Urban Program Educator

IslandWood provides exceptional learning experiences to inspire lifelong environmental and community stewardship. We are a team-oriented, collaborative organization that nurtures a respectful, professional workplace. We’re working to build a staff that reflects the racial, cultural, and socio-economic diversity of the students we serve. We believe having a staff that authentically reflects our community is crucial to our ability to support student learning. We’re looking for dynamic, culturally responsive educators to teach innovative and inclusive science-focused programs. We embrace a culture of learning, gratitude, joy, and accountability.

Position Overview:

IslandWood’s Urban School Programs engage students in their home environments and dig deep into how built and natural systems work in tandem. Our programs seek to cultivate understanding of the complexity of urban systems to give learners the tools to generate solutions that lead to resilient, healthy, and thriving communities. For the 2022 spring season, our programs will be delivered via multiple formats as we restart our field programs. Our current plan is to resume on-site programs at the Brightwater Education Center in Woodinville, at parks in Seattle and at other sites beginning in March 2022 depending on current COVID conditions and restrictions.

During the 2022 school year, Urban School Program Educators teach set curricula to 3rd-5th grade classes in a range of programs from 90-minute lessons at schools throughout the Seattle area to 3 to 4-hour programs at the Brightwater Education Center in Woodinville and at several sites in Seattle. Urban School Program Educators may engage in partner teaching, collaborating, and problem solving to ensure that school groups receive a high-quality, grade-appropriate program that attends to their learning needs. 

This position is intentionally designed to offer space to grow as an educator through debriefing, scheduled professional development, staff observations, and feedback from a community of educators.

Primary Responsibilities:

• Provide high quality, culturally responsive instruction for 3rd – 5th grade students in multiple settings including schoolyards, local parks, and the Brightwater Education Center
• Participate in trainings and team meetings
• Provide timely and professional communication with program staff
• Participate in program debriefs and assessments
• Commitment to learning and growing through feedback in an active learning community Commitment to support IslandWood’s work towards equity, diversity and inclusion

Required Qualifications:

• Minimum 1 year of experience teaching elementary and/or middle school youth
• Experience successfully engaging youth across cultural and racial boundaries and learning styles
• Confidence teaching and managing groups of students in various settings
• Demonstrate IslandWood's core values that enable teams and individuals to succeed with shared respect and purpose
• Desire to learn and teach about how urban environmental systems and communities intersect
• Ability to respond professionally to a variety of situations that may arise quickly
• Driver’s license and access to vehicle is desirable
• Must be able to comply with and maintain a drug-free work environment
• Must pass child safety screening procedure post-offer

How to apply:

Please submit a cover letter, resume and two current references or an Application for Employment

By email to:        employment@islandwood.org and state “Search for USP Educator” in the subject line

By mail to:          IslandWood, Search for USP Educator, 4450 Blakely Ave NE, Bainbridge Island, WA 98110

Note:  Application forms available in English and Spanish on our website islandwood.org/about-us

Position Posted:                      28 February 2022
Application Deadline:             Open until filled
Start Date:                                March 2022
End Date:                                  June 2022