintain a safe, engaging learning environment
ability to teach B.C. Curriculum within a bioregional context, to a multi-aged group
strong ability as a cyclist, able to pull loads as well as cycle distances

Skills and knowledge in the following areas would be an asset:

Creative arts (music, drama, movement, story-telling, visual arts)
Languages (French, Spanish, Coast Salish, Sign Language)
First Nations Perspectives
Maths and Sciences
Wilderness Skills (tracking, awareness, survival)
Healing arts, Organic farming, Native plants
Nonviolent Communication (NVC), Consensus Decision Making

Click here for Teacher Application Form.

Application Process: -- please read carefully:

1. Read website (oakandorca.ca) to gain familiarity with alternative teaching practices and structure.

2. Submit Teacher Application Form with resume to:

Personnel Committee
2738 Higgins Street
Victoria, BC V8T 3N1
E-mail applications will not be considered.

3. Short listed candidates will be contacted for an interview.

4. The interview questions are posted here. Candidates will be expected to come fully prepared, with a good understanding of teaching, learning and family participation at the school. It is highly recommended that you fully research all links on our website oakandorca.ca, to prepare for this interview.

5. Interviews will be held in two parts:
Part I: 45 min Interview. Candidates will be held to the 45 minutes, including response to all of the prepared questions and, time permitting, their own questions about the job.
Part II: Observation. A session with a small group of children. Candidates will be required to prepare and implement a one hour long activity for a multiage group.

6. Final selection will be based on feedback from children and parents in addition to the interview and observation by the Personnel Committee. References will be contacted prior to a position being offered.

Important Comments:

* PLEASE DO NOT SEND EMAIL APPLICATIONS
** YOU MUST SEE OUR WEBSITE BEFORE YOU APPLY
Please visit our website to gain an understanding of the different way we teach. This is not a normal teaching job! You must show your dedication to alternative teaching methods and to a sustainable lifestyle.
***AN APPLICATION MUST BE COMPLETED TO QUALIFY FOR THIS JOB
Click here for Teacher Application Form
Click here for Interview Questions

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