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Accepting Applications for Faculty and Staff for 2016-2017

Alzar School | 21.01.16

POSITIONS CURRENTLY FILLED.

The Alzar School is accepting applications for employee positions for the 2016-2017 school year.  Going into our fifth year of life-changing semester programs, we know that having a fantastic team is essential.

Candidates applying for teaching positions should have previous classroom experience and a number of years working professionally.  This is a paid, annual position with the opportunity for contract extensions each year.  Recent college graduates or outdoor professionals without classroom experience should consider our teaching fellowship program.   Additionally, we are accepting applications for professionals seeking to work in recruiting, admissions, and/or fundraising roles within the school.

Information for all positions:

State/country/province of primary work location.  Idaho & Chile

Brief overview of organization.

The Alzar School is a semester school for students in 10th and 11th grades.  Students are highly motivated teenagers who want to make a difference in the world.  The Alzar School’s campus is in Cascade, Idaho, but each semester sees the school completing a 5- to 6-week expedition to Chile.  Faculty and teaching fellows do travel with the students to Chile.  The school uses outdoor adventure and international travel to challenge students.  Motivated, fun students invest one semester of their high school career at the school.

Position qualifications and experience.

All candidates should be passionate about education, teaching, and learning.  We are a community of learners.

The Alzar School spends a significant portion of its time in the wilderness and front-country for adventure programming.  The teachers and teaching fellows are expected to be a competent outdoor leader with the skills to respond to various situations.  He/she should be an expert in at least one sport/activity and be proficient in 1-2 other sports/activities.  Most importantly, we are looking for highly skilled whitewater kayak/raft instructors and backpacking trip leaders.  Additional skills in other sports (such as skiing, surfing, mountain biking, fly fishing, etc are a plus).   Professionals seeking to work in recruiting, admissions, and/or fundraising roles within the school need not be experts, as they generally will not have expedition roles, but it helps if candidates share the school enthusiasm for outdoor adventure.

Candidates should possess:

  1. Knowledge of contemporary outdoor programming methods and practices.
  2. The physical ability to perform strenuous outdoor recreational activities in remote and rugged mountains or water based environments.
  3. Proficiency with a variety of computer software and applications, to include some of the following (but not limited to):
    1. Microsoft Office software suite
    2. HTML programming
    3. All Google apps
    4. Facebook, Twitter, and other social networking sites
  4. Required base certifications:
    1. For Teachers:
      1. Undergraduate degree in relevant subject area
      2. Teaching Certificate (or advanced degree or willingness to pursue alternative certification process prior to start date)
      3. Wilderness First Responder or higher level of training
      4. Experience working with teenagers
    2. For Teaching Fellows:
      1. Undergraduate degree in relevant subject area
      2. Some level of first aid training
      3. Experience working with teenagers
    3. For professionals seeking to work in recruiting, admissions, and/or fundraising roles within the school:
      1. Undergraduate degree in relevant subject area
      2. Experience working in related fields and the nonprofit sector
  5. Additionally relevant qualifications:
    1. Please let us know about any other relevant trainings and certifications.  These may include:
      1. American Canoe Association Instructor or Instructor Trainer
      2. Swiftwater Rescue Technician (Advanced)
      3. American Mountain Guides Association Single Pitch Instructor
      4. Professional Ski Instructor Association Certification
      5. Leave No Trace Educator
      6. Commercial Drivers License
      7. Spanish-language proficiency

Traits and Qualities

Candidates should be dynamic, engaging, and self-motivated people who will work to motivate, inspire, and lead students.  He/she must be effective at working independently and in collaboration with other staff.  They should have the ability to:

  1. Spend and enjoy extended periods of time with youth in a variety of settings.
  2. Self-manage.
  3. Prioritize, plan and organize on a daily, weekly, and semester basis.
  4. Work as part of a team, sharing responsibilities.
  5. Seek advice and support when necessary.
  6. Use effective communication skills.
  7. Work under pressure and to deadlines.
  8. Maintain a sense of humor and positive attitude in the face of adversity.

Dates of employment

For Teaching Positions:

Starting for Fall 2016 semester, for the entire 2016-2017 school year.  Starting August 3, 2016.

For Teaching Fellow Positions:

For either the Fall 2016 semester (starting August 3, 2016, ending December 18, 2016) or the Spring 2017 semester (starting January 10, 2017, ending May 31, 2017).

For Recruiting, Admissions, and Fundraising Professionals

Starting summer 2016.

Remuneration

For Teaching Positions:

The compensation packages are typically set in late Spring.  However, we do not anticipate dramatic changes from this year.  This past year, for first-year (to Alzar School) teachers, compensation has included wages, on-campus housing, meals with the school, two trips to Chile, health insurance, voluntary participation in a retirement fund, and professional development and gear stipends.  We estimate the total package be valued equivalent to a $36,000/year position.  The wages, paid over a 12-month period, have been $20,400 for new teachers for the 2014-2015 year.

For Teaching Fellow Positions:

Teaching fellows are responsible for paying a $2,100 program fee. The school provides for their lodging, food, and transportation to/within Chile, as well as offering access to key equipment. See more at alzar.org/tf

For Recruiting, Admissions, and Fundraising Professionals:

The compensation packages for these positions depend on responsibilities and experience.

Application procedures and deadlines

To apply, please submit a 2-page resume and cover letter (both as PDFs) to the Director of Studies, Laura Bechdel (laura@alzar.org).